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Research
Supporting nutrition education in low socioeconomic schools in Western AustraliaSchool-based nutrition education (NE) has an important role in promoting healthy eating habits and helping prevent chronic diseases – particularly among disadvantaged children and youth who are more likely to experience poor diet quality.
Research
Associations between the built environment and emotional, social and physical indicators of early child development across high and low socioeconomic neighbourhoodsEmerging evidence indicates that the built environment influences early child development. Access to, and the quality of, built environment features vary with the socioeconomic status (SES) of neighbourhoods. It has not yet been established whether the association between built environment features and early child development varies by neighbourhood SES.
Research
Study protocol for Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup: a multi-site cluster randomized controlled trial of an intervention to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours in young children attending community playgroupsEarly childhood is a critical window for preventing obesity and chronic disease. Yet, 1 in 4 Australian children aged 5 years and under are affected by overweight or obesity; and significant proportions of children under 5 years fail to meet guidelines for diet quality, physical activity (PA), screen time, and sleep.
Research
The relationship between dog ownership, dog play, family dog walking, and pre-schooler social-emotional development: findings from the PLAYCE observational studyRegular physical activity provides children with health and developmental benefits. This study investigated if active play and walking with the family dog was associated with better social-emotional development in young children.
Research
Impact of the Play Active policy intervention on early childhood educator's sedentary behaviour-related practices, psychosocial influences and meeting policy recommendationsHigh levels of sedentary behaviour are associated with poor child health outcomes such as obesity. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are a key intervention setting. Most ECEC policy-based interventions focus on children's nutrition and physical activity with few aimed at children's sedentary behaviour.
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Improving physical activity and screen time in Australian Outside School Hours Care: Study protocolChildren's physical activity and screen time behaviours impact their physical health and well-being. In Australia, less than half of children meet daily physical activity recommendations and only one-third meet daily screen time recommendations.
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Understanding variations in the built environment over time to inform longitudinal studies of young children's physical activity behaviour - The BEACHES projectWe know relatively little about the role the neighbourhood built environment plays in promoting young children's physical activity, particularly its longitudinal effect either through repeated exposure to the same environment or through change in exposure by moving from one neighbourhood to another.
News & Events
Dogs are more than companions, they are great for our mental wellbeingA new study has highlighted the positive impact dog ownership has on our mental health.
Research
Healthy Conversations @ PlaygroupHayley Christian BSc (1st Class Hons), PhD W.Aust. Program Head, Healthy Behaviours and Environments; National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow
News & Events
More pedestrians, less cars: Researchers call for shopping strip overhaulResearchers have identified 10 Australian shopping strips where the removal of on-street parking would transform the area’s liveability.