SEED Lifespan conducts world-leading research aimed at strengthening family, school, peer, digital and community life, from the earliest opportunity, to promote healthy physical, social, emotional, cognitive and existential development, across the full human lifespan – from early childhood to late adulthood.
We bring together lifecourse, intervention and translation research and practice to:
SEED Lifespan is the only research program of its kind across Australia with a focus on promoting mental health and preventing mental disorders across the entire lifecourse; from early childhood to adulthood and into the next generation. Our research is organised across our disciplinary themes, research streams and research enablers.
A PhD or Masters opportunity with SEED Lifespan will set the scene for you to go deep into world-leading research in the vital area of mental health. Be part of a supportive and vibrant research environment that is committed to making a difference in many people’s lives.
Our research centres around the seminal role that social interaction with others, across a wide range of relationships, plays in shaping all aspects of human development. We work to lengthen human healthspan and lifespan through enriching the quality of human relationships.
Deakin Distinguished Professor Craig Olsson
Director of SEED Lifespan
Our researchers and research students specialise in preventive mental health care and clinical treatment of mental health problems. Many of our members are registered psychologists.
Deakin Distinguished Professor Craig Olsson is the Director of SEED Lifespan and a lifecourse epidemiologist who leads some of the longest running cohort studies in Australia. He uses findings from this research to target resources to the right people, at the right time, in the right way, to optimise healthspan and lifespan from the earliest opportunity in development.
Professor Rebecca Giallo is the Deputy Director of SEED Lifespan and leads a productive life course epidemiological and clinical intervention research program focused on optimising the mental health of children and families affected by social adversity and intergenerational trauma.
Professor Petra Staiger is the Deputy Director of SEED Lifespan and an experienced clinical researcher and clinician within themental health and alcohol and other drug services. Her research expertise is in investigating the etiology and treatmentof individuals with addictive behaviour problems.
Our researchers are undertaking a number of flagship projects to understand the early origins of mental health disorders. We collect data and samples from people over the course of years, decades and even generations and use that evidence to develop new interventions and resources and inform policy.
The comprehensive monitoring system is a series of eight surveys that tracks the mental health and wellbeing of young people up to the age of 21. Participating communities receive comprehensive reports and access to a free database of evidence-based programs for responding to the outcomes identified in the reports.
We are recruiting volunteer participants for the first large-scale clinical trial to test whether transcranial magnetic stimulation – a painless, non-invasive treatment already widely used to treat depression – can be effective in improving social communication and mental health in your people with autism.
Systematic reviews help us make sense of an ever-growing body of scientific literature. Our systematic review library hosts all reviews published by researchers in the Deakin University School of Psychology. We focus on identifying gaps in research on social and emotional development across the early lifecourse.
We have a strong national and international network of collaborators who work with us on jointly funded research, data analysis and research publications. We partner with:
Stay in touch to hear about the latest alumni opportunities, research news, partnership opportunities and much more. Have a question? Get in touch with the team.
