Professor; Program Head, Health Promotion and Education Research
EdD, GradDipHSc, BEd, FAHMS, GAICD
Donna Cross is a Professor with the School of Global and Population Health at the University of Western Australia, and Program Head of Health Promotion and Education Research at the Telethon Kids Institute where she leads 27 researchers who develop and test strategies to improve children’s and adolescents’ wellbeing, with a focus on mental health and social-emotional wellbeing.
Donna is a Chief Investigator and the Western Australian Node Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course. This seven-year $32.1m project aims to produce and empower precision methods and adaptive social interventions to optimise support for disadvantaged children and families, helping them to achieve their life potential.
She was previously the Founding Director of the Child Health Promotion Research Centre at Edith Cowan University (2003-2012), where she led numerous research projects to build researcher capacity in the promotion of children’s and young people’s social and emotional development and wellbeing.
Donna is an experienced applied health promotion researcher and educator, with expertise in engaging with stakeholders to enhance intervention effectiveness and sustainability. Most of her research has involved school and community-based interventions and through the formation of stakeholder, consumer and peak agency advisory groups, she has developed strong collaborative links with state/federal government departments and major NGOs related to health, education and children. She has extensive research translation experience, contributing to major child and adolescent health practice and policy in Australia and internationally.
Donna has more than 30 years of applied research experience as a Chief Investigator for $84m in research funding. She is currently a Chief Investigator on nine longitudinal research projects aiming to prevent bullying, cyberbullying and associated mental health harms among young people; promote healthy technology use, and improve the socio-emotional wellbeing of young children and supporting the social and emotional development of children and adolescents with chronic disease.
Donna has published 38 books/chapters, 173 journal articles, 95 reports and over 100 health education resources, frequently cited by other scholars. Her research outputs have been translated by government and non-government agencies to influence policy and practice in many areas including mental health promotion, especially linked to adolescent bullying, cyber bullying and aggression prevention. Most of the major policy documents and curriculum used in schools across Australia – including the National Wellbeing Framework and Australian Curriculum – invited her contribution. Further, she was the founder and has developed and tested components of an innovative project called Friendly Schools Plus (FS+) for 20 years in 11 major studies, now implemented in over 3,000 schools in Australia, Singapore, the UK and USA.
Donna has supervised 43 PhD/Masters students and currently supervises 6 PhD students and formally mentors 6 post-doctoral researchers.
Professor Cross’ scholarly contribution to children’s health research has been recognised by many university, state, and national awards. She was awarded the 2012 WA Australian of the Year Award and received the 2012 Future Justice Prize for Australian leadership and initiative in the advancement of future justice. Professor Cross was also a finalist in the 2011 WA Citizen of the Year Awards and the 2017 WA Scientist of the Year. In 2016 she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship and an NHMRC Research Fellowship, and in 2015 she was inducted as a fellow to the Australia Academy of Health and Medical Science.
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Projects
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Publications
February 2021
DETECT Schools Study Protocol: A Prospective Observational Cohort Surveillance Study Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 in Western Australian Schools
Amidst the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the transmission dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is key to providing peace of mind for the community and informing policy-making decisions. While available data suggest that school-aged children are not significant spreaders of SARS-CoV-2, the possibility of transmission in schools remains an ongoing concern, especially among an aging teaching workforce. Even in low-prevalence settings, communities must balance the potential risk of transmission with the need for students' ongoing education.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Influenza Infectious Diseases Human Capability Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Skin Health Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young People Geospatial Health and DevelopmentMarch 2021Psychological flexibility is associated with less diabetes distress and lower glycated haemoglobin in adults with type 1 diabetes
Diabetes distress, self-efficacy and health literacy are associated with diabetes self-management and health outcomes. Measures of coping styles and their impact on diabetes self-management and diabetes-related distress may add value in identifying those at risk of poorer health outcomes. Current evidence of associations between psychological flexibility/inflexibility and diabetes related health outcomes is limited.
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research School and Community WellbeingMarch 2021School leaders’ and staff wellbeing is critical for student success. Our Schools- Our Future Research Paper
While most education professionals enjoy the many opportunities working in schools and with students provides, they are also exposed to numerous stressors, such as excessive workload, complex and challenging student needs and responding to parent demands can compromise their wellbeing. Frequent exposure can lead to burnout, stress, health and relationship problems and fatigue, which can have a negative impact on their motivation, job satisfaction and their likelihood of remaining in the profession. This research paper provides recommendations and practical actions to protect and promote the wellbeing of school leaders and staff, and to support staff who may be experiencing difficulties with their mental health and wellbeing.
