One of the Institute’s four aims is to apply research findings to improve the health of children, adolescents and families.
Tanyana Jackiewicz is making sure that happens.
“I have a personal commitment to the application of research into policy and practice, particularly in community-based early years primary prevention programs,” says Tanyana.
“I’ve worked both in government and research sectors and can see the potential value of having functioning working relationships between service providers, clinicians and researchers which can lead to the uptake and translation of available and new research findings.
“The translation and application of good quality research ensures health services are evidence-based and targeted at the people that need, and will benefit from, the service most.”
Tanyana manages a team of researchers working on applied research projects for government and non-government organisations. Their research includes quantitative and qualitative projects in diverse areas including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), asthma, gestational diabetes, antenatal care for Indigenous women, early years programs, injury prevention and child abuse.
Translation of research is something Tanyana has been doing at the Institute since 2000.
She joined the Institute with a Bachelor of Science (with Honours) and a Master of Public Health, both from The University of Western Australia, and a background in basic science research in the university sector and health promotion, policy and marketing within the health system.
Tanyana says working at the Institute allows her to focus on many of the things she is passionate about.
“I’m passionate about child health, particularly for disadvantaged groups,” she says.
“And I’m passionate and committed to a focus on the early years and a focus on supporting families in their parenting, and support of children to foster a positive sense of emotional, mental and physical health.”
She hopes this passion will help her realise one of her long-term research goals.
“I’d like to see, from start to finish, the design, implementation, evaluation and subsequent rollout of a culturally-appropriate antenatal model of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.”
In the more immediate future, she’d like to continue to facilitate a well-functioning relationship with clinicians at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and King Edward Memorial Hospital as a direct conduit to the research needs of service delivery in the Western Australian children and women’s health services.
“Good quality research that feeds directly into decisions made by those working in women’s and children’s health services is a best practice model of translating research into real outcomes for patients,” she says.
Tanyana recently co-authored “Healthy babies for mothers with serious mental illness: A case management framework for mental health clinicians”. The framework was designed to assist mental health clinicians in managing the reproductive and pregnancy needs of female clients with serious mental illness. This resource was an important component in a translational pathway that began with research conducted at the Institute that found that women with serious mental illness have greater obstetric and child health problems compared with women without the illness.
The publication is a highlight for Tanyana, along with co-writing a successful Healthway Health Promotion Grant for research into breastfeeding.
She’s also proud of her contribution to the Institute’s 2006 International Scientific Review.
“I consider my contribution to the Review to be a real achievement as I wrote the chapter on translating the Institute’s research into policy and practice,” she explains.
“The Review received excellent feedback from the panel members which made us all so proud to be involved.”
Tanyana throws herself fully into her research and says it can be difficult when the research appears to be ignored.
“I have such a professional and personal commitment to my work so it is hard when the findings are not acted upon which does happen with so many other competing priorities for funding.”
She also puts a lot of her energy into her son and nurturing his potential.
And when she’s not working or being a mum, Tanyana likes to ride her road bike and run.
Last updated 17 June 2008
