Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
www.aifs.gov.au/growingup
About the study
Many Western nations have established longitudinal studies that track the development of young people from birth to early adulthood. The value of these studies for addressing key policy issues is being increasingly recognised, and is reflected in calls by national and international experts for future studies to be designed with the policy focus foremost.
Growing Up in Australia examines the impact of Australia's unique social and cultural environment on the next generation. The study has a broad, multi-disciplinary base, involving a nationally representative sample of children, and examines topical issues of policy relevance. It explores family and social issues relevant to children's development, and addresses a range of research questions about family functioning, health, non-parental child-care, and education.
Data are being collected from two cohorts every two years. The first cohort of 5000 children was aged 0-1 years in 2003/4 and the second cohort comprising 5000 children was aged 4-5 years in 2003/4. Study informants include the child (when of an appropriate age) and their parents, carers and teachers.
The longitudinal nature of Growing Up in Australia enables researchers to determine critical periods for the provision of services and welfare support, and to identify the long-term consequences of policy innovations. By tracking children over time, Growing Up in Australia is able to determine the individual, family, and broader social and environmental factors that are associated with consistency and change in children's developmental trajectories. Thus, the outcomes from the study will be able to be used to inform the development of effective social and family policy in Australia.
For a more detailed account of the rationale, research questions and design of the study see the Discussion Paper no.1.
