Kids First Australia - Our Reseach

Our Research

Our research enables our organisation to review and evaluate our programs and services and also to, measure outcomes we achieve for our clients. We are pleased to share our findings with the broader sector to further the progress and improve evidence based outcomes for vulnerable children and families in the community.

CURRENT RESEARCH

Early Years Education Program (EYEP)

The EYEP is an Australian first randomised control trial that provides high quality, intensive early education and care to vulnerable children to ensure that they arrive at school developmentally and educationally equal to their peers. CPS has co-designed the program with early childhood experts and Murdoch Children's Research Institute. The Australian Research Council has funded Melbourne University Dept of Economics to undertake the research.

Caring Dads

Kids First is trialling for the first time in Australia “Caring Dads” - a group intervention program from Canada which supports fathers to improve their relationship with their children. These are fathers who have neglected or physically or emotionally abused or exposed their children to family violence. The trial is over 3 years and is supported by Gandel Philanthropy and the Victorian Government.

Children & Mothers in Mind (CMiM)

Originating from two Canadian evidence informed programs, CMiM provides therapeutic interventions to support women and children under 4 who are victim survivors of family violence and no longer living with the perpetrator.

Running Start

Running Start is a partnership between Kids First, Berry Street, Council to Homeless Persons, Launch Housing, DHHS and Robert Boasch (Australia) Pty Ltd. A unique and proactive approach to working with young people seeking independent living from out of home care, Running Start provides a rental subsidy and support with living skills, capacity building and finding successful pathways.

Improving the Parenting of Fathers where Family Violence is Present

The Responsible, Responsive and Reparative Fathering (RRRef) research project aims to improve the parenting experience of children whose fathers have enacted domestic/family violence.

Korin Korin Child & Family Centre (2018)

Korin Korin is a new kindergarten in Wollert that applies best practice elements derived from Kids First ground-breaking early years education program at West Heidelberg in a universal setting.

EYEP Qualitative Study (2016)

Kids First engaged Charles Sturt University to undertake qualitative research of the relationship pedagogy of our pioneering Early Years Education Program (EYEP). The ethnographic study's purpose was to examine the relationships and lived experiences of all EYEP participants (children, parents and staff) and describe, translate and disseminate the daily activities of the education and care model.

Mentoring Mums (2010)

Mentoring Mums is a volunteer program providing a supportive relationship for socially isolated, highly vulnerable women residing in the North-East region of Melbourne. In January 2009 Melbourne University was engaged to provide an action research evaluation to assist in the future development and implementation of the program. The Final Evaluation Report provided a snapshot of the achievements to date and a glimpse of the data and findings as a basis for the program’s future planning.

Prevention of sexually abusive behaviour by young people (2015)

In partnership with Melbourne University, Kids First explored the prevention of sexually abusive behaviour by young people.