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| Title | Author | Description | Publish Date | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brief Interventions for Families Seeking Support from Family Services: A Scoping Review | Hamilton,V., Sartore,G., Macvean,M., Avdagic,E., Petrovic,Z., Hunter,C., Wade,C. | A scoping review of the literature on brief interventions for families experiencing adversity or challenging circumstances. | 20250527 27 May, 2025 | Brief interventions, family support, family services |
| Review of the evidence on knowledge translation and exchange in the violence against women field: Key findings and future directions | Spalding, K., Macvean, M., Mildon, R., Devine, B., Falkiner, J., Wade, C., & Forbes, F. | Research on knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) is still in its infancy, with most of our knowledge coming from the medical and education fields. Little is known about the effectiveness of KTE strategies in the domestic violence and sexual assault sectors. This evidence summary explores the evidence for KTE in this area and from other areas of human service delivery. | 20150101 1 January, 2015 | family violence, 2015 |
| The PATRICIA Project: PAThways in Research In Collaborative Inter-Agency working: State of knowledge paper | Macvean, M., Humphreys, C., Healey, L., Mildon, R., Connolly, M., Parolini, A., & Spada-Rinaldis, S. | This paper presents the state of knowledge on practices or processes used by child protection services and specialist domestic violence services or family law services to work better together and improve service responses for women and children living with and separating from family violence. | 20150101 1 January, 2015 | 2015, child protection, family violence |
| Brief interventions for vulnerable families | Parenting Research Centre | This resource summarises the evidence behind brief interventions when working with families in challenging circumstances. This report is abridged version of a longer report. | 20250206 6 February, 2025 | Brief interventions, vulnerable, DFFH, families, parents |
| Peer support programs for families in vulnerable circumstances | Parenting Research Centre | An abridged version of a longer report, this resource summarises the evidence behind peer support programs for families in vulnerable circumstances. | 20250206 6 February, 2025 | Peer support, vulnerable, families, DFFH, parents |
| Consensus on telepractice service delivery practices with vulnerable families: a Delphi study | Hamilton, V., Petrovic, Z., May, F.S. & Wade, C. | This study explores expert views on systems and practices that facilitate telehealth in the delivery of family support services to vulnerable families. | 20230528 28 May, 2023 | telepractice, 2023, parenting support |
| Productivity Commission Inquiry: Early Childhood Education and Care 2024 | Parenting Research Centre | PRC made a submission to the 2024 Productivity Commission Early Childhood Education and Care Inquiry with recommendations around supporting children with additional needs and effective models of system stewardship. | 20240501 1 May, 2024 | disability, early childhood, education, 2024 |
| Education for Family Life in Australia | Smyth, B. M., Hunter, C., Macvean, M., Walter, M., & Higgins, D. J. | Education for family life in Australia has a complex disjointed story, characterized by a marked decline in couple relationship education, on the one hand, and an expansion of parenting education on the other. Our central argument is that supporting and enriching couple relationships is critical to successful parenting. This chapter was published in R. Mihaela & A. C. Taylor (Eds.), Global perspectives on family life education. | 20190719 19 July, 2019 | parents, education |
| Parenting with intellectual disability and learning difficulties | Parenting Research Centre | The Parenting Research Centre made a submission to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, addressing the topic of parenting by people with intellectual disability and learning difficulties. | 20191201 1 December, 2019 | 2019, disability |
| Exploration of Parent Perspectives About an Online, Co-Facilitated Parenting Program for Carers of Adolescents with Disability | Hamilton, V., May, F., Wade, C., Brealey, K. | Using a mixed-methods treatment-group-only design, this study explored the implementation and outcomes of a program designed to building parenting capacity to support their adolescent with disability. | 20241007 7 October, 2024 | parenting support, disability, evaluation |
| Journal Publication Archive: Published Research 2007 – 2013 | Parenting Research Centre | Browse our archive of published research from 2007 to 2013. | 20240911 11 September, 2024 | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Evidence review: An analysis of the evidence for parenting interventions for parents of vulnerable children aged up to six years | Parenting Research Centre | The Parenting Research Centre was commissioned in 2012 by the New Zealand Government Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (then called the Families Commission) to conduct an evidence review of parenting interventions for parents of children aged up to six years who have been abused or neglected or who are at risk of abuse or neglect. | 20130601 1 June, 2013 | evidence review, rapid evidence, 2013, children, parenting support |
