Dr. Cloney studies the development and health of children, especially those facing disadvantages due to socioeconomic factors. He works on creating and validating assessment tools, like the ASQ-STEPS, which is designed to evaluate the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged one to five years. Additionally, he explores how various factors impact children's well-being and educational success, particularly in the context of early childhood education and interventions to reduce health inequities.
Key findings
In a study on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, Dr. Cloney's ASQ-STEPS tool aims to validate assessments for up to 250 children to ensure culturally appropriate early childhood programs.
Research showed that 36.3% of children experienced significant disadvantage in at least one area from birth to age 9, indicating that disadvantages are often persistent.
His findings indicated that children facing multiple disadvantages performed worse academically, highlighting the need for targeted early interventions.
In a fecal transplantation study for children with ulcerative colitis, 78% of participants responded positively to the treatment within a week, with 33% achieving remission.
Data from a study involving nearly 2,500 children in early childhood education revealed important aspects that improve social skills and learning which can inform better policy making.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Cloney study child development?
Yes, Dr. Cloney focuses on child development, particularly in disadvantaged populations.
What tools has Dr. Cloney researched for children?
He has developed and validated tools like the ASQ-STEPS to assess the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Is Dr. Cloney's work relevant for children with ulcerative colitis?
Yes, he has researched the safety and effectiveness of fecal transplantation as a treatment for children with ulcerative colitis.
What conditions does Dr. Cloney focus on in early childhood?
He studies conditions resulting from social disadvantages that affect children's health and educational outcomes.
How does Dr. Cloney's research benefit policymakers?
His research provides insights and data that help shape effective policies and interventions to support vulnerable children.
Publications in plain English
Culturally adapted developmental outcome measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: study protocol for the validation of the ASQ-STEPS.
2025
BMJ open
D'Aprano A, Boyle C, Lindrea-Morrison L, Brunette R, Stubbs E +6 more
Plain English This study focuses on creating and testing a new tool called the ASQ-STEPS that assesses the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged one to five years. Researchers aim to validate its reliability and effectiveness by gathering data from up to 250 children and their families across various locations in Australia. The results are important because they will help ensure that early childhood programs are culturally appropriate and effective for these communities.
Who this helps: This helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.
Driving Precision Policy Responses to Child Health and Developmental Inequities.
2019
Health equity
Goldfeld S, Gray S, Azpitarte F, Cloney D, Mensah F +4 more
Plain English This study focuses on how to create better policies to improve the health and development of children facing inequalities. Researchers found that there is a pressing need for targeted approaches that identify the best solutions for different groups of children, including timing and intensity of interventions. Reducing these inequities could lead to significant social and economic benefits.
Who this helps: This helps children from disadvantaged backgrounds and the policymakers who support them.
Understanding child disadvantage from a social determinants perspective.
2018
Journal of epidemiology and community health
Goldfeld S, O'Connor M, Cloney D, Gray S, Redmond G +6 more
Plain English This study looked at how various factors, like family background, location, health, and risks, affect the well-being and academic performance of children in Australia. Researchers analyzed data from over 5,000 infants and discovered that different types of disadvantage significantly influence how well children do in school, with findings showing that those facing multiple disadvantages performed worse academically. This is important because it highlights the need to address these disparities early in life to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children.
Who this helps: This helps children facing disadvantages and the professionals working to support their development.
More than a snapshot in time: pathways of disadvantage over childhood.
2018
International journal of epidemiology
Goldfeld S, O'Connor M, O'Connor E, Chong S, Badland H +6 more
Plain English This study looked at how different types of disadvantage affect children's development from birth to age 9 in Australia. Researchers found that over one-third of children (36.3%) experienced significant disadvantage in at least one area, and that these disadvantages often stayed the same over time. The study showed that understanding disadvantage as a long-term issue, rather than just a one-time snapshot, can help shape better policies to support children’s growth and learning.
Who this helps: This information benefits policymakers and anyone involved in child development and education.
Psychometric Properties of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (Pre-K): Implications for Measuring Interaction Quality in Diverse Early Childhood Settings.
2017
Journal of applied measurement
Cloney D, Nguyen C, Adams RJ, Tayler C, Cleveland G +1 more
Plain English This study examined the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), a tool used to evaluate interactions in early childhood classrooms. Researchers analyzed data from 993 classrooms in Australia and found that the CLASS provides consistent and reliable measurements over multiple observations. They discovered that using a fixed number of observations improves the accuracy of results, which is important for assessing classroom quality effectively.
Who this helps: This benefits teachers and education researchers who assess classroom interactions.
Assessing the effectiveness of Australian early childhood education and care experiences: study protocol.
2016
BMC public health
Tayler C, Cloney D, Adams R, Ishimine K, Thorpe K +1 more
Plain English This research focuses on examining the quality of early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs in Australia, where about 61.5% of children aged 3-4 participate. The study tracks nearly 2,500 children over five years to find out which aspects of these programs help improve children's learning and social skills, as well as how family and community factors influence their development. The results will help shape better policies and investments in early education, ensuring that all children get the best start possible.
Who this helps: Parents and policymakers looking to improve early childhood education for children.
Safety, tolerability, and clinical response after fecal transplantation in children and young adults with ulcerative colitis.
2013
Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Kunde S, Pham A, Bonczyk S, Crumb T, Duba M +3 more
Plain English This study looked at how safe and effective fecal transplantation (FMT) is as a treatment for children and young adults with ulcerative colitis (UC). Ten participants aged 7 to 21 received daily fecal enemas for five days, and results showed that 78% of them responded positively to the treatment within a week, with 33% achieving remission. These findings are important because they suggest that FMT could be a viable new option for managing UC in young patients.
Who this helps: This helps children and young adults suffering from ulcerative colitis.