Professor Amanda Cooklin, Director of the Judith Lumley Centre, has led a new paper, ‘Cohort Profile: Growing up in Australia: the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC)’ in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
The paper presents the unique design and data available from LSAC, Australia's largest, ongoing preeminent study of children and families.
“Since 2004, LSAC has tracked development and life course for children, many of whom are now young adults. It was the first Australian nationwide child cohort study designed to provide insights into the contemporary family, economic, social service and policy factors affecting children’s life-course trajectories,” says Professor Cooklin.
“LSAC now has two decades of rich data on children and young people’s health and physical development; social and emotional wellbeing; cognitive, language and academic achievement; and economic, vocational and employment participation.”
“The study continues to generate new knowledge, particularly as data is just becoming available on outcomes salient to young adult’s health, wellbeing and participation, such as education, employment and family formation.”
Professor Cooklin says the study’s governance structure is unique, ensuring scientific excellence while maximising policy influence.
“LSAC has generated a rich and varied body of research to help policymakers, educators and health professionals understand how early life experiences and environments affect long-term outcomes for children and young people.”
