Research finding the key to growing up strong

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Kalillie Douglas, one of the Footprints in Time Study participants. Photo: Lee-Anne Parsons.

A ground-breaking new study, Footprints in Time, is looking at early life factors that impact on the development and futures of Indigenous children.

The first study of its scope in Australia, Footprints in Time is following the development of 1,687 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from 11 sites across Australia over four years.

Participating families are being interviewed each year, with a focus on the development of their children aged from six to 18 months and from three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years.

Mick Dodson, chair of the Footprints in Time steering committee, is enthusiastic about the study’s potential for supporting Indigenous children to achieve fulfilling, happy and healthy lives.

“There are plenty of examples of Indigenous success; we just have to recognise it and replicate it and help [our kids] to cultivate an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity that is strong and smart,” Dodson says.

Maggie Walters, a Trawlwoolway woman and senior lecturer with the University of Tasmania, is also on the steering committee for Footprints in Time. Walters says the study is a positive step in providing an evidence base for governments, service providers and communities to develop more effective and culturally appropriate policy and programs for Indigenous children and families.

“We said to the government, you can’t make policies because you haven’t got evidence. You might think this is happening, but if you don’t know, then really there’s not much point in making a policy. We need to know for sure what’s going on.”

Behind the study lie the living stories of the families involved. Walters says that the response from participants has been enthusiastic.

“We are so grateful to all the families who have been willing to talk openly about what family life is like for them and what they’re doing with parenting, bringing up their kids. Our families have recognised the importance of us getting some really good information.”

Faye Mason’s daughter is one of the participants in the study. Like most parents, she wants her child to have a good life, to handle challenges and be independent and strong.

Mason, who is from Darwin, believes that participating in the study will make a difference for her child and future generations. “I like being in Footprints in Time because I feel it gives me a voice. I believe it helps us to be able to speak about what our problems are and what we need and what we would like.”

Study participant Tom Slockee, a Walbanja elder from Moruya in New South Wales, agrees. “I think this study will be positive in the sense that it will throw up some ideas and direct the funding towards some support systems that will help our kids for the future.”

The study sites for Footprints in Time are Northern Territory Top End, South-East Queensland, South Coast New South Wales, Mt Isa, Mornington, Doomadgee, Normanton, Western Sydney, Dubbo, Greater Shepparton, Torres Strait Islands and Northern Peninsula area, Kimberly Region, Adelaide, Alice Springs and some surrounding communities.