THRIVING FUTURES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES:
THE ROLE OF EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING AND FAMILY INTERVENTION
Parenting and Family Support Centre, The University of Queensland
July 13, 2021
This special webinar event brings together a multidisciplinary expert panel to explore how evidence-based parenting and family interventions can be used to tackle the issues facing children, families, society and the planet, and help build a thriving future for us all.
It is brought to you as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Parenting and Family Support Centre at The University of Queensland. Proudly supported by the Parenting and Family Research Alliance, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, and the Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership.
Modern families face a myriad of challenges. Alongside the demands of home, work and school, they must navigate technological advancements, climate change, social inequality, lockdowns, uncertainty, and the “new normal”. Many families are vulnerable, and all need support to do their best.
Amidst these challenges, we all have an interest in securing the social, economic and environmental future of our planet. While initiatives like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals may guide our way, these need to be translated into action. As the core unit of social life, families play a vital role in this endeavour.
Evidence-based parenting and family interventions enable families to live well and create the future they want to see for themselves and their children. The question is, with so many challenges in front of us, what should be our priority, and what should we do?
Panellists
Professor Matthew Sanders – World-leader in parenting research, and director of the Parenting and Family Support Centre at The University of Queensland.
Professor Donna Cross – Expert in school-based interventions, and Professor at University of Western Australia and Program Head of Development and Education at Telethon Kids Institute.
Professor Daryl Higgins – Expert in child maltreatment prevention and public health, and director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University.
Professor Sara Dolnicar – Leader in pro-social and pro-environmental behavioural insights, and ARC Australian Laureate Fellow at the Australian Institute for Business and Economics at The University of Queensland.
Professor Sophie Havighurst - Leading child and family clinical psychologist, and Professor of Psychiatry at University of Melbourne.
Moderator
Madonna King – Award-winning journalist, author and leader of public debate on issues pertaining to children, families, education, health, and policy.
Resources
Higgins, D. (2020). A public health approach to protecting children. Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University. https://bit.ly/35G2CuI
Richardson, D., Dugarova, E., Higgins, D., Hirao, K., Karamperidou, D., Mokomane, Z., & Robila, M. (2020). Families, Family Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti, Florence, 2020. https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1092-families-family-policy-and-the-sustainable-development-goals.html
About the Parenting and Family Support Centre
The Parenting and Family Support Centre (PFSC), at The University of Queensland School of Psychology, is home of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program.
The primary aim of the PFSC is to prevent behavioural and emotional problems in children by enhancing the skills and confidence of parents and by addressing family risk factors known to contribute to adverse developmental outcomes in children.
The PFSC is a world leader in the development, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of population-based approaches to parenting and family interventions. The PFSC collaborates with research groups around the world, remains informed of research developments elsewhere, and disseminates research findings from current PFSC projects internationally.
PFSC research activities establish the scientific basis of all aspects of Triple P intervention and dissemination, including rigorous evaluation of new program variants. Triple P is a scientifically researched family intervention strategy designed to assist parents to improve their parenting skills and build positive relationships with their children. Triple P is currently used in over 26 countries, has been translated into 20 languages, and has helped millions of children worldwide.
Another focus of the PFSC is to contribute to policy development that may affect families. This is achieved by consultation with government ministers and policy advisers, and by dissemination of research findings. PFSC staff members are active in national and state professional associations, serving on editorial boards for journals, grant review committees and policy forming bodies. Staff members frequently comment in the media on topics of general community interest, and the activities of the centre have been the subject of many current affairs programs, newspaper and magazine articles.
