Healthy Start to Life

A healthy start to life is something we all take for granted. Healthy pregnancies, healthy mums and babies, connected families and strong development are all valued. But it is not always the case. Despite our best efforts some children do not get the best start to life. They face challenges due to disability, limited resources, gaps in the network of adults around them, or lack of support for the tough job of parenting.

Our Research

The community has high expectations for making sure all children can grow up healthy, have access to good food, a stimulating environment and where they can be nurtured and cared for through their formative years. Parents want practical information about how to care for their children. Research from the Caring Futures Institute develops the evidence to inform the services that our health, education and social systems that support parents and families in raising healthy children.

The Caring Futures Institute has a strong, experienced team of researchers progressing a program of work within the maternal, child and family health and development area.

Our key focus is on early obesity prevention, nutrition promotion, chronic ill-health, developmental delays, and disability.

Read more about our research with children, mothers and families

Our leading researchers in this field

Professor Rebecca Golley

Rebecca is a chief investigator on major research projects into children’s nutrition, health and development and obesity prevention. Rebecca and her team develop nutritional promotion and obesity prevention initiatives for healthy growth and development in children.

Professor Annette Briley

Annette is one of the most experienced midwifery researchers in Australia, bringing her extensive understanding of delivering high quality midwifery care in the UK. She works on pre-conception and pregnancy interventions to keep mothers-to-be healthy, understanding how to support healthy lifestyle approaches and the best outcomes for babies and mums.

Professor John Coveney

John is an international expert in food culture and safety. He has pioneered research and measures to regain the community’s trust in food products, especially after contamination scares.

CFI Researchers in this field

Professor Joanne Arciuli

Dr Sarah Hunter

Dr Brittany Johnson

Professor Nicola Anstice

Dr Christine Mpundu-Kaambwa

Associate Professor Ivanka Prichard

Dr Dorota Zarnowiecki

Dr Nina Sivertsen

Dr Jessie Shipman

Professor Chris Brebner

Dr Paul Constable

Dr Lauren Lines

Dr Louisa Matwiejczk

Associate Professor Yvonne Parry

Dr Megan Cooper

Partner with us

We can’t reinvent care alone. We need partners across industry, government, and the general public to co-design the projects and new support mechanisms. Let’s work together to understand the building blocks of care in our society.

We can make a difference together.
Be the change.

Collaborate with us