A project that will investigate the role of Australian fathers in their children’s wellbeing and another which aims to help parents grapple with the digital world and its role in teens’ mental health have received significant funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC).
The two projects, each led by The Kids Research Institute Australia in collaboration with other research institutions, are among 536 across the country to share in more than $342.2 million made available through the 2025 ARC Discovery Projects scheme.
Understanding the role of dads in kids’ wellbeing
Professor Francis Mitrou, Program Head of Population Health and Team Head of Human Development and Community Wellbeing at The Kids, will lead a team in a project which examines how fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives shapes the child’s long-term wellbeing.
Professor Mitrou, who is also part of The University of Western Australia’s Medical School, said the importance of caregiving on children’s outcomes was generally well understood, but Australia lacked evidence about the impact of fathers and male caregivers on children’s long-term developmental outcomes.
“This project will describe the impact that male caregivers have on the growth and development of their children’s wellbeing across time and how this may predict wellbeing in later life,” Professor Mitrou said.
“It will also identify the differing patterns of male caregiver involvement with their children across time and how this may influence subsequent wellbeing, and identify the practical constraints and limitations within the family home and workplace that impact on how male caregivers contribute to their children’s mental health and wellbeing.
“We will utilise these findings to produce policy and service recommendations needed by governments, services and communities.”
Professor Mitrou said the research would advance Australia’s position toward promoting equitable parenting.
Other investigators on the project, which has received $1.34 million in funding and will be administered via UWA, include Dr Vincent Mancini, Emeritus Professor Stephen Zubrick and Dr Vu Vuong from The Kids, and researchers from UWA, Deakin University, the University of Melbourne, Monash University, Federation University Australia, and collaborating partner The Movember Foundation.
Cracking the code to help parents and teens navigate the digital world
Professor Kathryn Modecki – who is Head of the Developmental Science of Mental Health Team at The Kids, and FHRI Distinguished Fellow and Professor of Psychological Science at UWA – will lead a project which aims to answer some of the most pressing questions scientists and parents now face as adolescents turn to a modern digital toolbox to cope with ever-growing challenges and stressors.
Pictured: Professor Kathryn Modecki
The project will combine a nationwide survey of parents and the varied ways they seek to support their teens, with novel insights into parents’ and teens’ daily life via data streamed from their smartphones. Addressing not just the ‘who’ but the ‘when, why, and how’ of digital parenting of today’s teen, the project promises to generate new knowledge to help adolescents to make the most of opportunities, enhance mental health and wellbeing, and reduce risk.
Professor Modecki said more than a third of Australian adolescents felt they could not cope effectively with their stress, with many turning to digital tools, platforms, and social media to connect with supports or find information to help.
“Parents want to help their children in this endeavour but many report feeling ill-equipped to support their teens in a way that maximises their success and safety in this digital arena,” Professor Modecki said.
“This project addresses a critical gap in science and policy and will directly benefit Australian teenagers and their families. Our team will identify optimal digital coping strategies adolescents can use in the face of stress, as well as the modifiable behaviours parents can adopt to support their teen’s healthy digital use. Ultimately, these are modifiable strategies that can serve to enhance teen’s wellbeing and buffer them from development of mental health problems.”
The findings are expected to inform mental health policy as well as national policy discussions around adolescents’ use of digital platforms, including ways to enhance wellbeing, increase inclusive access, and reduce harms.
Other investigators on the project, which has received $400,731 and will be administered via UWA, include Professor Bep Uink from Edith Cowan University and The Kids, as well as researchers from Griffith University, the University of California and Arizona State University.
For more information on the ARC Discovery Projects scheme and a full list of the projects funded under this round, see the ARC media release.