Life Course Centre

The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (the Life Course Centre or LCC) was established in 2014 to investigate the critical factors underlying disadvantage and provide life-changing solutions for policy and service delivery. The research centre is led by ISSR, in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, and eighteen other international universities, government and non-government organisations.

LCC research at ISSR includes projects in family dynamics and the characteristics of families that contribute to the intergenerational transfer of social and economic poverty. Research is also investigating how best to support and enhance capabilities to prevent or overcome disadvantage, including research on parenting, early childhood education, family structures, mental health and employment. This research suggests that interventions directed at improving the wellbeing and health of mothers are critical for maximising opportunities for children. It also highlights the importance of working closely with schools and communities to ensure children without strong family resources do not fall too far behind. Due to the significant synergies between LCC and ISSR research, LCC researchers also collaborate on a range of projects across the Institute, including: • evaluating the Interim Home Based Care Subsidy (Nanny Pilot) Programme (led by Dr Jenny Povey) • designing the Evaluation Framework for Queensland’s Reform Program on Domestic and Family Violence (led by Prof Michele Haynes).