The Thorpe Group

The Thorpe Group is a multi-disciplinary team of researchers who seek to understand the effects of early life experiences on trajectories of behaviour, learning, health, and wellbeing across the human life course.

Work currently being undertaken by the Thorpe team include studies identifying the conditions that promote positive learning experiences in childcare settings located in developmentally vulnerable communities (Thorpe, ARC Laureate Fellowship), the impacts of changing care environments on the timing and regularity of children's sleep (Staton, DECRA), and a longitudinal study investigating the developmental significance of nap cessation on children's learning and health outcomes (ARC Discovery). Our team leads a flagship study within the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families across the Life Course focusing on the early education and care services. This work is conducted in partnership with Goodstart Early Learning, Australia's largest childcare provider, and Commonwealth and State governments.