Our research

Research in the AUT Centre for Child and Youth Health Research focuses on creating supportive environments for child and youth health. Our research is trans-disciplinary, involving the fields of nursing, public health, sport science, psychology and nutrition.

Mahi Tūturu: The landscape of Youth Work in Aotearoa
The project examines youth work practices, challenges, opportunities, and the positive impact youth workers have on young people’s lives.
Unconventional Spaces of Learning

USoL is a multi-phase research project that critically explores ways of engaging tamariki in holistic development and learning opportunities.

Supporting siblings of children with chronic illness

This international study explores how healthy siblings of children with long-term conditions access and understand health information.

Community-driven asthma research agenda

Using participatory approaches, we completed evidence synthesis, stakeholder engagement, and community-led priority settings.

Nurses’ role in detecting child abuse

Examines PHC nurses’ experiences building trust and collaboration while managing suspected child abuse in New Zealand.

Pregnant during natural disasters

Uses mixed methods to explore pregnant people’s and health professionals’ emergency experiences to improve mental health support.

Brains in sync: Assessing parent-child synchrony with EEG

Exploring brain activation synchrony in parent-child dyads with EEG.

Managing neonatal pain in New Zealand

Investigating neonatal acute pain assessment and management practices in New Zealand from whanau and clinician perspectives.

Parents’ and caregivers’ experiences

Examining parents' lived experiences of clinical holding, identifying what supports or undermines trust, emotional safety, and compassionate care.

Our early career academics & postgraduate researchers

Our ECA and postgraduate researchers come from various disciplines. Explore their research here:

  • Karen Adams (PhD candidate)
    Physiotherapy interventions for non-ambulatory children combined with intellectual disability in Aotearoa (PhD) – ongoing
    Find out more
  • Gema Carlson (PhD candidate)
    The teacher-child relationship and how subjectivities are formed through that relationship
  • Dr. Nicola Power (PhD)
    A discursive dance – A Foucauldian discourse analysis of caring touch in health practice
    Find out more

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions or would like to get involved.

Contact us

Completed projects

Check out our completed projects here.

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Pacific Health journal

Pacific Health is a peer-reviewed journal with a focus on health, communities and the environment around the Pacific Rim, often covering topics related to child and youth health.

Special issue: Youth voices in research

Pacific Health journal