Researchers from The Kids for Child Health Research and the University of Western Australia will play a significant role in a new multi-million dollar Centre for Excellence aimed at investigating - and breaking - the generational cycle of social disadvantage.
In a commitment worth more than $25 million, the Australian Research Council has joined forces with four major Australian universities, child health experts and international collaborators to create the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course.
The Centre will be managed by the University of Queensland under the Directorship of Professor Janeen Baxter.
The Kids and UWA Winthrop Professor Steve Zubrick will take on the role of Deputy Director of the new centre in recognition of his continued role and influence in working to improve the lives of children everywhere through his research expertise and leadership.
Professor Steve Zubrick
He is joined by Professor David Lawrence whose experience in statistical and data management will drive his role as Chief Investigator on some of the centre's research programs.
"This centre for excellence is a huge step forward in tackling serious poverty and disadvantage in this country," said Professor Zubrick.
"It brings together a powerhouse of leading scientists whose job it will be to work out why deep and persistent disadvantage exists in Australia and in particular across generations of the same family."
"We will be working to break the cycle of welfare dependency, looking at how better education opportunities will help the next generation break free from disadvantage and also investigate and identify early childhood intervention programs."
"This centre has the potential to really change the face of families who currently live in poverty and social disadvantage. It is about building better opportunities and better futures for the kids of today and tomorrow."
$20 million for the establishment for the centre has come from the Australian Research Council in what is seen as a major commitment to social science research in this country.
Further funding and support has come from the University of Western Australia in collaboration with the Universities of Queensland, Melbourne and Sydney as well as universities, research groups, government departments and NGO's in Australia the UK, USA, Canada, Israel, Ireland and Singapore.
The ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course will come into operation during 2014.