A The Kids Research Institute Australia researcher focused on promoting more active childhoods to improve child health and wellbeing will be named amongst WA’s most outstanding young scientists at the upcoming 2020 Young Tall Poppy Science Awards.
Associate Professor Hayley Christian, who heads the Child Physical Activity, Health & Development team at The Kids, is one of seven Western Australian Young Tall Poppy Scientists to be selected this year. The group will be formally recognised at the Young Tall Poppy Science Awards on 17 September, when one will be announced as the 2020 WA Young Tall Poppy of the Year.
The awards, held on a state-by-state basis to celebrate researchers across science, engineering and mathematics, are run by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) to honour up-and-coming scientists who combine world-class research with a passionate commitment to communicating science.
Associate Professor Christian’s research focuses on improving children’s physical activity, health and development through interventions that are focused on the child, the family, and social and built environments.
“One in five Australian children aged 2–4 years are overweight or obese,” Dr Christian said.
“Physical activity is a critical strategy for combating rising childhood obesity. My multi-disciplinary team focuses on turning challenges into opportunities to make a positive difference to children’s health and wellbeing through promoting more active childhoods.”
Associate Professor Christian’s research into the influence of pet ownership on children’s physical activity levels, health and development, in particular, has attracted international attention.
“We’re increasingly learning that dog ownership within families can have fantastic benefits for children’s physical activity levels and social-emotional development,” Associate Professor Christian said.
A number of Associate Professor Christian’s recent findings have emerged from the Play Spaces and Environments for Children’s Physical Activity (PLAYCE) project, a three-year Healthway-funded study (2015–2018) which investigated early childhood education and care, home, and neighbourhood influences on pre-schoolers’ physical activity.
The team’s ongoing research includes three NHMRC-funded projects to promote young children’s physical activity in early childhood education and care services and playgroups, as well as an international project to understand the impact of the built environment on child health and obesity.
The Kids Research Institute Australia Director, Professor Jonathan Carapetis, said Associate Professor Christian’s research program provided unique insights into key aspects of child health and development, with her findings widely sought-after nationally and internationally by policymakers and practitioners.
“Hayley’s pioneering research has already significantly influenced national policy and practice, including in relation to national movement guidelines for young children, and standards for promoting physical activity in early learning environments,” Professor Carapetis said.
“Her research findings have practical and highly relevant implications for the way children, families and communities behave and respond to their social and built environment, and she goes out of her way to actively consult with and communicate her findings to the community, as well as to policymakers, educators, and others who shape the world our children live in.”
AIPS Chair Professor Maria Kavallaris OAM said a more scientifically engaged society was something every scientist should aspire to and the reason that Tall Poppy winners were so important.
“These Tall Poppies are excellent examples of the cutting-edge research being undertaken here in Western Australia,” Professor Kavallaris said.
“They also become role models by working with the education and community sectors to encourage greater engagement in science.”