Published research School and Community WellbeingApril 2021Prevalence and pattern of energy drink intake among Australian adolescents
Energy drinks (ED) are popular among young people despite evidence of associated health risks. Research into the prevalence and pattern of ED intake among young people is sparse. The present study investigates the prevalence and pattern of ED intake among a large sample of adolescents, including how many consume them, how often, for what reasons and in what contexts.
Published research Early Childhood Development Nutrition Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and Nutrition School and Community WellbeingMay 2021Burden and preference-based quality of life associated with bullying in children
The objectives of this study are to assess the association between childhood bullying and preference-based health-related quality of life in Australian school children and their parents and estimate quality-adjusted life years associated with bullying chronicity. Children aged 8-10 years completed the child health utilities, while parents completed the Australian quality of life.
Published research Bullying School Attendance School and Community WellbeingMay 2021The Potential of Anti-Bullying Efforts to Prevent Academic Failure and Youth Crime. A Case Using the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP)
The effectiveness of bullying prevention programs has led to expectations that these programs could have effects beyond their primary goals. By reducing the number of victims and perpetrators and the harm experienced by those affected, programs may have longer-term effects on individual school performance and prevent crime. In this paper, we use Norwegian register data to study the long-term impact of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) on academic performance, high school dropout, and youth crime for the average student, which we call population-level effects.
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingJune 2021Bullying and psychosocial adjustment among children with and without asthma
Children with asthma face serious mental health risk, but the pathways remain unclear. This study aimed to examine bullying victimisation and perpetration in children with asthma and a comparison sample without a chronic health condition, and the role of bullying in moderating psychosocial adjustment outcomes for those with asthma. A sample of children with and without asthma, and their parents, were recruited from hospital clinics.
Asthma Published research Bullying Children's Lung Health School and Community WellbeingJuly 2021The Challenges of Being Physically Active: A Qualitative Study of Young People With Type 1 Diabetes and Their Parents
Benefits of physical activity are well recognized for youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but being active is challenging. In this study, we aimed to investigate the challenges experienced by adolescents, their parents and young adults with T1DM when they are physically active.
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Diabetes and Obesity School and Community WellbeingJuly 2021Adverse Childhood Experiences, Associated Stressors and Comorbidities in Children and Youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder across the Child Protection and Justice Settings in Western Australia
Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are at risk of having adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), especially those with child protection or justice system involvement. The complex relationship between FASD and psychosocial vulnerabilities in the affected individual is an important clinical risk factor for comorbidity.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Early Childhood Development Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research School and Community WellbeingAugust 2021Economic Evaluation of an Intervention Designed to Reduce Bullying in Australian Schools
The aim of this study was to estimate the changes to costs and health benefits of implementing the "Friendly Schools Friendly Families" (FSFF) anti-bullying intervention in Australia.
Published research Child Health, Development & Education Bullying School AttendanceSeptember 2021Strengthening student social and emotional wellbeing and preventing bullying behaviours: Insights from 20 years of Friendly Schools research in Australian schools.
Strong evidence supports our current understandings of student bullying behaviours and ways schools can prevent and respond effectively to bullying behaviour. In the late 1990’s, however, little was understood about the most effective ways to reduce bullying in Australian schools. In response to schools’ need for evidence-informed action, a pipeline of research called Friendly Schools was initiated in 1999 which for the past twenty years, has provided robust whole-school evidence-based knowledge and skills to support policy makers, school staff and other practitioners working in schools and families across Australia.
Published research Bullying School Attendance Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young People Youth mental health School and Community WellbeingSeptember 2021Leading excellence through equity: Social emotional learning for a Fair Go
Australia likes to call itself the land of the "Fair Go". But what does a Fair Go mean for students from backgrounds of deep disadvantage? The UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 aim to ensure "inclusive and equitable quality education and [to promote] lifelong learning opportunities for all" (United Nations, 2015).
Published research School and Community WellbeingNovember 2021Built Environments and Child Health: A Policy Review’, Life Course Centre Working Paper Series, 2021-22
Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century and is affected not only by individual choice but also by societal and environmental influences. Childhood obesity is higher in children living in regional and remote compared with major cities, in one-parent families and for those with a disability.
Published research Nutrition Human Capability Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Geospatial Health and Development School and Community WellbeingDecember 2021Friendly schools’ bullying prevention research: Implications for school counsellors
Bullying varies in frequency, intensity, duration and hence severity, and contributes uniquely and directly to mental health problems, with severe and long-lasting consequences. Almost a half of school-age students report being bullied in the past year.
