The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (the Life Course Centre) is a national research centre investigating the ways in which deep and persistent disadvantage endures within families and across generations.
We generate evidence-based research to develop new knowledge, technology and practices to benefit those living in, or at risk of, disadvantage. Bringing together a multi-disciplinary network of researchers and partners throughout Australia and internationally with a shared focus on addressing entrenched disadvantage, the Centre aims to:
- Identify the drivers of deep and persistent disadvantage
- Develop and trial new solutions in policy and practice
- Build capacity across academic, government and non-government organisations
- Develop data and technical infrastructure and innovation
- Destigmatise disadvantage
At the time of securing its initial ARC grant in 2014, the Life Course Centre was only the second seven-year social science Centre of Excellence to be funded by the ARC. We were the only ARC Centre of Excellence from 2014 to secure funding for a further seven-year period in the 2020 round. The Australian Government’s continuing investment in the Life Course Centre is an investment in a sustained focus on transformative social science research and the translation of this research into effective policies and practices for disadvantaged Australians.
The Life Course Centre is administered by the Institute for Social Science Research at The University of Queensland and is a collaboration between the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne and The University of Western Australia. It is supported by international experts, key Australian government agencies and non-government organisations working at the front line of disadvantage.