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Family systems and relationships

In the Family Systems and Relationships team, we acknowledge that child chronic illness has a profound affect on each family member individually, as well as the family unit as a whole. We endeavour to improve family health and wellbeing when a child has a chronic illness. SibStars is our study which shines a light on siblings of children with chronic illness. SibStars is one of the first studies worldwide to examine sibling wellbeing from their own perspective, and to compare siblings’ psychosocial outcomes across chronic illnesses. 
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We are targeting siblings of children with cancer, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, gastrointestinal disorders, and epilepsy. We will develop an intervention for siblings to improve the mental health of an often overlooked group of vulnerable young people. We have previously developed important and targeted resources for grandparents of children with cancer in conjunction with Redkite (Grandparents study). The resources provide grandparents with medical information, information about managing family relationships, healthy coping strategies, and information about where to seek further help. The Family Systems and Relationships team commonly partners with community organisations such as the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Camp Quality and RedKite to ensure that our research has real-world benefits for children with chronic illness and their families

Research team

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Dr Lauren Kelada
​Team Leader
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Dr Selena Russo
​Post-Doctoral Fellow
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Dr Claire Treadgold
Adjunct Assoc. Professor


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Gadiel Dumlao
Research Officer
ILP student: Robert Ilin

Research studies

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The SibStars study aims to better understand siblings’ experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with a chronic illness.
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Our grandparent study aimed to assess the extent of distress grandparents experience when their grandchild is diagnosed with cancer. 

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