| Evidence review: Analysis of the evidence for out-of-home care | Parenting Research Centre | There is growing focus on programs and services that provide out-of-home care (OOHC) to children with a view to understanding the effectiveness of interventions available. In this context we were commissioned by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government to review the evidence and help guide its ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for children and young people in OOHC. | 20130801 1 August, 2013 | evidence review, 2013, children |
| Productivity Commission Inquiry: Childcare and Early Childhood Learning 2014 | Parenting Research Centre | The Parenting Research Centre made a submission to the Australian Government Productivity Commission Inquiry into Childcare and Early Childhood Learning, addressing the growing need to support parents and the services that help them. | 20140201 1 February, 2014 | submission, parenting support, early childhood, education, 2014 |
| Parent mental health as a mediator of contextual effects on parents with intellectual disabilities and their children | Wade, C., Llewellyn, G. & Matthews J. | In the face of limited research addressing the impact of mental health on parents with intellectual disability and their children, this article explores associations between socioeconomic disadvantage, social support, parent mental health, parenting practices, and child well-being for families where a parent has intellectual disability. | 20140507 7 May, 2014 | mental health, parents, children, disability, 2014 |
| Activities and participation of children with cerebral palsy: parent perspectives | Mei, C., Reilly, S., Reddihough, D., Mensah, F., Green, J., Pennington, L. & Morgan, A. | This study explored parents’ views of the activities and participation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) with a range of communicative abilities and the factors (personal and environmental) that influenced these. Despite the barriers experienced, children participated in a range of activities. Parents placed importance on communication and its influence on children’s independence, behaviour and relationships. Barriers and facilitators identified highlight aspects of the environment that could be modified through intervention to enhance communication and participation. | 20131107 7 November, 2013 | evaluation, disability, children, 2013 |
| Risk factors associated with the mental health of fathers of children with an intellectual disability in Australia | Giallo, R., Seymour, M., Matthews, J., Gavidia-Payne, S., Hudson, A. & Cameron, C. | This study is among one of the first to report the mental health of fathers of children with a disability in Australia. Findings highlight that some fathers of children with ID are at heightened risk of experiencing mental health difficulties, underscoring the importance of the provision of information and interventions to promote their mental health. | 20140320 20 March, 2014 | mental health, parents, disability, 2014 |
| Scoping Review: Evaluations of preemployment screening practices for child-related work that aim to prevent child sexual abuse | Parenting Research Centre | As part of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Parenting Research Centre and the University of Melbourne were commissioned to examine the role of pre-employment screening in preventing child sexual abuse. The final report found that criminal background checks had limited effectiveness when used as the only safeguard but are important components of pre-employment screening practices. Background checks are most effective when combined with other safeguards, such as thorough reference checks and verification of the applicant’s identity, employment history and qualifications. | 20150701 1 July, 2015 | review, children, 2015 |
| The Healthy Migrant Families Initiative: development of a culturally competent obesity prevention intervention for African migrants | Renzaho, A., Halliday, J., Mellor, D. & Green, J. | Strong partnerships and participation by sub-Saharan African migrant communities enabled the design of a culturally competent and evidence-based intervention that addresses obesity prevention through a focus on healthy lifestyles and healthy families. Program implementation and evaluation will further inform obesity prevention interventions for ethnic minorities and disadvantaged communities. | 20150319 19 March, 2015 | evaluation, 2015 |
| Brief online surveys to monitor and evaluate facilitated peer support groups for caregivers of children with special needs | Wynter, K., Hammarberg, K., Sartore, G. M., Cann, W. & Fisher, J. | The aim of this evaluation was to establish whether brief, online surveys can be used for monitoring and evaluating peer support groups for caregivers of children with special needs. | 20150401 1 April, 2015 | evaluation, parenting support, disability, 2015 |
| Submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence (Victoria) | Parenting Research Centre | A major focus of the Parenting Research Centre is in supporting governments, organisations and practitioners to design and effectively implement evidence-informed policy, programs and practices in parenting and family support. As part of this work, we made a submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence (Victoria) to address the need to support children affected by family violence. | 20150501 1 May, 2015 | submission, violence, 2015, parenting support |
