Overview

What is the first 1000 days?

The period between conception and the end of the second year of life – the first 1000 days – is the most rapid period of development in one’s life.

While early years experts have long been aware of this important period of development, researchers have only recently started to unlock some of the mysteries surrounding the processes by which genes, experiences and environments interact to influence development.

New knowledge that has been unveiled suggests an urgent need to reform our policies, practices and systems in response to the evidence. 

The evidence 

In 2016, the Centre was part of the Strong Foundations: Getting it Right in the First 1000 Dayscollaboration which aimed to optimise support for children in the first 1000 days by raising awareness and affecting change in policy, practice and parenting 

As experts in research and evidence synthesis, the Centre collated and analysed evidence of the factors that influence development in the first 1000 days across a considerable range of sectors and disciplines. The evidence revealed that there are multiple influences on children’s development, starting from pre-conception, and at the level of the individual child, the family, the community and broader society.  

The findings were synthesised into an evidence paper and a range of related resources. 

Our team

Partners and funders

Strong Foundations: Getting it Right in the First 1000 Dayswas a collaboration between the Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, Bupa Australia, the Bupa Health Foundation and PwC Australia. 

Resources

 

Presentations 

Watch Dr Tim Moore, lead author of The First Thousand Days: An Evidence Paper, deliver two presentations exploring the first 1000 days evidence.

 

 

 

Contact us

For further information on the first 1000 days resources please contact Dr Tim Moore, Senior Research Fellow at [email protected]