The Life Course Centre: helping disadvantaged Australian families

Centre of Excellence for Families and Children over the Life Course

Known as the Life Course Centre (LCC), this centre is a national research body devoted to the study of the intergenerational transmission of deep and persistent disadvantage in Australian families.

Established in 2014, the LCC aims to identify the drivers of disadvantage affecting individuals and families, and to develop innovative solutions to one of the world’s most intractable problems.

Researchers from leading Australian and international institutions use large-scale intergenerational analysis to identify the causes of disadvantage, evaluate interventions, and implement solutions.

They are supported by government agencies responsible for delivering Australia’s economic and social welfare programs, as well as the community organisations that manage poverty and disadvantage on the front line.

The LCC is based at the University of Queensland and has research hubs at the University of Melbourne, the University of Western Australia and the University of Sydney.

The LCC is funded by the Australian Research Centre as part of its Centres of Research Excellence scheme, which helps high quality researchers maintain and develop Australia's international standing in research areas of national priority.

Impact

The centre's team of leading researchers are working to provide evidence for policies that are intended to make a real difference to the lives of Australian children and families.

Investigators

Professor Guyonne Kalb, Associate Investigator, Melbourne Institute

Associate Professor Chris Ryan, Associate Investigator, Melbourne Institute

Dr Jan Kabátek, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute

Dr Nicolás Salamanca, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute

Dr Anna Zhu, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute