Children's Future Fund

A message from Professor Fiona Stanley AC
Few would dispute that the health and wellbeing of our children must be a top priority. The future of our communities depend on today’s children growing up to be healthy and competent adults, who will confidently take their place in the workforce and enrich our society in so many ways.
I’m sure many of us would also think that today’s young people have it easy compared with previous generations – they enjoy technology, products and services that were in the realms of the imagination only a few decades ago.
So what’s the problem?
The reality is that despite society’s apparent progress, young people today are neither healthier nor happier – in fact, it’s often the opposite with many of the key child health indicators either static, or worsening.
Researchers in developed countries around the world are alarmed by the trend that is truly a modern paradox.
Just like the canaries who alert miners to dangerous toxins ahead, children are particularly sensitive to negative environmental and social factors. The trends that we are seeing are an urgent wake-up call.
At the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, our team of more than 400 staff and students undertake rigorous research into the most debilitating and devastating childhood diseases and disabilities.
But importantly, our focus is on the whole child. That means that while we look at the genetic and biological factors, we also look at the social, economic and emotional inputs that can contribute so strongly to poor outcomes for children. Importantly, we also look for those that enhance their health and development.
Many of the major problems affecting our children today are complex – obesity, asthma, poor mental health, autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, substance abuse, behavioural problems and juvenile crime – and none are likely to have a simple solution.
The Institute has forged a reputation for tackling the big issues in child health and wellbeing by adopting a multi faceted approach that brings together the knowledge of a broad range of experts in their fields. Biologists, geneticists, biochemists, social scientists, health clinicians, epidemiologists, biostatisticians and health economists -- working together in innovative ways.
Like St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States and the UCL Institute of Child Health at the Great Ormond St Hospital in the UK, we are co-located with a children’s hospital which ensures a strong clinical application and interaction in our research. We collaborate with leading institutions around the world, because these issues are affecting children in most developed nations.
And that’s why we’ve launched the Children’s Future Fund campaign to ensure that our team of world class researchers can continue to tackle these difficult issues, and the new problems as they emerge. We’re not simply satisfied with undertaking the research – we are dedicated to seeing that it makes a real difference. We have a proven track record in advocacy to ensure that our research findings are translated into policies and strategies that will improve the future of children in Australia and throughout the world.
Thank you for taking the time to find out more about the Children’s Future Fund. We rely on your support to continue this important work and ensure that this next generation has the bright future that they deserve.
Fiona Stanley AC
FAA, FASSA, MSc, MD, FFPHM, FAFPHM, FRACP, FRANZCOG, Hon DSc, Hon DUniv, Hon FRACGP, Hon MD, Hon FRCPCH
Director, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
2003 Australian of the Year
UNICEF Ambassador for Early Childhood

Last updated 15 October 2007