Search
Research
Creating Equitable Opportunities for Language and Literacy Development in Childhood and AdolescenceThe majority of children acquire language effortlessly but approximately 10% of all children find it difficult especially in the early or preschool years with consequences for many aspects of their subsequent development and experience: literacy, social skills, educational qualifications, mental health and employment.
Research
Sex-specific associations between umbilical cord blood testosterone levels and language delay in early childhoodPreliminary evidence suggests that prenatal testosterone exposure may be associated with language delay.
Research
Duration of breast-feeding and language ability to middle childhoodThere is controversy over whether increased breast-feeding duration has long-term benefits for language development.
Research
Children's language development 0-9 years. In Growing up in Australia:Language development is one of the most important developmental accomplishments of early childhood and is the foundation for literacy, educational...
Research
Inner speech impairment in children with autism is associated with greater nonverbal than verbal skillsWe present a new analysis of Whitehouse, Maybery, and Durkin's (2006, Experiment 3) data on inner speech in children with autism (CWA).

The Human Development and Community Wellbeing Team conducts research across the lifespan from conception, childhood, and youth to adulthood and the social determinants that impact and influence outcomes. The team’s focus is on the broader life course of individuals and communities within the family, school, and online environments, and includes economic evaluation of programs and outcomes.

News & Events
ORIGINS reaches key milestoneORIGINS, a collaboration between The Kids and the Joondalup Health Campus, has achieved a major milestone – recruiting its 1000th family.
Research
Online health literacy resources for people with intellectual disability: protocol for a grey literature scoping reviewPeople with intellectual disability are at risk of poor physical and mental health. Risks to health are compounded by poor health literacy, that is, reduced capacity to access health services, respond quickly to changes in health status and navigate care pathways. Building health literacy skills is a strength-based way to increase health and optimise the use of healthcare services. The internet is a primary source of health information for many people, including people with intellectual disability and their families.
Research
Screen Time and Parent-Child Talk When Children Are Aged 12 to 36 MonthsGrowing up in a language-rich home environment is important for children's language development in the early years. The concept of "technoference" (technology-based interference) suggests that screen time may be interfering with opportunities for talk and interactions between parent and child; however, limited longitudinal evidence exists exploring this association.