Growing Up in New Zealand appoints new Research Director

Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest contemporary longitudinalstudy of child development and wellbeing has appointed Professor Sarah Hetrickas its new Research Director.

Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) has been following thelives of more than 6000 children and their families since 2008, creating a richevidence base and providing valuable insights into how experiences acrosschildhood and adolescence are associated with later outcomes. Its findings areused by government agencies, researchers and service providers to help informpolicy, services and investment for children, young people and whānau.

Professor Hetrick joins the study during its14th wave ofdata collection that is gathering information from participants at around 17years of age, a pivotal point as they move through late adolescence towardsyoung adulthood.

Professor Hetrick, a Professor in the Department ofPsychological Medicine at the University of Auckland, is an internationallyrecognised clinical psychologist, researcher and research leader whose work hasfocused on youth mental health, including depression, suicide prevention andthe development of services that better meet the needs of young people.  She is also the Co-Director of Te Ata HāparaSuicide Prevention Research Centre.

Her career has included senior research, clinical and policyroles in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, including with Australian youthmental health organisations,  Orygen and Headspace;  Cochrane, a global organisation that produces trusted systematic reviews of healthevidence, and the Suicide Prevention Office at Manatū Hauora,  Ministry of Health.

Professor Hetrick said she is looking forward to building onthe strong foundations of Growing Up in New Zealand and helping shape the nextphase of the study.

“I’m passionate about improving youth wellbeing, and GUiNZ givesus a valuable long-term perspective on the experiences and influences thatshape young people’s lives. This is a study that has already delivered realreturns on the public investment behind it, and as participants move intoadulthood, we have a critical opportunity to understand what helps them thrive,not just survive, that transition.”

“I want to ensure the experiences so generously shared byour participants and whānau continue to generate evidence that is relevant,accessible and useful to the people making decisions that affect young peoplenow and into the future.”

Professor Hetrick succeeds Professor Sarah-Jane Paine, whois stepping down at the end of her five-year term as Research Director.

Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Dean ProfessorWarwick Bagg acknowledged Professor Paine’s contribution to the study.

“Sarah-Jane has provided outstanding leadership over thepast five years and leaves Growing Up in New Zealand strongly positioned forits next phase. We are enormously grateful for the care, commitment andexpertise she has brought to the role.

“I’m delighted that Sarah Hetrick will now lead the study.She brings extensive research leadership experience, deep expertise in youthwellbeing and a strong commitment to ensuring research makes a meaningfuldifference to young people and whānau.”

As Research Director, Professor Hetrick will providestrategic and scientific leadership for the study, helping ensure the studycontinues to realise the value of the sustained public investment made overalmost two decades, and that    longitudinal evidence continues to informresearch, policy and services for young people and whānau across Aotearoa NewZealand.

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