Published research Bullying School Attendance School and Community WellbeingDecember 2021Overarching Evaluation of the National Support for Child and Youth Mental Health Program- Final Report
The National Support for Child and Youth Mental Health Program (the Program) aims to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people, commencing with the early years and going through to adolescence, by providing targeted grants for workforce and education activities that will build capabilities aligned to the Program objectives.
Published research School Attendance Youth mental health School and Community WellbeingSeptember 2020The Challenges of Being Physically Active: A Qualitative Study of Young People With Type 1 Diabetes and Their Parents
Benefits of physical activity are well recognized for youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but being active is challenging. In this study, we aimed to investigate the challenges experienced by adolescents, their parents and young adults with T1DM when they are physically active.
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Diabetes and Obesity Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentAugust 2020Long-term economic outcomes for interventions in early childhood: protocol for a systematic review
Investment in early childhood produces positive returns: for the child, the family and the community.
Published research Early Childhood Development School and Community WellbeingMay 2020Combining whole-school and targeted programs for the reduction of bullying victimization: A randomized, effectiveness trial
The current effectiveness trial evaluated the combination of a whole-school program designed to prevent bullying perpetration and victimization
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingMay 2020Lessons from schools with high levels of support for students with type 1 diabetes: A qualitative study
This project aimed to investigate how schools provide support for the psychosocial wellbeing and disease management of students with type 1 diabetes
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Diabetes and Obesity Youth Mental Health School and Community WellbeingMarch 2020RE-AIM evaluation of a teacher-delivered programme to improve the self-regulation of children attending Australian Aboriginal community primary schools
Benefits in teaching the Alert Program® to students in a region with high reported rates of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and self-regulation impairment
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Group A Streptococcal & Rheumatic Heart Disease School and Community WellbeingMarch 2020Recalling our day in the sun: comparing long-term recall of childhood sun exposure with prospectively collected parent-reported data
Group data from retrospective recall of sun-related behaviours may be of limited value in studying the relationship between sun exposure and health outcomes;
Published research Child EpidemiologyMarch 2020Developing a smartphone application to support social connectedness and wellbeing in young people with cystic fibrosis
This study developed and tested a highly usable, and moderately acceptable, smartphone app to improve the psychosocial health of young people living with CF
Cystic Fibrosis Published research School and Community WellbeingFebruary 2020Facilitators and barriers to the implementation of motivational interviewing for bullying perpetration in school settings
Results indicated a number factors which influenced the uptake of Motivational Interviewing in schools
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2019Designs on Narrative: A Design-Based Method to Elicit Young People’s Narratives About Electronic Image-Sharing Issues and Interventions
The narrative structure innate to the Design Thinking process offered a picture of electronic image-sharing problems and related solutions from young people’s perspectives
Published research Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2019Friendly Schools Universal Bullying Prevention Intervention: Effectiveness with Secondary School Students
This study demonstrates the importance of considering the effectiveness of secondary school bullying prevention interventions and real-world implementation support
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingMarch 2019Improving self-regulation and executive functioning skills in primary school children in a remote Australian Aboriginal community: A pilot study of the Alert Program®
This community partnered pilot research, evaluated a school-based program to reduce the behavioral impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research School and Community WellbeingMarch 2019Powered standing wheelchairs promote independence, health and community involvement in adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
This study used qualitative methods to explore how adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy used a powered wheelchair standing device in their daily lives
Published research Academic Biostatistics Child Disability School and Community WellbeingJuly 2019Telling an Adult at School about Bullying: Subsequent Victimization and Internalizing Problems
To prevent persistent victimization, schools and teachers need to be better equipped to respond effectively when a student first becomes a target of bullying
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingSeptember 2019Moral Disengagement of Pure Bullies and Bully/Victims: Shared and Distinct Mechanisms
This study advances bullying research by extending the role of moral disengagement in bullying episodes beyond pure bullies to victims, both pure victims and bully/victims
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingOctober 2019The Nguudu Barndimanmanha Project-Improving Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Aboriginal Youth Through Equine Assisted Learning
We observed improvements in self-regulation, self-awareness, and socialization skills, evident from the photography recording and the questionnaire data
Published research Aboriginal HealthDecember 2019A Qualitative Exploration of Electronic Image Sharing Among Young People: Navigating the Issues of Conformity, Trust, Intention, and Reputation
This research sought to explore the main factors affecting young people's image-sharing behaviors, particularly in the context of peer relationships and norms