| Implementation of recommendations arising from previous inquiries of relevance to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse | Parenting Research Centre | The Parenting Research Centre prepared a report, commissioned by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, that assesses the extent to which 288 recommendations from previous relevant inquiries have been implemented. The report, Implementation of recommendations arising from previous inquiries of relevance to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, also highlights factors that determined, contributed to, or were barriers to successful implementation. | 20150501 1 May, 2015 | review, children, 2015 |
| Development and Preliminary Validation of a Parenting Self-Regulation Scale: “Me as a Parent” | Hamilton, V., Matthews, J. & Crawford, S. | Effective parenting self-regulation is purported to promote positive parent and child mental health and behavioural outcomes. This study aimed to develop and validate a brief and easy-to-administer measure of parents’ perceptions of their self-regulation related to parenting. | 20140913 13 September, 2014 | mental health, children, 2014 |
| Comparison of methods for recruiting and engaging parents in online interventions: study protocol for the Cry Baby infant sleep and settling program | Cook, F., Seymour, M., Giallo, R., Cann, W., Nicholson, J., Green, J. & Hiscock, H. | Anticipatory guidance around the management of sleep and crying problems in early infancy has been shown to improve both infant behaviour and parent symptoms of postnatal depression. Results from this trial will indicate whether involvement from a health professional, and/or ongoing email contact is necessary to engage parents in a brief online intervention, and promote parental use of strategies suggested within the program. | 20151110 10 November, 2015 | parenting support, early childhood, 2015, sleep |
| Evidence for out-of-home care | Parenting Research Centre | This evidence summary draws on a rapid evidence assessment undertaken in 2013 by the Parenting Research Centre and the University of Melbourne on behalf of the Community Services Directorate, Australian Capital Territory Government. The report, Evidence review: Analysis of the evidence for out-of-home care, explored interventions for children and youth in out-of-home care and asked: which interventions are supported by the evidence? | 20160601 1 June, 2016 | rapid evidence, parenting support, 2016 |
| Peer support interventions for parents | Parenting Research Centre | This evidence summary examines the evidence around peer support interventions for parents and carers raising children with special needs. It draws on a number of research papers, and is also based on evidence from the MyTime program coordinated by the Parenting Research Centre since 2006. | 20160601 1 June, 2016 | evidence review, parenting support, disability |
| Gender-informed, psychoeducational programme for couples to prevent postnatal common mental disorders among primiparous women: cluster randomised controlled trial | Fisher, J., Rowe, H., Wynter, K., Tran, T., Lorgelly, P., Amir, L.H.. Proimos, J., Ranasinha, S., Hiscock, H., Bayer, J. & Cann, W. | The What Were We Thinking program is readily integrated into primary care, enables inclusion of fathers and addresses modifiable risks for postpartum common mental disorders (PCMD) directly. The full intervention appears a promising programme for preventing PCMD, optimising family functioning, and as the first component of a stepped approach to mental healthcare. | 20160307 7 March, 2016 | mental health, parents, parenting support, 2016 |
| Raising community awareness of parenting | Parenting Research Centre | This summary is based on a report that analysed existing Australian initiatives – such as websites or media campaigns – with community awareness-raising messages about parenting. The analysis was undertaken by the Parenting Research Centre and the Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. | 20170601 1 June, 2017 | parents, parenting support, technology, 2017 |
| Enhancing the early home learning environment through a brief group parenting intervention: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial | Nicholson, J.M., Cann, W., Matthews, J., Berthelsen, D., Ukoumunne, O.C., Trajanovska, M., Bennetts, S.K., Hillgrove, T., Hamilton, V., Westrupp, E. & Hackworth, N.J. | This study will provide unique data on the effectiveness of a brief group parenting intervention for enhancing the early home learning environment of young children from disadvantaged families. It will also provide evidence of the extent to which additional one-on-one support is required to achieve change and whether there are greater benefits when delivered in the 1st year of life or later. The program has been designed for scale-up across existing early childhood services if proven effective. | 20160602 2 June, 2016 | parenting support, education, 2016 |
