Research
Introduction
Social Work Department Vision Re Research
To improve psychosocial health and well being outcomes for infants, children, adolescents and their families through practice based research and evaluation projects in paediatric hospital social work practice.
Objectives
The aim of the RCH Social Work Department research program is to promote inquiry and reflective practice and to provide the evidence base for social work practice to ensure better outcomes for patients and their families.
Goals
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To develop an evidence base of the psychological and social experience of hospital patients and families
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To contribute to the literature on health and welfare issues effecting infants, children, young people and their family
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To develop and evaluate innovative and effective social work clinical practice interventions to assist patients and their families.
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To guide clinical care in the hospital which supports healthy emotional and social development and relationships for infants, children and adolescents.
The Social Work Department staff may be engaged in research at RCH in the following ways:
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Through Industry Partnership in ARC Linkages grants
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Provide a clinical service or collect data as part of a colleagues project
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Participate as a co investigator on a colleague’s project
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Undertake a project to fulfil requirements of a university higher degree
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ndertake a research project to answer a clinical /service delivery question that has arisen out of practice.
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Be part of multidisciplinary research or evaluation project
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Be a member of reference or advisory group for a research project
Associate Professor Paediatric Social Work
In 2007 a full time academic position of Associate Professor of Paediatric Social Work (Infant and Family) was established at the hospital and Dr Brigid Jordan was appointed to the position. This position is supported by a grant from Melbourne Community Foundation. The position was established to resource and facilitate clinical social workers to undertake practice based research, and the translation of infant mental health knowledge and expertise into clinical practice in paediatric health and welfare settings.
This academic appointment is in the Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, furthering the links between the social work department and paediatrics and contributing to a multidisciplinary Department of Paediatrics. A Prof Jordan is also Group Leader of the multidisciplinary Social and Mental Health Aspects of Serious Illness Research Group within the Critical Care and Neurosciences Theme at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Current Projects
The experience of culturally and linguistically diverse families with a child receiving treatment from the Children’s Cancer Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital
Helen Stewart*, Nicole Tokatlian, Nadia Albert, Lynette Joubert, Heidi Jurisch, Kathryn Le Maistre, Najat Maroki, Julie Mogan, Jeni Moodie, Silvio Proy, Lisa Orme, Liz Wynne
From colonization to conciliation
Judith Sloan, Louise Harms, Angela Clarke, Ian Anderson, John Whyte, Gary Anderson, Suzanne Cross, Nicola Watt, Shawana Andrews
Audit of record of Semi-Structured Clinical Social Work Interview with parents of an infant with indeterminate sex
Elizabeth Loughlin *
The impact of cardiac surgery on the infant and their family
Brigid Jordan*, Candice Franich Ray, Vicki Anderson, Elisabeth Northam, Andrew Cochrane, Samuel Menahem
A description of the presentation and outcome of infants who present to RCH Emergency Department with crying and/or feeding problems
Brigid Jordan*, Ines Said, Penny Moody, Ed Oakley
An exploration of the emotional and psychosocial experience of chronic gastro intestinal disease for infants in the first four years of life and their families
Nikhil Pooviah, Campbell Paul, Brigid Jordan*, Winita Hardikar, Julie Bines, Anthony Catto-Smith
An exploratory study of the psychosocial services offered to children and their families admitted to an acute paediatric hospital following a transport accident
Alys Manguy*, Lynette Joubert
Cumulative harm in a medical context