Published research Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingDecember 2018Impact of the Friendly Schools whole-school intervention on transition to secondary school and adolescent bullying behaviour
These findings demonstrate the immediate value of whole-school interventions to reduce bullying behaviour and associated harms among students
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingNovember 2018A group randomized controlled trial evaluating parent involvement in whole-school actions to reduce bullying
Whole-school capacity-building intervention in early and middle childhood can improve the likelihood and frequency of positive parent–child communication about bullying
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingNovember 2018If it's about me, why do it without me? Genuine student engagement in school cyberbullying education
This study reports on a three-year group randomized controlled trial, the Cyber Friendly Schools Project, aimed to reduce cyberbullying among grade 8 students
Published research Bullying Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingSeptember 2018Beyond the reactive-proactive dichotomy: Rage, revenge, reward, and recreational aggression predict early high school bully and bully/victim status
We discuss the implications of addressing Revenge and Recreation, as well as Reward and Rage aggression motives, for bullying prevention and intervention strategies
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingAugust 2018The school experiences of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Western Australia
Elevated levels of emotional difficulties among school students with T1D and variable levels of support from school staff to assist these students to manage their diabetes at school
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Diabetes and Obesity Youth Mental Health School and Community WellbeingJune 2018Does the Risk Outweigh the Benefits? Adolescent Responses to Completing Health Surveys
Self-reported experiences of adolescents in population-based samples when completing health-related surveys on topics with varying potential for evoking distres
Published research Youth Health School and Community WellbeingApril 2018Motivational interviewing as a positive response to high-school bullying
We provide a narrative review of Motivational Interviewing and map its core features onto the extant literature on self‐reported motivations for bullying
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingMarch 2018Study protocol for a self-controlled cluster randomised trial of the Alert Program to improve self-regulation and executive function in Australian Aboriginal children
This trial is evaluating the effectiveness of an Alert Program school curriculum for improving self-regulation and executive function in children living in remote Australian Aboriginal communities
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research School and Community WellbeingFebruary 2018“Arguments online, but in school we always act normal”: The embeddedness of early adolescent negative peer interactions within the whole of their offline and online peer interactions
Our aim was to study was to investigate how negative peer interactions on/offline are associated with each and with other daily interactions among adolescents.
Published research Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingFebruary 2018Efficacy of the Aussie Optimism Program: Promoting Pro-social Behavior and Preventing Suicidality in Primary School Students. A Randomised-Controlled Trial
Aussie Optimism Program with teacher training along with coaching may have the potential to positively impact on suicidality and pro-social behavior in the pre-adolescent years
Published research Bullying Human Capability School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2018Bullying and mental health amongst Australian children and young people with cystic fibrosis
This study describes the peer bullying experiences of young people with CF, and examines associations between school bullying and the psychological well-being of these young people
Cystic Fibrosis Published research Youth Mental Health School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2018Investigating the long-term impact of a childhood sun-exposure intervention, with a focus on eye health: protocol for the Kidskin-Young Adult Myopia Study
A follow-up of Kidskin Study participants provides an opportunity to investigate the associations between a childhood sun-exposure intervention and potentially related conditions in adulthood
Published research Cancer Epidemiology School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2018School-based promotion of mental health and wellbeing to address bullying
The complexity of an issue such as school bullying and how this is best addressed as part of a systematic whole-school approach
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2017Adolescent perceptions of bystanders’ responses to cyberbullying
This study explored the perceptions of, and key influences on, adolescent bystanders who witness cyberbullying
Published research Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingMay 2017Adolescent Bystander Behavior in the School and Online Environments and the Implications for Interventions Targeting Cyberbullying
The aim of this study was to add to the emerging knowledge about the role of bystanders in cyberbullying.
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingOctober 2017Family Involvement in a Whole-School Bullying Intervention: Mothers’ and Fathers’ Communication and Influence with Children
These results highlight the importance of working with both male and female caregivers when addressing children’s bullying behaviour.
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingDecember 2016The Association of Fly-in Fly-out Employment, Family Connectedness, Parental Presence and Adolescent Wellbeing
Importance of strengthening family connections within fly-in fly-out households. Suggestions have been made to help fly-in fly-out parents to stay in touch with their families
Published research School and Community WellbeingJune 2016Adolescent bystanders' perspectives of aggression in the online versus school environments
Researchers' understanding of bystanders' perspectives in the cyber-environment fails to take young people's perceptions into account and remains imperfect.