| Approaches targeting outcomes for children exposed to trauma arising from abuse and neglect: Evidence, practice and implications | Parenting Research Centre | The report provides an analysis of the evidence for programs, service models and systems of care that aim to prevent or treat trauma in children exposed to abuse or neglect. The report also describes the results of a survey of almost 300 professionals working in child and family support services across Australia. This survey measured awareness and use of evidence-based approaches in childhood trauma. | 20140201 1 February, 2014 | children, 2014 |
| Prevalence of parents with intellectual disability in Australia | Man, W., Wade., C. & Llewellyn, G. | These findings provide benchmark data for monitoring, over time, the prevalence of parents with intellectual disability and point to policy and service responses for parents with only 1 child and for those in outer urban, regional, and rural areas of Australia. | 20160814 14 August, 2016 | parents, disability, 2016 |
| Depression and anger in fathers of unsettled infants: A community cohort study | Cook, F., Giallo, R., Petrovic, Z., Coe, A., Seymour, M. & Cann, W. | Fathers of unsettled infants reported greater anger towards their infant and increased depressive symptoms by 4 months infant age, with these symptoms persisting 2 months later. Evidence-based interventions are needed for these fathers. | 20160919 19 September, 2016 | fathers, parenting support, 2016 |
| Early childhood education and care educators supporting parent-child relationships: a systematic literature review | O’Connor, A., Nolan, A., Bergmeier, H., Hooley, M. Olsson, C., Cann, W., Williams-Smith, J. & Skouteris, H. | An evaluation of interventions/programs designed to promote parent–child relationships in ECEC settings (long day care, occasional care and preschool) and a range of settings (play groups, community groups and health centres) was conducted. The search revealed 21 peer-reviewed studies and seven interventions: two conducted in ECEC settings and five in a range of parent–child support settings. | 20161018 18 October, 2016 | education, parents, children, 2016 |
| Thinking families: A study of the characteristics of the workforce that delivers family-focussed practice | Goodyear, M., Maybery, D., Reupert, A., Allchin, R., Fraser, C., Fernbacher, S. & Cuff, R. | In the present study, we aimed to examine the characteristics of practitioners from Australian adult mental health services associated with family-focussed practices. Characteristics included sex, years of experience, location, and previous training in child and family-focussed practice. | 20161227 27 December, 2016 | mental health, parents, 2016 |
| Impact of a Brief Group Intervention to Enhance Parenting and the Home Learning Environment for Children Aged 6–36 Months: a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial | Hackworth, N.J., Berthelsen, D., Matthews, J., Westrupp, E.M., Cann, W., Ukoumunne, O.C., Bennetts, S.K., Phan, T., Scicluna, A., Trajanovska, M., Yu, M. & Nicholson. J.M. | This study evaluated the effectiveness of a group parenting intervention designed to strengthen the home learning environment of children from disadvantaged families. | 20170120 20 January, 2017 | parenting support, 2017 |
| Worries, ‘weirdos’, neighborhoods and knowing people: a qualitative study with children and parents regarding children’s independent mobility | Crawford, S.B., Bennetts, S.K., Hackworth, N.J., Green, J., Graesser, H., Cooklin, A.R., Matthews, J., Strazdins, L., Zubrick, S.R., D’Esposito, F. & Nicholson, J.M. | This qualitative study involved focus groups with 132 children and 12 parents in primary and secondary schools in metropolitan and regional areas of Victoria, Australia, to explore experiences and perceptions of children’s independent mobility. | 20170501 1 May, 2017 | children, 2017 |
| Parenting Interventions for Indigenous Child Psychosocial Functioning: A Scoping Review | Macvean, M., Shlonsky, A., Mildon, R. & Devine, B. | This scoping review provides the first known map of evaluations of programs targeting parents of Indigenous children. There were few rigorous evaluations of effectiveness. A rigorous systematic review is needed to evaluate the strength and extent of these findings. | 20150123 23 January, 2015 | parents, 2015, parenting support, Indigenous |
| Developing an Australian-first recovery model for parents in Victorian mental health and family services: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial | Maybery, D., Goodyear, M., Reupert, A., Sheen, J., Cann, W., Dalziel, K., Tchernagovski, P., O’Hanlon, B & von Doussa, H. | This is the first randomised controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of a parenting intervention on recovery outcomes and the first to provide an economic evaluation of an intervention for parents with a mental illness. An implementation model is required to embed the intervention in different sectors. | 20170526 26 May, 2017 | mental health, parents, 2017 |
| Mothers’ Experiences of Parent-Reported and Video-Recorded Observational Assessments | ennetts, S.K., Mensah, F.K., Green, J., Hackworth, N.J., Westrupp, E.M. & Reilly, S. | In this paper, we describe the experiences of ten mothers of children aged 24 months, recruited from a randomised controlled trial of a nurse home visiting program for mothers at risk of experiencing social adversity. After completing both a survey and video-recorded parent-child observation, mothers participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews which were analysed thematically. | 20170621 21 June, 2017 | education, 2017, parents |
