"The Foundation of a Healthy Society"
About Us
The role of Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA) is to promote, facilitate and undertake research that
will advance multidisciplinary understanding of healthy development by combining cognate research strengths
to address high priority research issues to ensure the physical, psychological and social health of Australian
infants, children and adolescents.
HDA was established in 2004 as an initiative of the University of Adelaide and
is led by Professor Robert Norman, Professor Caroline McMillen and Professor Michael Sawyer (since July 2006).
HDA fosters
research in over 20 disciplines and has a state wide focus to developing
a portfolio for South Australia in developmental health research. Over 100 members are involved that inlcude government, health service personnel, and researchers from the University of Adelaide,
University of South Australia, Flinders University, Children Youth and Women's Health Service and
relevant institutions.
As of 2008, HDA became A Research and Innovation Cluster in South Australia with major funding partners including the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI), Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation, and the Department of Education and Children’s Services. Supporting Partners include Flinders University, Department for Families and Communities, Department of Further Education Employment Science and Technology, SA Health and the Children Youth & Women’s Health Service.
Our Vision
The vision of Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA) is to be the major hub for research and innovation in South Australia that will advance an understanding of healthy development and ensure the physical, psychological, mental and social health of infants, children and adolescents.
Our Objectives
The following objectives are seen as pivotal in increasing the knowledge base to facilitate the development
of Australia's infants, children and adolescence:
- To develop effective communication and multidisciplinary interactions to inform and define research
directions in developmental health research among all relevant institutions and individuals in South
Australia
- To facilitate a multidisciplinary research training program in Healthy Development across the state
- To establish HDA as a focus for interactions with major international research networks and funding
agencies
- To build a positive image and profile of Healthy Development Adelaide to attract community, government
and corporate support to achieving financial independency
Our Values
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Community engagement with research
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Ethical research and engagement with a range of external stakeholders including industry, government
agencies and the community
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Mutual respect across disciplines
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Strong partnerships among research and service institutions
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Multidisciplinary research which focuses on health, social, educational, mental and economic outcomes
Want to become a HDA Member?
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If you are interested in joining HDA, please click on the following link for background
information (pdf 484kB).
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Then, please contact HDA staff via email or phone for further
discussion.
Criteria for Membership
Any individual who is recognised by Healthy Development Adelaide as either:
Having made a significant contribution to the advancement of community wellbeing and/or advancement
of health research, health service delivery and health policy related to healthy development,
Or
Having the authority to represent a particular interest area of their organisation, related to health
and wellbeing in infants, children and adolescence.
Members are asked to
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Endorse Healthy Development Adelaide's vision, objectives and good reputation
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Engage in a free exchange of information and work on the basis of trust and goodwill
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Behave ethically, as an individual member and within partnerships, maintaining professional conduct
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Maintain confidentiality of information related to Healthy Development Adelaide where appropriate
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Be willing to partake in the activities of Healthy Development Adelaide in an appropriate capacity
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