Published research Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingMay 2016Does self-efficacy mediate the association between socioeconomic background and emotional symptoms among schoolchildren?
Socioeconomic inequality in emotional symptoms exists. This inequality is partly explained by socioeconomic inequality in self-efficacy
Published research School and Community WellbeingMay 2016Encouraging the positive use of technology through community engagement
This study utilises a community-level approach to develop resources to encourage cybersafety and a positive transition from primary to secondary school
Published research Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingMay 2016Cyber Agression
Information and communication technology has allowed individuals to engage in aggressive behavior on multiple distinct platforms with different capabilities
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingApril 2016Using online environments to build school staff capacity to address student wellbeing
Teachers and school executive teams are often required to address health and wellbeing issues affecting students' learning
Published research Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingMarch 2016Longitudinal impact of the Cyber Friendly Schools program on adolescents' cyberbullying behavior
Cyber Friendly Schools program was associated with significantly greater declines in the odds of involvement in cyber-victimization and perpetration
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2016Testing for Response Shift Bias in Evaluations of School Antibullying Programs
Researchers conducting program evaluations in other contexts are advised to consider testing for this potential source of bias in their studies
Published research Bullying Human Capability School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2016Cyberbullying and the role of the law in Australian schools: Views of senior officials
Opinions of employees from the education and legal systems, regarding their perceptions of the role of the law and cyberbullying in Australian schools
Published research Bullying Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2016Using online environments to build school staff capacity to address student wellbeing
Professional development of school staff can be enhanced with carefully developed and delivered online learning resources
Published research School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2016Encouraging the positive use of technology through community engagement
Describe a seven stage community engagement process to develop and disseminate community uptake strategies which encouraged cyber safety
Published research School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2016School policies on bullying and cyberbullying: perspectives across three Australian states
The perspectives of professionals involved in bullying and cyberbullying policy construction, across three different Australian states
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingOctober 2015The relationship between school climate and mental and emotional wellbeing over the transition from primary to secondary school
The current study examined the relationship between students’ mental and emotional wellbeing and factors pertaining to school climate, focusing on the...
Published research Depression and Anxiety School and Community WellbeingAugust 2015Is sexual content in new media linked to sexual risk behaviour in young people? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Strong association between self-reported exposure to sexual content in new media and sexual behaviours in young people
Published research Youth Health School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2015Protecting and Promoting Young People’s Social and Emotional Health in Online and Offline Contexts
Young people's use of mobile phones and access to the Internet have increased dramatically in the last decade, especially among those aged 9-15 years.
Published research Bullying Cyber Safety Youth Health School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2015Risk factors in adolescents’ involvement in violent behaviours
The purpose of this paper is to examine risk factors associated with Western Australian secondary school students' involvement in violence-related behaviours.
Published research Youth Health School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2015Evaluating the capacity of Australian school staff to recognise and respond to cyberbullying behaviours
To prevent and manage students' cyberbullying, school staff must be aware of this behavior, be able to recognize it, and respond appropriately and skilfully.
Published research Bullying Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2015Bridging the gap of school change: Pre-service teachers’ knowledge and understanding of cyberbullying
The beliefs, attitudes and understandings of pre-service teachers towards bullying and more recently, cyberbullying remains unclear.
Published research Bullying Cyber Safety Youth Health School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2015Cyberbullying among children and youth:Characteristics and prevention strategies
This book discusses cyberbullying among children; specifically explaining the prevalence of cyberbullying, the difficulties in detection & prevention, the...
Published research Bullying Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2015Parent voices guide smoking intervention development
While parents' influence on their children's smoking behaviour is widely recognised, little is known about parents of four to eight year olds' attitudes and...
Published research School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2015Bullying behaviour following students’ transition to a secondary boarding school context
This study investigated the prevalence and types of bullying behaviour that boarding students experienced during the transition to a secondary boarding school.
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2015The social and emotional well-being and mental health implications for adolescents transitioning to secondary boarding school
This paper explores the social and emotional wellbeing and mental health complexities for Western Australian adolescents when they transition to boarding school
Published research Depression and Anxiety School and Community WellbeingMay 2015A social-ecological framework for understanding and reducing cyberbullying behaviours
While the CFS findings suggest the combined whole-school response to the mediators was somewhat effective, the study wasn't able to determine the relative...
