Bankstown’s BabyLab pioneers research into child development
Western Sydney University Chancellor Peter Shergold will be among the researchers abseiling the nine-floor Parramatta campus to raise funds for BabyLab at Bankstown.
The Express
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Researchers working at the ground-breaking BabyLab are so passionate about their work they are even abseiling nine floors in a fund-raising effort.
Dr Christa Lam-Cassettari, the academic leader of BabyLab, is one of the three researchers abseiling the nine stories at the Western Sydney University Parramatta campus on Wednesday, September 4, along with Chancellor Peter Shergold.
“I have done abseiling when I was younger but this will be different,” Dr Lam-Cassettari said.
“Hope all goes well for the cause.”
The abseiling event aims to raise around $30,000 for the BabyLab, based at the WSU Bankstown campus. Wednesday is also the first Giving Day to mark WSU’s 30th birthday.
“The BabyLab is the university’s research lab where we do research to optimise early development for toddlers and children,” Dr Lam-Cassettari said.
“There are so many young families in western Sydney.
“Some work we do is hearing loss in infants and how to fine tune early intervention and give them and their families the best support.
“All our babies have their graduations and get certificates.
“The research helps us to understand how spoken language is developed and we research how being bi-lingual and multi-lingual can effect early language development.
“We have learnt that teaching more than one language is largely beneficial for them.”
Dr Lam-Cassettari did her PhD at the BabyLab before working in England for a few years, after which she returned to her old work place at Bankstown.
All the money raised during the Giving Day will help research partnerships and collaboration with industry, local health services, community groups, early learning centres and local families.
Each year more than 1000 parents and their infants volunteer for studies at BabyLab, which was established in 1999.
■ The Chancellor’s Challenge abseiling event will begin at 9am on Wednesday, September 4, at the WSU Parramatta campus, 169 Macquarie St, Parramatta
■ BabyLab is aiming to reach $30,000 in donations.