| Applying Intervention Mapping to develop an early childhood educators’ intervention promoting parent–child relationships | O’Connor, A., Skouteris, H., Nolan, A., Hooley, M., Cann, W. & Williams-Smith, J. | The aim of the current paper was to describe the systematic development of the Educator–Parent–Child Relationship (E-PCR) programme using six steps of the Intervention Mapping protocol. The results of a needs assessment lead to development of the Building Educator Knowledge (BEK) framework, logic model and matrices for programme, performance and change objectives. | 20170728 28 July, 2017 | education, 2017 |
| Contrasting disclosure practices and experiences of school support for Australian adolescents with cancer, cystic fibrosis and anorexia nervosa: parent perspectives | Bowtell, E., Aroni, R., Green, J. & Saywer, S. | This qualitative study was conducted to explore stakeholders’ experiences and perceptions regarding school-based support for students with cystic fibrosis, anorexia nervosa or cancer (which were illustrative of different types of severe congenital, mental health or somatic chronic health conditions). | 20170820 20 August, 2017 | children, 2017 |
| Psychological Trauma in the Context of Familial Relationships: A Concept Analysis | Isobel, S., Goodyear, M. & Foster, K. | This review used a philosophical inquiry methodology of concept analysis to identify the definitions, antecedents, characteristics, and consequences of the varying conceptualizations of psychological trauma occurring within important relationships. | 20170821 21 August, 2017 | evidence review, 2017, mental health |
| Hope, recovery and symptoms: the importance of hope for people living with severe mental illness | Hayes, L., Herrman, H., Castle, D. & Harvey, C. | Hope is an important part of recovery from severe mental illness. Our aim was to assess hope and its correlation with symptoms in people living with severe mental illness. | 20170904 4 September, 2017 | mental health, 2017 |
| Prevalence of mental illness within families in a regional child-focussed mental health service | Naughton, M.F.A., Maybery, D.J, & Goodyear, M. | Nearly 50% of all mental illnesses begin in childhood before the age of 14 years, and over 20% of parents have a mental illness. Few studies have examined the co-occurrence of mental illnesses in parents and children. In the present study, we examined the extent of mental illness within families of 152 clients attending an Australian regional child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). | 20170919 19 September, 2017 | mental health, 2017, parents, children |
| ‘Let’s Talk About Children’: Investigating the Use of a Family-focused Intervention in the Gambling Support Services Sector | von Doussa, H., Sundbery, J., Cuff, R., Jones, S. and Goodyear, M. | The family-focused mental health intervention, ‘Let’s Talk About Children,’ has positively influenced the lives of families affected by parental mental illness. This paper outlines the use of this brief, strengths-based intervention for parents with gambling and other co-occurring issues from the gamblers’ support services sector. | 20171022 22 October, 2017 | mental health, 2017, parenting support |
| Perceptions of Parenting: Mapping the Gaps between Expert and Public Understandings of Effective Parenting in Australia | The FrameWorks Institute, Parenting Research Centre | The Parenting Research Centre commissioned the FrameWorks Institute to map the gaps between expert and public understandings of effective parenting. The Perceptions of Parenting report paints a picture of the shared understandings, assumptions and patterns of reasoning that Australians draw upon to think about parenting. | 20160501 1 May, 2016 | parents, parenting support, 2016 |
| What Influences Parents’ Fear about Children’s Independent Mobility? Evidence from a State-Wide Survey of Australian Parents | Bennetts, S.K., Cooklin, A.R., Crawford, S., D’Esposito, F., Hackworth, N.J., Green, J., Matthews, J., Strazdins, L., Zubrick, S.R. & Nicholson, J.M. | This paper looks to identify factors associated with generalized and stranger-specific parental fear (PF) about children’s independent mobility (CIM), a critical aspect of physical activity. The current study suggests that social norms, child competence, and perceptions about the benefits of CIM underpin PF. This evidence informs the development of interventions to reduce PF and promote CIM and children’s physical activity. | 20171122 22 November, 2017 | 2017 |
| Support for new parents and babies in New South Wales: the importance of parenting support | Parenting Research Centre | Our submission to the NSW Legislative Assembly Committee on Community Services into supporting new parents and babies says that the vast majority of parents are capable of parenting well, given the right support. Building parents’ capacity empowers them to become confident, autonomous and capable of dealing with future challenges. Our submission highlights a way forward to ensuring that parenting support is both effective and accessible. | 20171117 17 November, 2017 | submission, parenting support, 2017 |
| Parenting Today: A State-Wide Representative Survey of Contemporary Parenting Experiences | Wade, C., Matthews, J., Bent, C., Neill, E., Petrovic, Z., Fisher, J., Michaux, A. & Cann, W. | This article describes the study design of Parenting Today in Victoria: a representative survey of contemporary parenting experiences, behaviours, concerns and needs of parents. Findings will provide vital new insights to inform policy decision making, service planning and future research aimed at understanding parents’ attitudes and behaviours, and the psychology behind their help-seeking. | 20180223 23 February, 2018 | parents, 2018 |
| Trajectories of fathers’ psychological distress across the early parenting period: Implications for parenting | Giallo, R., Cooklin, A., Brown, S. Christensen, D., Kingston, D., Liu, C., Wade, C., & Nicholson, J. | Fathers’ parenting behavior is a likely key mechanism underlying the consistent associations between paternal mental health difficulties and poor emotional-behavioral outcomes for children. This study investigates the association between fathers’ mental health trajectories and key parenting behaviors (warmth, hostility, consistency) spanning the first 8-9 years postpartum. | 20150301 1 March, 2015 | fathers, parents, mental health, 2015 |
| Facilitating the Collaborative Interface between Child Protection and Specialist Domestic Violence Services: A Scoping Review | Macvean, M.L., Humphreys, C. & Healey, L. | Service provision in domestic and family violence involves complex responses from multiple systems. Early evidence involving other sectors suggests interagency working may benefit service systems and providers. | 20170425 25 April, 2017 | violence, 2017, evidence review |
| Enabling choice, recovery and participation: evidence-based early intervention support for psychosocial disability in the National Disability Insurance Scheme | Hayes, L., Brophy, L., Harvey, C., Tellez, J.J., Herrman, H. & Killackey, E. | The aim of this study was to identify the most effective interventions for early intervention in psychosocial disability in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) through an evidence review. This review identified evidence-based, recovery-oriented approaches to early intervention in psychosocial disability. | 20180219 19 February, 2018 | rapid evidence, disability, 2018 |
| Information technology-based support for parents — a rapid evidence assessment | Parenting Research Centre | This rapid evidence assessment looked at the state and quality of the evidence on how effective information technology interventions are in changing parent behaviour and improving outcomes for parents and children. While we found limited research addressing this topic, the practice of connecting information technology based interventions with face-to-face services appears to have value. | 20161101 1 November, 2016 | rapid evidence, technology, parenting support, 2016 |
| Review of the evidence for intensive family service models | Parenting Research Centre | This review looked at the evidence for interventions that had good evidence for supporting families with complex issues such as substance misuse, mental health problems and exposure to domestic and family violence. We rated interventions for their effectiveness in improving child, parent, family or service system outcomes. | 20150901 1 September, 2015 | evidence review, mental health, violence |
| Rapid evidence assessment of case management with vulnerable families | Parenting Research Centre | This review assessed the evidence for case management models for vulnerable families and identified systems and structures that may support case management. We identified 22 evaluations of case management models that could be categorised into three groups: vulnerable families in the early parenting years; families with complex needs; and services for children and youth. | 20150901 1 September, 2015 | rapid evidence, evidence review, 2015 |
| Interventions for parents and families: the evidence for improving emotional outcomes for children | Parenting Research Centre | This evidence brief looked at 27 high-quality systematic reviews that investigated the impact of family and parenting interventions on child emotional outcomes. It found strong evidence for interventions to improve child behaviour such as aggression, conduct problems and disruptive behaviour. These types of interventions appear to be worthwhile investments, particularly for younger children, developmentally vulnerable children and those with existing conduct problems. | 20160301 1 March, 2016 | evidence review, behaviour, 2016, children |
| The role of parenting support in ensuring the protection of children’s rights | Parenting Research Centre | Our submission to the National Children’s Commissioner regarding Australia’s progress in implementing the Convention on the Rights of Children says parenting support is fundamental to positive child outcomes. It says governments have an important role to play in providing this support – as all parents will need to access support at some stage in their parenting journey. | 20180501 1 May, 2018 | submission, children, 2018 |
