Brain and Behaviour Working Groups

The Research Focus Area Working Groups are the powerhouses of our RFAs, where collaborations emerge and enhanced and innovative new research will be generated.

They are not prescriptive but are naturally informed by the RFA activities, and they are fluid and not time specific, with continuation dependent on interest, motivation and success. Working groups may dissolve and it is anticipated that new working groups will form and be responsive to a changing research environment.

Working groups are generally sponsored by one primary Research Focus Area, but activities will cross multiple RFAs.

Our Brain and Behaviour Working Groups are:

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
This group will have the aim to conduct translational research in the area of child and adolescent psychiatry, psychosomatics and psychotherapy from a developmental point of view in order to cover relevant aspects related to this important field. WA experts will collaboratively establish pilot research projects, exchange knowledge and methods and prepare joint grant applications.

Contact: florian.zepf@uwa.edu.au

Child Development
This working group is reviewing and building on Telethon Kids' previous, current and planned research projects in the child development and education field, an area in which Telethon Kids Institute has had a substantial long-term involvement and expertise. The Child Development working group will bring together these researchers working in this area to produce research outcomes that respond to the needs of the sector.

Contact: james.fitzpatrick@telethonkids.org.au

Deliberate Self-Harm Intervention & Research Working Group
Deliberate Self-Harm is the chief source of health burden for Australian between the ages of 15 and 24.  This working group brings together researchers, policy-makers, clinicians, educators and consumers to focus on applied research to better characterise and address deliberate self-harm, both suicidal and non-suicidal in intent, and related mental health problems. 

Contact: kevin.runions@telethonkids.org.au

Disability
This group brings together researchers and clinical practitioners with a special interest in the needs of children with a disability. The group will develop further collaborations across the disability sector to help identify the factors that can improve outcomes for children with disability and their families, and then test and implement effective interventions to enable optimal quality of life.

Contact: jenny.downs@telethonkids.org.au

Early Intervention in Cerebral Palsy
This working group will help inform the development of a collaborative, comprehensive outcome-focused early intervention service for babies at risk of cerebral palsy who are not currently receiving services. The average age of diagnosis of cerebral palsy is 19 months while the critical period for brain development is before two years of age, therefore, early intervention has the greatest potential to optimise functional outcomes.

Contact: catherine.elliott@health.wa.gov.au or roslyn.ward@health.wa.gov.au

Fathering
This working group is building a network of researchers interested in developing research into the important role that fathers play in building resilience in children. This will include looking at the impact of fathers’ mood disorders on children and the positive child outcomes associated with a father's involvement in his child's life. The group will also be looking at antenatal workshops for expectant fathers and collecting information about men's health such as cardiovascular health and mental wellbeing.

Contact: lisa.gibson@telethonkids.org.au

Impact of Chronic Diseases on Mental Health and Education
This working group brings together clinicians, researchers, educators and consumers to focus on the health, emotional and educational outcomes of children and young people with chronic illness. The group will concentrate on a number of specific chronic conditions - type 1 diabetes, cystic fibrosis and hearing impairment - and projects have been developed to study the school experience of children and young people with these conditions, and their educational and health outcomes.

Contact: leanne.fried@telethonkids.org.au

Mental Health and Suicide Data Research Group
This working group is made up of data analysts and researchers who have an interest in mental health and suicide. The purpose of the group is to utilise the wealth of data in the Western Australian Coronial Suicide Information System (WACSIS) and Young Minds Matter (YMM) data sets to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people.

Contact: jennifer.hafekost@telethonkids.org.au

Youth Health
This working group brings together interested researchers, clinicians, other practitioners and policy makers to provide a more comprehensive, evidence-based and systematic approach to youth policy and service delivery. The group will encourage and enable new collaborations to strengthen the role of the Telethon Kids Institute and other organisations to conduct quality research that influences health, wellbeing and education policy, services and research for youth.

Contact: donald.payne@health.wa.gov.au