Nicole Tokatlian, Brigid Jordan*, Cathy Humphreys, Anne Smith, Nicola Watt, Judith Sloan, Lionel Lubitz, Sarah Connolly
The emotional and social burden of caring for a young child with complex health needs
Bronwyn Wigg, Brigid Jordan*, Peter Anderson, Linda Johnston, Rod Hunt, Lou Harms, Cheryl Evans
Fathers’ experience of neonatal intensive care
Natalie Beattie, Brigid Jordan*, Lynette Joubert
Infant sleep and settling strategies: addressing controversies and evaluating evidence to inform a universal prevention trial
Jane Fisher, Heather Rowe, Harriet Hiscock, Jordana Bayer, Anne Colahan, Brigid Jordan*, Vivienne Amery
Family intervention following paediatric traumatic brain injury
Lyndal Hickey*, Jane Galvin, Vicki Anderson, Brigid Jordan*
Impact of and needs of family members following child’s traumatic brain injury
Bridie Keating, Lyndal Hickey*, Meisha Clark*
Intersex theme research
Elizabeth Loughlin*
* Key Social Work Department contact for project
Completed Projects (2000+)
The treatment of persistent irritability in infants: A randomised controlled trial comparing anti reflux medication with an infant mental health intervention
Brigid Jordan*, Michelle Meehan, Ralf Heine, Lionel Lubitz, Anthony Catto-Smith
Life after colic
Mary Brown, Brigid Jordan*, Ralf Heine
An exploration of bereaved parents’ experience of autopsy
Jane Sullivan
Brain tumour: Child and family impact study
Alun Jackson, Maree O’Toole, Jane Miller, Kate Enderby, Menka Marks, S. Gregory, David Ashley, Helen Stewart*, Nicole Tokatlian
* Key Social Work Department contact for project
Completed Projects (Before 2000)
A descriptive analysis of psychosocial factors associated with frequently readmitted paediatric patients diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
D Nilsson
Parents experience of bereavement group program
M O’Toole, J Sullivan
Craniopharyngioma Child and Family Impact Study
A Jackson, H Goodman, B Johnson, M Tsantefski
Social Work Discharge Planning in Complex Paediatric Cases
A Jackson, B Johnson, M O'Toole
Complex Case Management/Discharge Planning (Phase 1)
A Jackson, J Badger, M O'Toole
Hospital Program - Early Intervention in Child Protection matters
H Goodman, J Miller
The Experience in Dance Movement of Three Individual Women with Turner Syndrome
E Loughlin
A Descriptive Analysis of Psychosocial Factors Associated with Frequently Readmitted Paediatric Patients Diagnosed with Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
D Nilsson
Grants and Awards
Grants
2008-2010
Cathy Humphreys, Brigid Jordan*, Jennifer Smith, Nicola Watt
Cumulative Harm: Reducing child abuse through improved decision-making
ARC Linkage Grant
$25,627 for three years
2008-2011
Linda Johnston, Peter Anderson, Rod Hunt, Kaye Spence, Brigid Jordan*, Nadia Badawi
The emotional and social burden of caring for a young child with complex health needs
ARC Linkage Grant
$140,290 - $40,097 for each of three years and $20,000 in the fourth year
2008-2009
Brigid Jordan
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute funding
$20,000
2007-2012
Brigid Jordan
Melbourne Community Foundation
Grant to establish position of Associate Professor Paediatric Social Work (Infant and Family)
Awards
2008
Brigid Jordan
Awarded the World Association for Infant Mental Health Affiliate Award in Japan in August 2008. The award was in recognition of her achievements in advancing the field of infant mental health throughout Australia.
2008
Elizabeth Loughlin
Awarded the Annual Hanny Exiner Memorial Foundation Achievement Award in November 2008. The award was in recognition of her long-term achievements and contributions to the field of dance-movement therapy in Australia. In particular, her role in the development and recognition of the profession both within Australia and overseas.
Publications (2000+)
2009
Jordan, B. & Sketchely, R. (2009). A stitch in time saves nine: Preventing and responding to the abuse and neglect of infants. Child Abuse Prevention Issues, No 30, Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Brown, M., Heine, R., & Jordan, B. (2009). Health and well-being for school aged children following persistent crying in infancy. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 45, 254-262.
Jackson, A., Enderby, K., O’Toole, M., Thomas, S., Ashley, D., Rosenfeld, J., Simos, E., Tokatlian, N. & Gedye, R. (2009). The role of social support in families coping with childhood brain tumour. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 27, 1-24.
2007
Jackson, A., Stewart, H., O'Toole, M., Tokatlian, N., Enderby, K., Miller, J., & Ashley, D. (2007). Paediatric brain tumour patients: Their parents' perceptions of the hospital experience. Journal of Paediatric Oncology Nursing, 24(2), 95-105.