| Interventions for parents and families: the evidence for improving social outcomes for children | Parenting Research Centre | This evidence brief pulled together the findings of 11 high-quality systematic reviews to report on the impact of family and parenting support programs and home visiting on social outcomes for children. It found good evidence to support the use of parenting programs to improve a range of child social outcomes, such as social skills and competence, and self-control. | 20160301 1 March, 2016 | evidence review, parenting support, 2016 |
| Interventions for parents and families: the evidence for improving physical health and wellbeing outcomes for children | Parenting Research Centre | This evidence brief looked at seven high-quality systematic reviews reporting on the impact of parenting and family support interventions and home visiting on child physical health and wellbeing. It found limited evidence relating to the impact of interventions on fine and gross motor skills only — no systematic reviews were found reporting on the impact of interventions on physical readiness for school and physical independence. | 20160301 1 March, 2016 | evidence review, 2016 |
| Interventions for parents and families: the evidence for improving language, cognitive and communication outcomes for children | Parenting Research Centre | This evidence brief reports on the findings of a rigorous review of systematic reviews. It found good evidence to support the use of these interventions for improving the cognitive and expressive and receptive language outcomes for children, particularly in children who are developmentally vulnerable. Overall, findings suggest that a worthwhile investment lies in interventions that are designed to bolster parenting skills. | 20160301 1 March, 2016 | evidence review, parenting support, 2016 |
| An analysis of the evidence for parenting interventions in Australia | Parenting Research Centre | This analysis of the evidence for parenting interventions in Australia, is a valuable tool to help policymakers, professionals and agencies make decisions about the suitability of individual parenting programs for achieving particular child and family outcomes. The report also includes information about factors that influence the successful implementation of programs within family support services across Australia. There are 12 appendices within the 2012 report, after page 52. In 2017, one of the review’s authors, Dr Michelle Macvean, used the same methods to search four academic databases and identified 37 new papers reporting Australian evaluations of parenting programs. | 20121001 1 October, 2012 | evidence review, rapid evidence, parenting support, 2012, 2017 |
| Supported playgroups for children from birth to five years | Parenting Research Centre | This Evidence Brief looked at two systematic reviews and three single studies to summarise the current state of knowledge about the impact of supported playgroups for children from birth to five years. Overall, it found the quality of research in this area was quite low, focusing on outcomes such as feasibility, acceptability and satisfaction rather than outcomes for children. More high-quality research and a consistent definition of supported playgroups is needed. | 20160301 1 March, 2016 | evidence review, 2016, early childhood, supported playgroups |
| Talking about the Science of Parenting | The FrameWorks Institute, Parenting Research Centre | This research project involving 7600 Australians has found a way to better communicate the evidence around parenting. It proposes a new ‘master narrative’, backed by evidence, that shifts away from ‘effective parenting’ and towards the idea that children’s development and parenting are interconnected. | 20180801 1 August, 2018 | parents, parenting support, 2018 |
| Engagement of birth parents involved in the child protection system: A scoping review of frameworks, policies, and practice guides | Parenting Research Centre | Child protection services ideally aim to both protect children and strengthen families so that they are able to care for their children. This review aimed to identify and synthesise strategies for engaging parents with workers in statutory child protection services and other agencies that work with families involved in the child protection system. | 20170801 1 August, 2017 | child protection, evidence review, 2017 |
| Changing practice cultures in statutory child protection: Practitioners’ perspectives | Cortis, N., Smyth, C., Wade, C. & Katz, I. | Many child protection systems struggle to implement effective models of frontline practice in the context of high caseloads, increasing costs, and compliance‐focused bureaucratic cultures. This article discusses changes brought about by “Practice First,” a framework for practice introduced to improve the quality and effectiveness of child protection work in New South Wales, Australia. | 20180516 16 May, 2018 | child protection, 2018, framework |
| What Influences Parental Engagement in Early Intervention? Parent, Program and Community Predictors of Enrolment, Retention and Involvement | Hackworth, N. J., Matthews, J. M. M., Westrupp, E. M., Nguyen, C., Phan, T., Scicluna, A., Cann, W., Bethelsen, D., Bennetts, S. K. & Nicholson, J. M. | Poor participant engagement undermines individual and public health benefits of early intervention programs. This study assessed the extent to which three types of engagement (participant enrolment, retention and involvement) were influenced by individual, program and contextual factors. | 20180409 9 April, 2018 | parenting support, early childhood, 2018 |
