Young South Australians Aspirations for Parenting

Investigators

Assoc Prof Tim Moore, Alex Cahill, Sebastian Trew (Institute of Child Protection Studies); Dr Stewart McDougall (University of Edinburgh; Dr Sarah Cox, Ebony Tucker, Dr Martine Hawkes (University of South Australia)

Funding source

South Australian Department of Human Services (Early Intervention Research Directorate)

Aims

Across Australia, young people who have experienced maltreatment and/or engagement with child protection and homeless systems are more likely for their children to be removed from their care than others. This study aims to build the evidence about ways that multigenerational child protection engagement might be reduce by understanding young people’s aspirations towards parenting and relationships.

Details

The project aims to explore:

• the broad aspirations of young people who have had adverse childhoods, including those related to relationships and parenting
• what influences young people’s aspirations for parenting 
• implications for policy and practice.

The study includes two phases. In the first, young people who are not yet parents were interviewed to understand their aspirations and expectations. This phase was completed by Assoc Prof Tim Moore and the team from the Australian Centre for Child Protection (University of South Australia) and led by Dr Stewart McDougall.

The second phase will engage with younger mothers and younger fathers and explore their pathways to parenthood.

Contact

Tim Moore for further information.