2006
Cincotta, N., Tokatlian, N., & Miller, J. (2006). The International Exchange Program: In the First Person. Social Work in Health Care, 43(2/3), 193-197.
Loughlin, E. (2006). Infertility, An unspoken presence in the lives of teens and young women with Turner Syndrome. In R. Balen & M. Crawshaw (Eds.), Sexuality and Fertility Issues in Ill health and Disability. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Heine, R, Jordan, B., Lubitz, L., Meehan, M., & Catto-Smith, A. (2006). Clinical predictors of pathological gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants with persistent distress. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 42(3), 134-139.
Jordan, B., Heine, R., Meehan, M., Catto-Smith, A., & Lubitz, L. (2006). Effect of antireflux medication, placebo and infant mental health intervention on persistent crying: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 42(1-2), 49-58.
Miller, J. (2006). Skills, bravery, courage, and foolhardiness: Seventy-five years of social work in health care in Melbourne, Australia. Social Work in Health Care 43(2-3), 173-191.
2005
Angelico, D. & Sullivan, J. (2005). A particular love; A double hurt: Learning from a grandparent bereavement support group. In T. Heinonen & A. Metteri (Eds.), Social work in health and mental health: Issues, developments and actions. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press.
Warne, G., Grover, S., Hutson, J., Sinclair, Metclaf, S., Northam, E., Freeman, J. and others in the Murdoch Children's Research Institute Sex Study Group (MCRISSG; Loughlin, E., Rillstone, M., Anderson, P., Hughes, E., Hooper, J., Todd, S., Zahac, J., & Savulescu, J.) (2005). A long-term outcome study of intersex conditions. Journal of Paediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism, 18, 555-567.
2004
Robb, B. & Sullivan, J. (2004). The past and the present: Listening to parental experiences of autopsy practice. Grief Matters, 7 (2), 39-43.
Hiscock, H. & Jordan, B. (2004). Problem crying in infancy. Medical Journal of Australia, 181(9), 507-512.
Thomson-Salo, F., Paul, C., Morgan, A., Jones, S., Jordan, B., Meehan, M., Morse, S., Walker, A. (2004). Free to be playful: Therapeutic work with infants. In F. Thomson-Salo & C. Paul (Eds.), The baby as subject: New directions in infant-parent psychotherapy from the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Melbourne: Stonington Press.
Jordan, B. (2004). Reflux and irritability. In F. Thomson-Salo & C. Paul (Eds.), The baby as subject: New directions in infant-parent psychotherapy from the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Melbourne: Stonington Press.
2003
O'Toole, M. & Sullivan, J. (2003). Third Thursday nights: An exploration of the experience of a parents' bereavement support group. Grief Matters, 6(3), 52-55.
Sullivan, J., Robb, B., Hynson, J., & Monagle, P. (2003). Helping families understand autopsy.
Loughlin, E. & Staehli, S. (2003). Dance therapy. In J. Whiteoak & A. Scott-Maxwell (Eds.), A currency companion to music and dance in Australia. New South Wales: Currency House.
2002
Jordan, B. (2002). Infancy and domestic violence. Children Australia 27(4), 22-23.
2001
Jackson, A., Johnson, B., O'Toole, M., & Auslander, G. (2001). Discharge planning for complex paediatric cases. Social Work in Health Care, 34(1-2), 161-175.
Thomson-Salo, F., Paul, C., Morgan, A., Jones, S., Jordan, B., Meehan, M., Morse, S., Walker, A. (2001). Le jeu et el travail therapeutique direct avec le nourrisson (Playing and therapeutic work directly with the infant). Devenir, 4, 5-26.
Conference Presentations
2009
Selena White*, SweeKum Ho, Leanne Foster. “Culturally Sensitive Care for the Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Patient from Remote Communities” Women and Children’s Hospitals Australia, Brisbane, 2009
Lyndal Hickey*, Jane Galvin, Meisha Clark, Kari Steer, Kate Walley, Jane Edwards. "Family goal planning and the rehabilitation process: What is important to families?" Australian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment, Sydney, May 2009.
