STAIR – Systems Thinking with Active Implementation Research

STAIR aims to improve the wellbeing and health behaviours of primary school-aged children in South West Victoria and simultaneously test co-designed implementation strategies to help support the delivery of interventions for healthy school environments.  STAIR is a five-year Partnership Project funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), led by Professor Colin Bell.

Victorian children face a range of health risks and social/emotional pressures including exposure to unhealthy foods, limited opportunities for adequate physical activity, insufficient sleep, excess screen time, low consumption of vegetables, fruits and water, and stress due to family or school situations.  These risks and pressures cluster in unique ways in school communities and can lead to poor physical and mental health that can track into adulthood.

Society asks a lot of schools, including that they protect children’s health and wellbeing. Using the latest systems science and implementation science methods, this trial (STAIR) will work out the best way of supporting schools, teachers and school communities to create and sustain school environments that protect children’s physical and mental health. We will measure the impact and return on investment of this support on children’s health and education outcomes as well as on the schools themselves. Key partners are the Victorian departments of education and health, Royal Flying Doctor Service, and VicHealth.

Together, we will identify determinants and interventions for improving the well-being and health behaviours of local children and trial co-designed implementation strategies to help schools maintain these interventions.  If successful, this study will help schools sustain healthy school environments to give students the best start in life.