Quirky Kid® recently applied and won one of the three APR.Intern PhD Position (Australian Postgraduate Research (APR) Intern) program positions in collaboration with the University of Wollongong and iAccelerate.
As a result, the PhD student will complete a paid internship project with Quirky Kid® to assist with the research design and evaluation of The Basecamp® – our multi-award winning anxiety program for kids aged 7 to 12 years. This opportunity remunerates a PhD student $26,000. This rebate is 50% through the Australian Government and 50% through the University of Wollongong.
The application process for one of the APR.Intern positions were competitive. It required Quirky Kid to complete a detailed and well-articulated pitch that including project background, research to be conducted, expected outcomes and the relevance to our organisation and community.
Quirky Kid® is currently working with iAccelerate Researcher in Residence, Prof Sharon Robinson to facilitate recruitment of the PhD Intern. If you would like to apply, please contact us to arrange an interview.
The Quirky Kid Clinic and The University of Wollongong are proud to announce a new research collaboration testing the life-changing potential of clinic-based and school-based social and emotional learning programs. The research study will evaluate the efficacy of The Best of Friends® program in building children’s social and emotional competencies.
Term 2 Intake Update
Term 2 sessions are now available in Nowra, Wollongong and Austinmer. The session will start on Thursdays 3rd of May starting at 4:15 or 4:30 pm. Applications close 5th of March – hurry.
Parents and children are invited to apply. The study will involve weekly one-hour group sessions, taking place over the course of ten weeks. Sessions will be delivered by trained facilitators and will cover topics around self-awareness and self-management, social awareness, and social management. The weekly sessions will be available in Sydney, Austinmer and at the Early Start Centre at the University of Wollongong.
How does my child take part?
We are currently recruiting children between the ages of 7-11 years, who are typically-developing, and who struggle to make or maintain friendships, manage social situations and regulate their emotions are eligible to take part in this study. To apply and receive the complete Parent Information Sheet please please visit apply at http://bof.quirkykid.com.au/research or call us for more information.
Children who meet the selection criteria, and who have parental consent, will be randomly allocated (like drawing a number out of a hat) to either an intervention or a control group, and parents will be contacted with further information.
Who has approved it?
This study has been granted ethics approval by Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee with approval number ‘HREC/17/SCHN/331’.
Last month the Quirky Kid team and Pilot Pen collaborated by developing the ‘Pilot Pen Creativity Report’.
The report initiated discussion around the increase of computer use in classrooms as handwriting subsides and keyboard confidence continues to grow among school-aged children.
Watch a Video about the benefits of keeping a diary:
Our work involved reviewing independent scientific research to identify the benefits of handwriting and creative writing in children. The report revealed handwriting was a more effective for children in Year 2 as a means of expressing story ideas in a limited time frame, as compared to using keyboards for the same period of time. The children involved in this research were able to produce almost twice as many ideas using pen and paper as compared to computer technology.
You can view the research here.
Quirky Kid regularly offers consultation to organizations and companies to support interesting projects with extensive research, clinical research and report writing.
The Child Language Lab at the Centre for Language Sciences (CLaS), Macquarie University, is currently seeking children aged 2- to 2 1/2-year for a project examining language development. The project is funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC).
All studies are held at Macquarie University and parents will be requested to attend the center with their child for a one-time session where play based activities are developed as part of the research.
Each participant will be provided with a $20 Coles/Myer card and a small gift.
According to the Child Language Lab, children do not speak like adults, and their research is aimed towards learning what kinds of changes typically developing children make to words. If they can learn more about the kinds of difficulties that typical children have with pronunciation, they hope to figure out the causes associated with children with speech delays and inform better practices
If you are interested in taking part in the research you should contact:
Kelly Miles
Centre for Language Sciences (CLaS)
Macquarie University
Email: kelly.miles@mq.edu.au
Quirky Kid is not associated with the research and you should ask about ethical guidelines with the University
Monash University, in conjunction with the Brain & Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney are currently conducting research, evaluating a new treatment approach for people with Autism and Asperger’s Disorder that aims to improve social skills. This first study is for males aged between 12 and 18 with a mental age of 8 or above. This trial provides an assessment, involves the administration of a nasal spray form of natural hormone, Oxytocin, and examines whether this particular medication can improve social functioning and emotion perception.
For more information please contact the Brain & Mind Research Institute Centre for Autism/Asperger on 02 9351 0881 or email at AutismCares@med.usyd.edu.au
This study has University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee
