Matthew Sanders Symposium

Aims of the symposium: This symposium brings together four decades of innovative research, program development and scaling and global dissemination of a globally recognised evidence-based practice, the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program. Professor Sanders will present exciting new findings from recent large-scale trials of the Triple P system including the Every Family population trial focusing on the prevention of child maltreatment, the national dissemination of a suite of Triple P Online programs for all families in Australia and well as other recent trials involving schools.

Format: The program will feature a keynote address followed by a panel discussion on experts discussing the policy and clinical implications of the work.

Presenter: Professor Matthew Sanders, AO, PhD, FASSA, Foundation Professor of Parenting Studies and Family Psychology, Parenting and Family Support Centre, The University of Queensland, Chair of the Parenting and Family Research Alliance (PAFRA), Convenor of the Inaugural International Congress on Evidence-based Parenting Support 2023 and Founder of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program.

Synopsis: To reduce global prevalence rates of social, emotional, and behavioural problems in children and adolescents, an integrated multi-level, system of evidence-based parenting support is required. Several criteria need to be met for such a system to work at scale in “shifting the needle” at a population level. These include having a theory of change, clear goals and targets, having multiple levels of intensity of intervention available (not a “one size fits all”), involving and where possible harmonising different disciplines, sectors, and service delivery systems. The intervention needs to accommodate both flexibility and fidelity of delivery, have a well-trained and supported workforce to deliver programs. Programs need to be inclusive, gender-sensitive, culturally informed, and attuned to local context including (policies, funding, type of workforce and their availability). Taking a global perspective and using the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program as an example, Professor Sanders will reflect on progress across four decades in attempting to meet these criteria, challenges we have encountered, learnings, solutions and future directions will be highlighted. Much greater collaboration and knowledge sharing between different evidence-based programs are needed to ensure collective efforts to influence research, policy and practice. New opportunities for parenting researchers and program developers in addressing family and parenting factors related to the UN’s sustainable development goals, neglected areas of research from a parenting across the lifespan perspective, and the addressing problems arising from mental health, education and child welfare policies that fail to properly recognise the critical importance of parenting support and the need to fund both ongoing research and implementation efforts practice to ensure programs evolve and address the contemporary needs of children and their families.

Date: June 5, 2024 Time: 2.00-4.00 pm

Venue: Room 505-007 (Lecture Theatre 2), FMHS Building, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland and via Zoom (meeting ID: 959 4642 9859)

Host or Publisher Te Ara Hāro and the Child and Adolescent Research Network (CARN) with the support of the Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland and the Ted and Mollie Carr Trust