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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
Flinders University uses cookies to ensure website functionality, personalisation and a variety of purposes as set out in its website privacy statement. This statement explains cookies and their use by Flinders.
If you consent to the use of our cookies then please click the button below:
If you do not consent to the use of all our cookies then please click the button below. Clicking this button will result in all cookies being rejected except for those that are required for essential functionality on our website.