INFANT’s contributions to enhancing positive health behaviours in early childhood have been recognised by two awards from the Deakin University Faculty of Health Partnerships in Practice. 

INFANT received two awards at the inaugural Deakin Faculty of Health Partnerships in Practice event: 

  1. Influencing Policy and Practice Award 
  1. Overall Faculty Partnership in Practice Award 

The awards recognise the outstanding collaboration between researchers at Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition and their partners, that together are enhancing parents’ skills around promoting healthy eating, active play and, in turn, healthy growth from the start of life. 

Based on over 15 years of research, INFANT trains Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service nurses and other early years professionals to deliver evidence based key messages that support mums, dads and carers to establish healthy eating and active play during their child’s first year of life.  

Following a successful research trial (2014), INFANT is now being scaled up across Victoria, working closely with the Victorian Department of Health, and in collaboration with other practice and policy partners  

 In accepting the award, INFANT’s Principal Investigator Rachel Laws said these awards would not have been possible without the amazing support and input from all the collaborating partners. 

“INFANT has been a labour of love and has involved more than a decade of tireless work and commitment by a huge number of people. Without our partners, we could not take INFANT from a research trial to a program that reaches and benefits families and communities. It’s wonderful that, together with our partners, INFANT can have such a widespread positive impact on the community!” 

Supported by key partners (Western Public Health Unit, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and their members), INFANT’s next key focus is to work with priority populations including culturally and linguistically diverse and First Nation’s communities to develop healthy eating and active play supports appropriate for these families. 

The scale-up of INFANT across Victoria is supported through Victorian Government Department of Health funding (for implementation coordination, working closely with the Healthy Eating and Active Living team, Policy and Programs Branch) and an NHMRC Partnership Grant. INFANT is a key action of the Victorian Government’s Healthy Kids Healthy Futures plan, with the aim to embed the delivery of INFANT into existing systems and services to become routine practice for early years practitioners. 

 Interested in implementing INFANT in your community? Register for the upcoming INFANT training here or get in touch via email: infant-study@deakin.edu.au.