Brigid Jordan*, Candice Franich-Ray, Vicki Anderson, Elisabeth Northam, Andrew Cochrane, Samuel Menahem. “The Impact of Cardiac Surgery on Infants’ Emotional Development and the Infant Parent Relationship”. World Congress of Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Cairns, June 2009.
Candice Franich Ray, Brigid Jordan*, Vicki Anderson, Elisabeth Northam, Andrew Cochrane, Samuel Menahem. “Parent Well-Being Following Their Infant’s Cardiac Surgery”. World Congress of Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Cairns, June 2009.
Candice Franich Ray, Brigid Jordan*, Vicki Anderson, Elisabeth Northam, Samuel Menahem, Andrew Cochrane. “Developmental Outcomes of Infant Cardiac Surgery”. Australian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment, Sydney, May 2009.
2008
Michelle Bamfield. “The use of critical incident debriefing with parents on NNU who have experienced an unexpected traumatic event at/or shortly after birth”. Queen Elizabeth Centre Conference, Melbourne, November 2008.
Jane Sullivan. “There's something we need to talk about: Parents, professionals and discourses about autopsy examination”. International Conference on Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society, Melbourne, July 2008.
Bronwyn Wigg. “Starting a hospital based group program for adolescent burn patients”. Australia and New Zealand Burn Association Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, 2008.
Bronwyn Wigg. “More than a burn: Social work intervention in identifying and responding to cumulative harm in paediatric burn care”. Australia and New Zealand Burn Association Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, 2008.
Elizabeth Loughlin* & Sonia Grover. “Disorders of sex development”, National Adolescent Gynaecology Conference, Melbourne, 2008.
Jennifer Jackson, Frances Thomson Salo & Brigid Jordan*. ““Who’s looking at me?” Proposed research on infant observation as a therapeutic tool in work with ‘at risk’ babies”. Australian Association for Infant Mental Health Conference, Adelaide, November 2008.
Michelle Bamfield. “The use of critical incident debriefing with parents on NNU who have experienced an unexpected traumatic event at/or shortly after birth”. Australian Association for Infant Mental Health Conference, Adelaide, November 2008.
Brigid Jordan. “Playing on the field of representations in infant parent psychotherapy”. Australian Association for Infant Mental Health Conference, Adelaide, November 2008.
Helen Stewart. “The use of a pre-clinic questionnaire in long term follow up of childhood cancer survivors”. Australia and New Zealand Childhood Haematology Oncology Group Conference, Perth, 2008.
Helen Stewart. “Does culture and language make a difference - Family and staff experiences in paediatric oncology”. Australia and New Zealand Childhood Haematology Oncology Group Conference, Perth, 2008.
Helen Stewart. “The experience of caring for a child with cancer: What difference do culture and language make?”. International Psycho Oncology Society Conference, Madrid, June 2008.
Brigid Jordan. “Play and words in infant parent psychotherapy in a paediatric hospital context”. World Association for Infant Mental Health Congress, Yokohama, Japan, August 2008.
Candice Franich-Ray, Vicki Anderson, Samuel Menahem, Andrew Cochrane, Elisabeth Northam, Brigid Jordan*. “Timing of diagnosis in infants with severe congenital heart disease - Does it impact on parent adjustment and parent-infant relationships?”. World Association for Infant Mental Health Congress, Yokohama, Japan, August 2008.
Elizabeth Loughlin. “Long term outcomes: Starting at the beginning”. National Seminar on Disorders of Sex Development, July 2008.
2007
Brigid Jordan*, Candice Franich-Ray, Andrew Cochrane, Samuel Menahem, Elisabeth Northam, Vicki Anderson. “Neonatal cardiac surgery – women’s experience of pregnancy, the birth, the baby and their relationships”. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Melbourne, August 2007.
Candice Franich-Ray, Samuel Menahem, Andrew Cochrane, Vicki Anderson, Elisabeth. Northam, Abdullah Al-Farquani, Brigid Jordan*. “Cardiac Surgery – a major stress for infants, parents and families”. Annual Scientific Meeting of Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, New Zealand, August 2007.