| EHLS at School: school-age follow-up of the Early Home Learning Study cluster randomized controlled trial | Westrupp, E. M., Bennett, C., Cullinane, M., Hackworth, N., Berthelsen, D., Reilly, S., Mensah, F., Gold, L., Bennetts, S., Levickis, P. & Nicholson, J. | Targeted interventions during early childhood can assist families in providing strong foundations that promote children’s health and wellbeing across the life course. Findings from The Early Home Learning Study provided evidence of the benefits of the smalltalk intervention delivered via facilitated playgroups for parents of toddlers. | 20180502 2 May, 2018 | 2018, early childhood, parenting support |
| A pilot randomized controlled trial examining the impact of a sleep intervention targeting home routines on young children’s (3–6 years) physical activity | Yoong, S.L., Grady, A., Stacey, F., Polimeni, M., Clayton, O., Jones, J., Nathan, N., Wyse, R., & Wolfenden, L. | Given evidence suggesting that sleep impacts on metabolic processes, interventions targeting sleep may improve child physical activity (PA). This study reports promising effects that an intervention targeting sleep may improve child MVPA and sleep duration. | 20181111 11 November, 2018 | sleep, children, obesity, 2018 |
| Meeting the Intergenerational Needs of Families Where a Parent Has a Mental Illness | Goodyear, M., McDonald, M., von Doussa, H., Cuff, R., & Dunlop, B. | Parental mental illness can have significant psychological, social and economic impacts on families. Because of the potential impact of a parent’s mental illness on children, it can also have an “intergenerational” impact. This issue brief is about one program in Australia that may be able to meet the intergenerational needs of families where a parent has a mental illness. | 20191012 12 October, 2019 | mental health, parents, 2019 |
| Review of approaches to prevent and respond to problem sexual behaviour in children and young people in out-of-home care | Parenting Research Centre | The Parenting Research Centre prepared a review, commissioned by the NSW Government Department of Family and Community Services, that examined what approaches had been used to prevent and respond to problem sexual behaviour in children and young people both in and out of Out-Of-Home Care (OOHC). The review comprised of a rapid evidence assessment, a desktop search, and consultations with professionals working in the NSW child protection field. | 20160801 1 August, 2016 | rapid evidence, children, sexual behaviour, 2016 |
| Sleep health awareness in Australia | Parenting Research Centre | Our submission to the Inquiry into Sleep Health Awareness in Australia by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport says sleep affects parents of children across the age spectrum from newborns right through to adolescents. The submission recommends further exploration and investment to provide practical support such as ready-to-use tools to track individual sleep health. Other supports include reliable, useable information via digital platforms and sleep experts to help parents and carers improve their own and their children’s sleep health. | 20181001 1 October, 2018 | submission, sleep, parents, 2018 |
| Mental health and parenting | Parenting Research Centre | Our submission to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System says parents with poorer mental health are less likely to feel confident and effective in their role as parents. This is important because when parents feel confident it helps them engage and respond to their children. It also helps them build positive family relationships and can provide a buffer during stressful and challenging times. | 20190101 1 January, 2019 | submission, mental health, parents, 2019 |
| Resilience in young children: A Delphi study to reach consensus on definitions, measurement and interventions to build resilience | Avdagic, E., Wade, C., McDonald, M., McCormack, D., Dakin, P., Macvean, M., Hayes, L., & Phan, T. | In the absence of agreement about child resilience, this study used a Delphi procedure with 32 experts in child development to reach agreement about child resilience. This study provides directions for improving understanding and measurement of child resilience, and will guide practice by professionals working with families to promote child resilience. | 20181212 12 December, 2018 | Delphi, children, resilience, 2018 |
| Let’s Talk About Children: intervention for parents with mental illness | Maybery, D., Goodyear, M., Reupert, A., Sheen, J., Cann, W., O’Hanlon, B., & Cuff, R. | Let’s Talk About Children is a manualised intervention for parents with a mental illness that aims to impact positively on family dynamics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intervention for parents with various mental illnesses and explore parents’ self-reported views regarding the impact of the intervention. | 20190130 30 January, 2019 | 2019, mental health, evaluation, parents |
| Introduction to special issue: parenting interventions and the mental health of children and parents | Wade, C., Cann, W., & Matthews, J. | This special issue addresses how interventions focused on supporting adults in their parenting role are influenced by, and can influence child and parent mental health. | 20190322 22 March, 2019 | mental health, 2019, parents, children |