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    Home > Resource hub > Prevention in the first 2000 days

Prevention in the first 2000 days

The first 2000 days - from conception to age five - is a window of opportunity in early life to establish and support healthy behaviours among parents and their children to reduce the likelihood of poor health outcomes and associated economic impacts in the short and long-term.
  • Synthesis of knowledge from the Prevention Centre and CERI

    Synthesis Report

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  • Prevention in the first 2000 days

    Synthesis Summary

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  • Why invest in prevention in the first 2000 days?

    Policy Brief

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What did we do?

This knowledge synthesis aimed to combine the expertise of research, policy and communication experts to draw out policy-relevant lessons from research conducted by the Prevention Centre and the NHMRC Centres of Excellence within the Collaboration for Enhanced Research Impact (CERI).

The findings described below are based on evidence drawn from 60 peer-reviewed articles, synthesised and interpreted with guiding input from 12 prevention policy makers from eight jurisdictions convened over two national roundtables.

What did we find?

The synthesis highlights the benefits of prevention, provides evidence of effective and cost-effective interventions, and considers issues of implementation and scale-up of interventions in the first 2000 days.

  • The first 2000 days presents a unique window of opportunity to establish and support healthy behaviours
  • There are economic benefits from investing in prevention in the first 2000 days
  • Prevention interventions in the first 2000 days are effective and cost effective
  • Prevention in the first 2000 days requires a comprehensive approach that combines individual and population-based interventions
  • Taking action in the first 2000 days will reduce health inequalities
  • There is public support for prevention interventions in the first 2000 days
  • Implementation and scale-up of effective interventions requires collaboration between researchers, policy makers, health and social care practitioners, and consumers

Opportunities for further research

Areas for further research were identified as follows: further evidence is required to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of prevention interventions that meet the needs of priority population groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and people who experience socioeconomic disadvantage. There is also a need for increased monitoring of risk factors across the first 2000 days, to ensure future prevention efforts can be designed to address ongoing and emerging health risks. Discussions during each of the two policy dialogues revealed key areas of further interest for policy partners; including how to address specific risk factors such as food insecurity and parent’s mental health across the first 2000 days.

Associated content

  • The first 2000 days: Giving our kids the best start for a healthier life

    Resource category: Podcasts Podcasts
    Date 15 Aug 2022
  • The building blocks of prevention in the first 2000 days

    News Category: Prevention Centre News
    Date 18 Aug 2022
    colourful building blocks
Details

DATE 16 Aug 2022

TYPE Knowledge Syntheses

Prevention experts

  • Dr Alexandra Chung

    Monash University
    Dr Alexandra Chung
  • Dr Elly Howse

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Headshot of Elly Howse
  • Professor Lucie Rychetnik

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Headshot of Lucie Rychetnik
  • Beth Stickney

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Beth Stickney
  • Helen Signy

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    headshot of Helen Signy
  • Dr Alix Hall

    University of Newcastle
    Headshot of Dr Alix Hall
  • Dr Victoria Brown

    Deakin University
    Headshot of Dr Vicki Brown
  • Konsita Kuswara

    Deakin University
    Headshot of Konsita Kuswara

Prevention methodologies

  • Making the case for prevention ,
  • Research impact and translation ,
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  • Public health law, regulation and policy for prevention

    Resource category: Knowledge Syntheses Knowledge Syntheses
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  • Response to the consultation paper on the role and functions of an Australian Centre for Disease Control

    Resource category: Submissions Submissions
    Date 09 Dec 2022

Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

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Funding Partners

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre is funded by the NHMRC, Australian Government Department of Health, ACT Health, Cancer Council Australia, NSW Ministry of Health, Wellbeing SA, Tasmanian Department of Health, and VicHealth. The Australian Government also contributed through the Medical Research Future Fund. Queensland Health became a financial contributor in 2022. The Prevention Centre is administered by the Sax Institute.

©2023 The Sax Institute.

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