Candice Franich-Ray, Brigid Jordan*, Elisabeth Northam, Andrew Cochrane, Samuel Menahem, Vicki Anderson, Abdullah Al-Farquani. “Pre- or post-natal diagnosis of congenital heart disease- Does it make a difference to parent adjustment following cardiac surgery?”. Australian Association for Infant Mental Health National Conference, Sydney, October 2007.
Elizabeth Loughlin. “The data that counts: Including evaluation and research in dance therapy practice”. Australian Dance Therapy Conference, Melbourne, November 2007.
Frances Thomson Salo, Campbell Paul, Brigid Jordan*. “The baby as subject: Whose memories”. International Psychoanalytic Association Congress, Berlin, July 2007.
2006
Elizabeth Loughlin. “How do we Decide? Dilemmas for parents in making decisions around gender and genital surgery for their infant with uncertain sex”. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health, Hong Kong, December 2006.
Elizabeth Loughlin. “Rumour and Discrimination, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) Club”. Annual Seminar National Hospital Paediatrics.
Candice Franich-Ray, Brigid Jordan*, Samuel Menahem, Abdullah Al-Farquani, Vicki Anderson, Elisabeth Northam, Andrew Cochrane. “The impact of infant cardiac surgery on parents and their relationships with their infant one month after discharge from hospital”. World Congress for the World Association for Infant Mental Health, Paris, July 2006.
Brigid Jordan*, Candice Franich-Ray, Samuel Menahem, Vicki Anderson, Elisabeth Northam, Abdullah Al-Farquani, Andrew Cochrane. “The impact of cardiac surgery on infants, their relationships and their family”. World Congress for the International Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, Melbourne, September 2006.
Brigid Jordan*, Candice Franich-Ray, Samuel Menahem, Vicki Anderson, Elisabeth Northam, Abdullah Al-Farquani, Andrew Cochrane. “The impact of cardiac surgery on infants and their families- Implications for hospital and social work practice”. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Well Being, Hong Kong, December 2006.
Brigid Jordan. “For crying out loud! – Persistent infant crying or ‘colic’: Assessment, treatment and practice based research”. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Well Being, Hong Kong, December 2006.
Brigid Jordan. “Attachment theory- A way forward with failure to thrive”. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Well Being, Hong Kong, December 2006.
Maree O’Toole. “Death in a climate of change”. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Well Being, Hong Kong, December 2006.
Maree O’Toole. “The gendered nature of coping in families with a child with a brain tumour”. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Well Being, Hong Kong, December 2006.
Jane Sullivan. “Parents and the autopsy examination of their child: A matter for the heart and mind”. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Well Being, Hong Kong, December 2006.
Nicole Tokatlian, Alun Jackson, Kate Enderby, Maree O’Toole, Helen Stewart*, Shane Thomas, David Ashley, Jane Miller. “Predictors of adjustment in families of children with a brain tumour”. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Well Being, Hong Kong, December 2006.
Julie Munro, Lynette Joubert, Rinaldo Bellomo, Donna Goldsmithe, Stephen Warrillow. “Examining the psycho-social care needs of family members of intensive care patients”. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Well Being, Hong Kong, December 2006.
2005
Candice Franich-Ray, Abdullah Al-Farquani, Samuel Menahem, Brigid Jordan*, Vicki Anderson, Andrew Cochrane, Elisabeth Northam. “The impact of infant cardiac surgery on parents – Initial assessment”. World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Buenos Aires, September 2005.
2004
Elizabeth Loughlin. “A Social Guidance Program for families with an infant (0-3 years) of unclear sex”. National Hospital Paediatrics Scientific meeting on Ambiguous Sex.
Elizabeth Loughlin. “Who is my Baby? A social work intervention program for infants of indeterminate sex and their families”. World Congress for Infant Mental Health, Melbourne, 2004.
2000
Elizabeth Loughlin. “Same or Different. Creative Interventions and the response of adolescent girls with Turner syndrome”. International Symposium on Turner Syndrome.
* Key Social Work Department contact for the project