The Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program
The Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program is dedicated to improving child health and wellbeing through comprehensive, evidence-based health and wellbeing programs delivered in partnership with communities, governments and the service sectors.
We are situated within the McCaughey Centre, in The Melbourne School of Population Health at The University of Melbourne.
Welcome to The Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program website! Stay updated with all our fantastic projects, meet our staff and learn about our passion for child health research. Why not follow us on FACEBOOK and Twitter! We are constantly uploading new videos and photos on YouTube and would love to see your comments. If you have any questions about the site or would like to subscribe to our newsletter, please contact Alana Pirrone: apirrone@unimelb.edu.au.
Happy reading!
Quick links
- Brockhoff Newsletter March 2012
- 2011 Brockhoff Annual Report
- Beyond Bushfires Newsletter May 2012
- Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health
World Conference on Social Determinants of Health, Brazil 2011
Follow @BrockhoffTeam
Tweet to @BrockhoffTeam
About the Program...
The Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program believes that every child deserves the opportunity of a full and healthy life. A healthy childhood can greatly increase wellbeing and reduce the later incidence of diseases such as tooth decay and related oral problems, diabetes and heart disease, chronic disability or early mortality. Conversely inequalities in child health are indicators of poor health outcomes in later life. Child health is also a powerful indicator for future economic status, educational achievement and social engagement and inclusion. It is imperative that we close the child health inequality gap, not only for the children of today, but for the adults they become in the future. Addressing this inequality is a critical foundation stone on which to build a fair and robust society.
The Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program aims to provide a strong program of innovative and high quality research relevant to child and community health and wellbeing. We approach our research ideas and topics with a commitment to working in partnership with children, families, communities, program and policy makers.
We are a dedicated and passionate team, who work within a children’s rights framework, allowing their views, experiences and solutions to be heard and understood. We are keen that the evidence base for decision making is built from research that reflects the complex interactions of everyday life. We are committed to creating a long lasting thriving program of research, in partnership with the community, our stakeholders, funders, and our team members to ensure we close the child health inequity gap and aim to give every child the opportunity to grow and thrive into happy and healthy adults.
The Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program aims to provide a strong program of innovative and high quality research relevant to child and community health and wellbeing. We approach our research ideas and topics with a commitment to working in partnership with children, families, communities, program and policy makers.
We are a dedicated and passionate team, who work within a children’s rights framework, allowing their views, experiences and solutions to be heard and understood. We are keen that the evidence base for decision making is built from research that reflects the complex interactions of everyday life. We are committed to creating a long lasting thriving program of research, in partnership with the community, our stakeholders, funders, and our team members to ensure we close the child health inequity gap and aim to give every child the opportunity to grow and thrive into happy and healthy adults.
Staff, Collaborators and Partners...
The team started its program of work in 1994 and has grown to a group of approximately 41 staff including honorary and casual staff in 2010. It became the extremely grateful recipient of the 2008 Jack Brockhoff Centenary Gift, which made a significant contribution to building long term human resource investment in this program. This included the appointment of Professor Elizabeth Waters to The Jack Brockhoff Chair of Child Public Health. The program provides a wonderful legacy to Sir Jack Brockhoff, who through his generosity in establishing The Jack Brockhoff Foundation, has provided significant benefit to the people of Victoria.
Professor Waters’ role as a member of the international Cochrane Collaboration Public Health Review Group and the Cochrane Child Health Field helps to ensure that the work is at the cutting edge of international efforts in child public health practice. She is accompanied by four accomplished and passionate others, who in turn, are leading and developing rich portfolio’s of research: Dr Lisa Gibbs, Dr Andrea de-Silva Sanigorski, Dr Elise Davis, and Dr Rebecca Armstrong. They lead a team 28 research fellows and research assistants.
Professor Waters’ role as a member of the international Cochrane Collaboration Public Health Review Group and the Cochrane Child Health Field helps to ensure that the work is at the cutting edge of international efforts in child public health practice. She is accompanied by four accomplished and passionate others, who in turn, are leading and developing rich portfolio’s of research: Dr Lisa Gibbs, Dr Andrea de-Silva Sanigorski, Dr Elise Davis, and Dr Rebecca Armstrong. They lead a team 28 research fellows and research assistants.
The Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Team also prides itself on its many collaborations with health professionals, fellow academics, government and community agencies and organisations here and overseas to deliver a world class standard quality of research.
Outside of The University of Melbourne, the Centre’s program collaborates with 11 academic organisations in Victoria and Australia, 12 overseas universities, six government entities, 19 non government organizations.
Outside of The University of Melbourne, the Centre’s program collaborates with 11 academic organisations in Victoria and Australia, 12 overseas universities, six government entities, 19 non government organizations.
Academic Collaborators include;
Dr Dean Lusher, Dr Frank Vetere, Dr Obioha Ukuohummune, Professor Philippa Pattison, Professor Mark Creamer,Professor Richard Bryant, Dr Louise Harms, Assoc Prof Stuart Daspher, Ms Su-yan Barrow, Assoc Prof Margaret Kelaher, Prof Michael Berk, Dr Felice Jakka, Assoc Professor Colin MacDougall, Dr Julie Green, Prof Boyd Swinburn, Lisa Gold, Prof Rob Carter, Prof Marita McCabe, Dr Andre Renzaho, Assoc Prof Steve Allender, Dr Marj Moodie, Dr Mark Lawrence, Assoc Prof Tony Okely, Dr Anthea Magarey, Prof Laurence Moore, Prof Helen Roberts, Dr Nicola Ross, Dr Isabelle Danic, Prof Madeline Leonard, Dr Jeni Harden, Dr Samantha Punch, Dr Philip Daniels, Dr John McKendrick, Prof Kathryn Backett-Milburn.
