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Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey

Curtin Centre for Developmental Health

3 June 2004 - Eniar website users may be interested to know about the first volume of findings from the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey released today. This study is the most extensive survey of Aboriginal families ever undertaken. After five years in the planning and two years in the field, the findings will be released in five volumes over the next 18 months. The volumes cover health, social and emotional wellbeing, education, family and community and Justice.

The survey has been undertaken by researchers at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in conjunction with the Kulunga Research Network. All phases of the survey were under the direction of the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey Steering Committee. Chaired by Associate Professor Ted Wilkes, it comprises senior Aboriginal people from a cross section of agencies and settings.

The survey was designed to build the knowledge to develop preventative strategies that promote the healthy development and the social, emotional, academic and vocational wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Major funding has been provided by Healthway, Lotterywest, Rio Tinto Aboriginal Foundation, the West Australian State Government (through the departments of Education and Training; Health; Disability Services Commission; Community Development; West Australian Drug Strategy) and the Commonwealth Government (through the departments of Education, Science and Training; Health and Ageing (coordinated through the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health); Attorney General; Family and Community Services).

More than half of the 130 surveying staff were Aboriginal. The team spent two years working across the state to gather a random sample of more than 5200 Aboriginal children. This huge task involved knocking on more than 139 000 doors. The survey included interviews with 11 300 family members, 2000 families, and more than 3000 teachers. It's involved one in five Aboriginal children in Western Australia.

Information about the study and PDF versions of the publication and summary document can be downloaded from http://www.ichr.uwa.edu.au/research/childhealth.lasso

Sven Silburn
Director and Professorial Fellow
Curtin Centre for Developmental Health
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research

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