The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has researchers available to talk to media during the summer period. Please note AIFS is closed from 25 December – 1 January, and researchers may be unavailable for interview during this time (except Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald, who is available all days); each has provided their availability either side of those dates.

End-of-year burnout and return to work

• Stress and burnout – including what it is, warning signs you have it, what kind of experiences lead to it, and coping strategies. Dr Jasmine MacDonald can also talk about stress more broadly, including the cup analogy – where the build up over time of work, family, finances and Christmas fill your cup until it overflows. 
  • Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald, Research Fellow (available 21 Dec – 24 Jan, inclusive of all days)
• Childcare, unpaid work, family patterns – including family employment patterns, parental leave, gendered patterns of unpaid work and care, grandparent-provided care, stay-at-home fathers. 
  • Dr Jennifer Baxter, Executive Manager, Families and Society Research (available 13-14 Jan, and 20 Jan onwards)
• Working parents – in 2023 we published a study showing there is an increasing trend for both parents of young children to be working – and for women to remain employed when they take time off to have a baby. 
  • Dr Jennifer Baxter, Executive Manager, Families and Society Research (available 13-14 Jan and 20 Jan onwards)
• Sharing childcare in the home – in 2024 we published a study highlighting the gendered nature of child care activities – including that in 54% of couple families with children under 18, looking after children is always or usually done by the mother, compared to just 5% in which it is always or usually done by the father. In 78% of couples the ‘mental load’ is always or usually carried by the mother. 
  • Dr Jennifer Baxter, Executive Manager, Families and Society Research (available 13-14 Jan and 20 Jan onwards)

Family dynamics and trends

• How Australians define their family – in 2023 we published a study revealing that Australians have a wide range of views when it comes to defining their family. More than 40% of our study participants consider close friends or ‘chosen family’ to be their family, and more than 50% count pets as family. Dr Luke Gahan can talk about what this might mean for gathering with family over the holiday period. 
  • Dr Luke Gahan, Research Fellow (available until 24 Dec, and from 6 Jan onwards)

Psychology and behaviour change

• Starting counselling / therapy – in 2024 we published an article on the importance of the relationship between counsellor and client. Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald can discuss what to look for in a counselling/therapy relationship, and why it’s important to keep searching if the first therapists/counsellors don’t ‘feel right’ – and how even making an appointment can improve how people feel.
  • Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald, Research Fellow (available 21 Dec – 24 Jan, inclusive of all days)
• Career satisfaction and internal vs external success indicators –  the holiday season is a great time for people to take stock and think about whether they are living their best and most authentic professional life. Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald can talk about how research shows that people whose personal values don’t match those of their workplace are more likely to become burned out, plus strategies for contemplating their professional future. 
  • Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald, Research Fellow (available 21 Dec – 24 Jan, inclusive of all days)
• How to increase a new behaviour – for example new years resolutions to exercise more, drink more water etc. Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald can discuss identifying the ‘competing behaviour’ that is preventing the desired behaviour and reducing the ‘response cost’ – ie setting up the environment so it is easier to do the desired behaviour. 
  • Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald, Research Fellow (available 21 Dec – 24 Jan, inclusive of all days)
• How to decrease an existing behaviour – for example new years resolution to reduce smoking, drinking, time on your phone. Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald can discuss triggers and explain how identifying what we currently get out of the behaviour and how we can get that elsewhere can help – plus reinforcement (reward) instead of punishment, realistic goal setting, and having others keep you accountable. 
  • Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald, Research Fellow (available 21 Dec – 24 Jan, inclusive of all days)
• Children and nature play – in 2023 we published a practice guide encouraging parents to give children more freedom when playing in nature, including limiting cautionary language whenever possible such as ‘be careful’ and ‘not so high’. 
  • Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald, Research Fellow (available 21 Dec – 24 Jan, inclusive of all days)
  • Kylie Butler, Senior Research Officer (available 6 Jan onwards)
• Mental health and school attendance – mental health can impact school attendance. Research shows helping children become mindful of how they are feeling (a common program in schools) without giving them the skills to manage their emotions can actually cause distress. Pairing counselling with ‘mindful’ activities like yoga and breathing could help. Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald can discuss this idea, and fostering resilience in young people. 
  • Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald, Research Fellow (available 21 Dec – 24 Jan, inclusive of all days)
• Fathering – our short article and practice guide, published by Emerging Minds, explores how fathers’ engagement can influence their children’s mental health. Dr Melissa Willoughby can talk about the importance of fathers engaging with their children, various types of child-father play, and the association with child mental health. 
  • Dr Melissa Willoughby, Senior Research Officer (available 6 Jan onwards)

Health and wellbeing (particularly for males)

• Young men and vaping – in 2024 we published a study revealing vaping rates among Australian men have more than tripled in three years, with three out of ten young men vaping. The study also showed that men who vape are more likely to engage in later smoking and illicit drug use. Dr Constantine Gasser can explain the findings of this longitudinal study. 
  • Dr Constantine Gasser, Senior Research Officer (available from 9 January onwards)
• Social connectedness and male health – our 2021 study shows lower levels of social support were associated with greater depressive symptoms in men and vice-versa. Dr Sean Martin can talk about the importance of social connection, including during the holiday period when many people experience increased loneliness.
  • Dr Sean Martin, Program Lead, Ten To Men Study (available from 16 Jan onwards)
• Male health research – Male health research has transferred focus away from traditional areas of men’s health (e.g. prostate cancer, testosterone therapy, erectile dysfunction) to emerging research gaps and services needs for Australian boys and men (e.g. mental health, health service provision, family violence, social connection). Dr Sean Martin can talk about what this means: 'Less nuts and bolts, more hearts and minds.'
  • Dr Sean Martin, Program Lead, Ten To Men Study (available from 16 Jan onwards)

Family and sexual violence (rates of which can increase over the holiday period)

• Technology-facilitated coercive control – in 2023 we published a practice guide shining a light on tech-facilitated coercive control, and dispelling the myth that victims withdrawing from technology lessens the impact. Dr Jasmine MacDonald can talk about how this type of coercive control manifests, what the impacts can be, and how advising victims to ‘switch off’ can be problematic. 
  • Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald, Research Fellow (available 21 Dec – 24 Jan)
  • Dr Melissa Willoughby, Senior Research Officer (available 6 Jan onwards) 
• Pets and intimate partner violence – in 2024 we published a policy and practice paper showing fears for the safety of family pets can prevent or delay family violence victims leaving perpetrators, or be the reason they return. Factoring pets into safety planning and better access to animal-inclusive crisis accommodation is critical to the safety of many victim-survivors and their children.
  • Kylie Butler, Senior Research Officer (available 6 Jan onwards)