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The role of early testosterone and brain growth in language development, analysing older Australians’ support networks, the regulation of Indigenous safety strategies and the policy and practice of designing healthy higher density housing are among 41 new research projects at The University of Western Australia to receive Federal Government funding announced today.

A total of 899 projects worth more than $357 million around the country received funding as part of the Australian Research Council’s major grants announcement.

UWA received $17.8 million, comprising $13.37 million for 31 ARC Discovery Projects, $2.15 million for six Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards and $2.29 for four Linkage, Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities grants.

Discovery Projects include a $415,000 grant to Professor Andrew Whitehouse, Senior Principal Research Fellow at Telethon Kids Institute, and his team to investigate how fetal hormone exposure and early brain growth support child language development. The project will use neuro-imaging, endocrine and genetic techniques to track brain development from prenatal to three years of age.

Associate Professor Loretta Baldassar, UWA Discipline Chair in Anthropology and Sociology, and Dr Raelene Wilding received $308,000 to examine how older people’s support networks are increasingly dispersed due to the greater mobility of their family, friends and care services. They will also highlight the current and potential role of new media in fostering support networks to update aged care policy and service delivery.

Professor Harry Blagg, Associate Dean of UWA’s Law School, and his team will use their $279,340 grant to identify the unique qualities of Indigenous night patrols to improve security, peace and safety in Indigenous communities. Night patrols are an Australian innovation which have become key players in local crime reduction strategies and have been endorsed by government and Aboriginal communities.

Dr Sarah Foster, a Research Fellow in UWA’s School of Population Health, was awarded a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award of $364,163 to investigate higher density housing and the impact of policy guidance on building design criteria and residents’ wellbeing.

Media references

David Stacey (UWA Media and Public Relations Manager)        (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716