Dr Dean Lusher, Dr Frank Vetere, Dr Obioha Ukuohummune, Professor Philippa Pattison, Professor Mark Creamer,Professor Richard Bryant, Dr Louise Harms, Assoc Prof Stuart Daspher, Ms Su-yan Barrow, Assoc Prof Margaret Kelaher, Prof Michael Berk, Dr Felice Jakka, Assoc Professor Colin MacDougall, Dr Julie Green, Prof Boyd Swinburn, Lisa Gold, Prof Rob Carter, Prof Marita McCabe, Dr Andre Renzaho, Assoc Prof Steve Allender, Dr Marj Moodie, Dr Mark Lawrence, Assoc Prof Tony Okely, Dr Anthea Magarey, Prof Laurence Moore, Prof Helen Roberts, Dr Nicola Ross, Dr Isabelle Danic, Prof Madeline Leonard, Dr Jeni Harden, Dr Samantha Punch, Dr Philip Daniels, Dr John McKendrick, Prof Kathryn Backett-Milburn.
Academic institutions include;
Deakin University, Monash University, LaTrobe University, Flinders University, Wollongong University, University of New South Wales and Cardiff University
Deakin University, Monash University, LaTrobe University, Flinders University, Wollongong University, University of New South Wales and Cardiff University
Government and community agencies and philanthropic collaborators include;
VicHealth, Victorian Department of Health, Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Dental Health Services Victoria, Centrelnk, Victorian Department of Sport and Recreation, Allanah and Madeline Foundation, Merri Community Health Services, Arabic Welfare, Australian Red Cross, Australian rotary Health, Victorian Arabic Social Services, Foundation House, Pakistan Association Australia Melbourne, Barwon Health, Moreland City Council, Banyule Nillumbik Primary Care Alliance,Bendigo-Loddon Primary Care Partnership, Central Hume Primary Care Partnership, Central West Gippsland Primary Care Partnership, Country Fire Authority, Lower Hume Primary Care Partnership, Outer East Health and Community Support Alliance, Pakistan Association Australia Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital Safety Centre, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, Victorian Poison Information Centre, Windermere Family Day Care, Family Day Care Australia, Yooralla.
VicHealth, Victorian Department of Health, Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Dental Health Services Victoria, Centrelnk, Victorian Department of Sport and Recreation, Allanah and Madeline Foundation, Merri Community Health Services, Arabic Welfare, Australian Red Cross, Australian rotary Health, Victorian Arabic Social Services, Foundation House, Pakistan Association Australia Melbourne, Barwon Health, Moreland City Council, Banyule Nillumbik Primary Care Alliance,Bendigo-Loddon Primary Care Partnership, Central Hume Primary Care Partnership, Central West Gippsland Primary Care Partnership, Country Fire Authority, Lower Hume Primary Care Partnership, Outer East Health and Community Support Alliance, Pakistan Association Australia Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital Safety Centre, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, Victorian Poison Information Centre, Windermere Family Day Care, Family Day Care Australia, Yooralla.
Projects...
The Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program has had tremendous success since its establishment in mid 2007. The program has attracted $18.59 million in funding, of which national grants were over $7.97 million, VicHealth grants at $0.23 million, contract research at $2.87 million, and philanthropic grants at $7.43 million.
At present we 25 research projects underway (listed below). Our projects are developed and implemented with ethical approval and follow a specific commitment and focus to child health and wellbeing. Our projects concentrate on;
- Analysis of child health and wellbeing and identification of key areas of concern
- Development of new innovations relevant to issues emerging in the community
- Design and development of evidence based strategies to improve health and prevent disease
- Synthesis of research and increase in the use of research findings to improve population health.
In particular, we focus in on areas of inequality and disadvantage, embracing the complexity of the context within which families, community and children are based and the challenges they face.
Health and wellbeing of children of refugee and asylum seeker background
- Supporting the Health and Wellbeing of Families with Children of Refugee Backgrounds
Indigenous child health and wellbeing
- Hearing the Voices
- Yarning with Koori Kids
Disaster recovery and community health and wellbeing
- Beyond Bushfires: Community, Resilience and Recovery
Beyond Bushfires study summary
Invitation to participate
- Country Fire Authority
(Country Fire Authority Post-Fire Qualitative Research - a final report on the analysis of Community Fireguard Group members)
(CFA Post-Fire Qualitative Research: A descriptive analysis of Community Fireguard Group members' experiences of the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Preliminary report)
- ARACY: Hearing Children’s Voices
Health promotion and disease prevention: childhood obesity prevention, healthy eating, oral health, physical activity and children’s environments
- CAMBRA Pilot
- Smiling Schools – oral health literacy
- Kids Go For Your Life
- Be Active Eat Well – sustainability and evaluation
- Being Active Eating Well – Health Promoting Communities
- APHIRST – Australian population Health Intervention research Strategy
Child mental health promotion and disability services
- Developing Resource Guidelines to Promote the Mental Health of People Living in Low Income Countries
- e4kids – evaluating effectiveness of early childhood programs
- The Australian Study of Child Health in Same Sex Families (ACHESS)
Evidence and Knowledge Translation
Watch our videos on Youtube!