Healthy Development Adelaide The University of Adelaide Australia
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Healthy Development Adelaide

Ground Floor, Norwich Centre
55 King William Road
North Adelaide SA 5006

Email
Telephone: +61 8 8313 8222
Facsimile: +61 8 8313 1355


"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 Michael Sawyer and Professor Claire Roberts.

HDA won the Excellence in Research Collaboration at the SA Science Excellence Awards in 2009.

HDA fosters research in over 24 disciplines and has a state wide focus to developing a portfolio for South Australia in developmental health research. Over 180 members are involved that include government, health service personnel, and researchers from the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, Flinders University, Women's and Children's Health Network and relevant institutions.

Our partners include the University of South Australia, Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI), Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation, Department for Education and Child Development, Fertility SA, Flinders University, Flinders Fertility and Repromed.

We would like to thank past Convenor, Professor Caroline McMillen for her valued committment and contributions to HDA (2004-2011).

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:

  1. 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
  2. To facilitate a multidisciplinary research training program in Healthy Development across the state
  3. To establish HDA as a focus for interactions with major international research networks and funding agencies
  4. To build a positive image and profile of Healthy Development Adelaide to attract community, government and corporate support to achieving financial independency

Our Values

  • Community engagement with research
  • Ethical research and engagement with a range of external stakeholders including industry, government agencies and the community
  • Mutual respect across disciplines
  • Strong partnerships among research and service institutions
  • Multidisciplinary research which focuses on health, social, educational, mental and economic outcomes

Want to become a HDA Research Member?

  • Research Membership is open to PhD students, early career researchers, and senior researchers working in areas relevant to HDA's goals.
  • If you are interested in joining HDA, please click on the following link for background information.
  • Then, please contact HDA staff via email or phone for further discussion.

Criteria for Research Membership

Any individual who is recognised by Healthy Development Adelaide as either:

Having made a 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

  • Endorse Healthy Development Adelaide's vision, objectives and good reputation
  • Engage in a free exchange of information and work on the basis of trust and goodwill
  • Behave ethically, as an individual member and within partnerships, maintaining professional conduct
  • Maintain confidentiality of information related to Healthy Development Adelaide where appropriate
  • Be willing to partake in the activities of Healthy Development Adelaide in an appropriate capacity

Research Member Benefits

Based upon past contributions or involvement with HDA (such as: presented at a HDA event, attending HDA events on a regular basis, member of a HDA committee, participation in the HDA School Education Program), members can receive the following benefits:

  • HDA Travel Grants
  • HDA top-up PhD Scholarships
  • HDA Awards

 

Want to become a HDA Associate (non-research) Member?

  • Associate Membership is open to individuals finding value in HDA and interested in being part of this network in a non-research capacity.

Criteria for Associate Membership

Do you work or are interested in areas relating to the health and wellbeing of infants, children and/or adolescence in a non-research capacity and/or attend HDA events out of work/personal interest. Sectors may include (but not inclusive) to health, education, government, private company, and the community.

Associate Member Benefits

Be a valued part of our network and foster linkages between people working in areas relevant to the health and development of young children and adolescence. Your membership support will assist us to increase our public profile within the community and strenghten our partnerships.

There is NO COST to you. If you would like to join HDA, please complete the attached proforma and return to HDA staff via email.

Note: Your name and contact details will be kept confidential. However, having this information will make it easier for us to contact you and help ensure that our activities are relevant to our broad membership. Associate members are currently not eligible for research travel grants, awards or scholarships.

Further details on our associate members can be found on the Our People page.