Healthy Start to Life

Every child deserves the best possible start in life. From pregnancy through to school years, our care systems and services need to ensure that children and families are supported at every stage. Despite our aspirations, not all children begin life on equal footing. Many face challenges due to disability, limited resources, or gaps in support systems. Our mission is to generate evidence that informs health, early childhood care, education, disability and social services to better support families and promote healthy development.

Our Research

The community prioritises the well-being of children, ensuring they have access to nutritious food, enriching environments, and nurturing care. Parents want practical guidance. Our research shows how to support families in raising healthy children, mindful of the parenting context in todays world.

We have dedicated teams working on maternal, child, and family health research. Our foci includes early obesity prevention, nutrition promotion, chronic illness, developmental delays, and disability, aiming to improve outcomes for young children and their families.

Our research is structured around four interconnected programs, each led by internationally recognised experts:

Pregnancy

We focus on pre-conception and pregnancy interventions that promote maternal health and optimise outcomes for mothers and babies. Our work includes lifestyle interventions, midwifery care models, and strategies to reduce pregnancy-related complications.

Infancy

Our infancy research explores early nutrition, feeding practices, and developmental health. We aim to understand how early-life environments shape long-term health and wellbeing, particularly in vulnerable populations.

Early Childhood

This program addresses early obesity prevention, nutrition promotion, and developmental support. We design and evaluate interventions that foster healthy growth, development and health behaviors in young children.

Schools and Inclusive Education

We investigate how school environments can support children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive health and wellbeing. Our inclusive education research ensures that children with diverse needs are supported through evidence-based teaching, literacy, and sensory health strategies.

Read more about our research with children, mothers and families

See how our research is being translated into engaging and impactful ways to support education, training and practice

Our leading researchers in this field

Professor Rebecca Golley

Rebecca is an internationally recognised leader in children’s nutrition, health, and development. She leads innovative, evidence-based research that empowers families, educators, and communities to support healthy growth in children. Her team designs forward-thinking strategies to promote lifelong wellbeing and prevent childhood obesity - helping kids thrive from the very start.

Professor Joanne Arciuli

Jo is an internationally recognised leader in child development and disability research. Her work focuses on human communication across diverse languages and cultures, with a strong commitment to inclusive education and wellbeing. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative methodologies, she champions research that empowers children, families, and educators to thrive - especially those in disadvantaged or marginalised communities.

Professor Nicola Anstice

Nicola is a pioneering researcher in children’s vision and eye health. Her work has transformed how we understand and manage childhood myopia, including the development of innovative contact lens technologies now used worldwide. With a passion for early detection and equitable access to vision care, she is shaping a future where every child can see clearly and reach their full potential.

Professor Annette Briley

Annette is one of the most experienced midwifery researchers in Australia, bringing her extensive understanding of delivering high quality midwifery care in the UK. She works on pre-conception and pregnancy interventions to keep mothers-to-be healthy, understanding how to support healthy lifestyle approaches and the best outcomes for babies and mums.

Professor Ivanka Prichard

Ivanka is a leading expert in body image and health, exploring how social media, physical activity, and psychological wellbeing intersect. As Director of the Embrace Impact Lab, she pioneers research that empowers young people to develop positive body image and healthy behaviours. Her work is transforming how we support mental and physical wellbeing in schools and communities.

Professor Tim Green

Tim is a global leader in maternal and infant nutrition, with a focus on micronutrient interventions that support healthy development from the earliest stages of life. His research bridges clinical science and public health, delivering practical solutions to improve outcomes for mothers and babies. Through his work, families are empowered with the knowledge and tools to give children the healthiest possible start.

Professor Mridula Sharma

Mridula is a distinguished audiologist and neuroscientist whose research is transforming how we understand hearing, listening, and learning in children. Her work explores the intersection of auditory processing, language development, and cognitive function—particularly in children with diverse learning needs. Through global collaborations and innovative approaches, she is advancing inclusive education and helping children connect, communicate, and thrive.

CFI Researchers in this field

Associate Professor Ranjay Chakraborty

Associate Professor Maarten Immink

Associate Professor Liz Newnham

Associate Professor Yvonne Parry

Associate Professor Nina Sivertsen

Partner with us

We can’t reinvent care alone. We need partners across industry, government, and the general public to co-design the projects and new support mechanisms. Let’s work together to understand the building blocks of care in our society.

We can make a difference together.
Be the change.

Collaborate with us