Published research Bullying Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingMarch 2015If it’s about me, why do it without me? Genuine student engagement in school cyberbullying education
This study reports on a three-year group randomized controlled trial, the Cyber Friendly Schools Project (CFSP), aimed to reduce cyberbullying among grade 8...
Published research Bullying Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingFebruary 2015A longitudinal study of the social and emotional predictors and consequences of cyber and traditional bullying victimisation
Few longitudinal studies have investigated how cyberbullying interacts with traditional bullying among young people, who are increasingly using online...
Published research Bullying Cyber Safety School and Community WellbeingMarch 2014Bias in student survey findings from active parental consent procedures
This study assessed the potential bias present in a sample of actively consented students, and in the estimates of associations between variables obtained...
Published research Human Capability School and Community WellbeingFebruary 2014Transition to secondary school: Expectation versus experience
This study investigated what young people in primary school reported being worried about with their impending move to secondary school, and how their...
Published research School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2014Do emotional and behavioural difficulties in primary school predict adolescent victimisation trajectories?
The results of this study suggest whole-school bullying intervention programmes need to occur before students reach secondary school.
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2014Using Systems Theory to Understand and Respond to Family Influences on Children's Bullying Behavior
This article addresses Systems Theory as it applies to school-age children's bullying behavior.
Published research Bullying School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2014Teacher–Child Relationship, Parenting, and Growth in Likelihood and Severity of Physical Aggression in the Early School Years
This study investigated the likelihood of children showing problems with parent-rated physical aggression, and on the severity of problems, for 374 children.
Published research School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2014How Does Support From Peers Compare With Support From Adults as Students Transition to Secondary School?
Students who expect and experience a positive transition to secondary school are generally well-supported by their peers, school, and family.
Published research School and Community WellbeingDecember 2013The Forms of Bullying Scale (FBS): Validity and Reliability Estimates for a Measure of Bullying Victimization and Perpetration in Adolescence
The study of bullying behavior and its consequences for young people depends on valid and reliable measurement of bullying victimization and perpetration.
Published research Bullying Human Capability School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2022Acceptability of OP/Na swabbing for SARS-CoV-2: a prospective observational cohort surveillance study in Western Australian schools
When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, Governments responded with lockdown and isolation measures to combat viral spread, including the closure of many schools. More than a year later, widespread screening for SARS-CoV-2 is critical to allow schools and other institutions to remain open.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Infectious Diseases School Attendance Skin Health COVID-19 School and Community WellbeingFebruary 2022Informing Resource Allocation for Investment in Early Childhood: A Review of the International Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Early childhood investment decisions represent critical policy frameworks that ideally reflect a strong evidence base. This review seeks to assess early childhood intervention priorities based on return on investment without limitation by health, education or social science sector.
Published research Child Health, Development & Education Early Childhood Development School and Community WellbeingFebruary 2022Evaluating the effectiveness of the Play Active policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: a pragmatic cluster randomised trial protocol
Daily physical activity is critical during the early years of life for facilitating children's health and development. A large proportion of preschool children do not achieve the recommended 3 h of daily physical activity. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are a key setting to intervene to increase physical activity. There is a significant need for ECEC specific physical activity policy, including clearer guidelines on the amount of physical activity children should do during care, and strategies for implementation of these guidelines.
Published research Early Childhood Development Playgroups Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and Nutrition School and Community WellbeingMarch 2022Individual, Social, and Environmental Correlates of Energy Drink Use Among Adolescents
To investigate the correlates of adolescent energy drink use using a socioecological approach to inform future interventions.
Published research Nutrition Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and NutritionApril 2022A review of Australian Government funding of parenting intervention research
Parenting is central to children's optimal development and accounts for a substantial proportion of the variance in child outcomes, including up to 40% of child mental health. Parenting is also one of the most modifiable, proximal, and direct factors for preventing and treating a range of children's problems and enhancing wellbeing.
Published research School and Community WellbeingJune 2022Exploring offending characteristics of young people with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Western Australia
Neurodevelopmental impairments resulting from Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) can increase the likelihood of justice system involvement. This study compared offence characteristics in young people with FASD to demographically matched controls (n = 500) in Western Australia.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Parenting & Families Early Childhood Development Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchJune 2022“Why don’t I look like her?” How adolescent girls view social media and its connection to body image
Adolescent girls appear more vulnerable to experiencing mental health difficulties from social media use than boys. The presence of sexualized images online is thought to contribute, through increasing body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls.
Published research Parenting & Families School and Community Wellbeing