Brighter Beginnings First 2000 Days Summit
Dr Catherine Wade
Principal Research Specialist at the Parenting Research Centre
Dr Catherine Wade is Principal Research Specialist at the Parenting Research Centre. She leads research, evaluation and analysis activities at the Centre, with a focus on evaluating the implementation and impact of initiatives aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable families across Australia and internationally. Her experience spans leading, conceptualising, conducting and reporting research, evidence synthesis and program evaluation, including expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, data collection and analysis including for continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives, and secondary analysis of large-scale longitudinal data.
She has extensive experience conducting social policy research and is an experienced psychologist with extensive clinical expertise in families affected by vulnerability, disability and disadvantage. In addition to her 20+ years with the Parenting Research Centre, Dr Wade is also a Research Affiliate with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney.
Abstract
Presentation on application of emerging research on policy and practice led by their research groups and facilitated by Moderator using pre-prepared questions
Children thrive when their mothers and fathers are supported. The provision of universal and targeted parenting supports is a powerful way to improve child wellbeing, health and educational outcomes, and ultimately to reduce social disadvantage. This presentation will showcase some of the recent research of the Parenting Research Centre that highlights effective ways of engaging with families in pregnancy and the early years to support parenting. Findings from three waves of a large scale, representative survey of Australian parents – including data from over 3000 fathers – and from the recent evaluation of the Focus on New Fathers pilot in NSW, will be used to demonstrate emerging trends in parent help-seeking behaviour and needs, with important insights for child and family health professionals and children’s educators regarding where different sub-groups of parents go for support in their parenting and how they feel about the support they receive. Considerations for professionals in applying these research findings to practice will be discussed, and links to reliable and evidence-based digital parenting supports will be shared.
NSW Health acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land across NSW, whose cultures and customs have nurtured and continue to nurture this land.
We would like to pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and the hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the state.