Core capabilities for thriving: from conception through childhood and beyond

The Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership (TQKP ) is a Queensland-based coalition and broker focused on systems, service and community change. Instigated and hosted by?ARACY ?- the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth - TQKP brings together Queensland leaders, organisations, practitioners, and collaborators working together with the shared purpose of ‘catalysing systems to change the odds for Queensland children and young people to thrive’.?

TQKP facilitates initiatives that help ‘weave systems together’ and ‘amplify value and impact’ of the philanthropic, not-for profit, government and university sectors through collaboration. We do this with a focus on:

• key systems levers: concerted leadership; smart investment; engaged public and enabled communities and caregivers; putting data and learning to work; integrated delivery; and stronger workforces; and
• 'golden threads' that integrative and developmental: such as outcomes, brains, places, hubs, linkers, platforms and stories.

TQKP’s approach is grounded in the evidence-based ecological model -?The Nest ?- Australia's child and youth wellbeing outcomes framework and agenda developed by ARACY, and in the Harvard Center on the Developing Child (HCDC)?Three Principles , which bring together sciences of brain and body development, resilience, implementation and systems.?

One of those fundamental principles is that our experiences and relationships should help build core ‘human development’ capabilities for thriving - from conception through childhood and across the life-course.??Human development encompasses all aspects of growth and progress, through the ups and downs of life, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions.????

Evidence and experience indicate how essential these capabilities are, and how our services and supports, and everyday caregiver, practitioner and community interactions, can help nurture or damage them.

Yet, no?Australian jurisdiction currently has a shared, cross-sectoral human capability framework.???

From the growing literature[1] , ten core capabilities are recurring themes:

• physical well-being: good physical health and well-being are crucial for thriving. This includes having access to healthcare, proper nutrition, clean water, sanitation, and a safe living environment.
• cognitive abilities: developing cognitive capabilities, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, self-regulation, creativity and continuous learning, enables individuals to adapt to new challenges, make informed decisions, and contribute to innovation
• emotional intelligence: developing emotional intelligence allows individuals to understand and manage their emotions effectively. It involves self-awareness, empathy, resilience, and the ability to build and sustain positive relationships.
• self-efficacy and confidence: believing in one's abilities and having confidence in oneself is essential for thriving. It involves developing self-esteem, self-confidence, and a sense of personal agency to pursue goals, overcome obstacles and learn from experiences.
• social skills and relationships: building positive relationships, effective communication skills, empathy, and cooperation are crucial for thriving in social contexts. Developing healthy relationships and a supportive social network, being connected to friends and communities, having cultural affinity, enhances well-being and provides a sense of belonging.
• resilience: resilience refers to the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to adversity. It involves developing coping mechanisms, emotional strength, and the capacity to recover and grow stronger from challenging situations.?
• purpose and meaning: having a sense of purpose, meaning, hope and a clear set of values gives individuals direction and motivation. It involves aligning personal goals with broader aspirations, having cultural connections, and finding fulfillment through meaningful pursuits.
• adaptability and openness to change: the ability to adapt to new circumstances, embrace change, and embrace lifelong learning supports an individual to thrive. Being open to new ideas, experiences, and perspectives enables personal growth and innovation.
• joy and rest: experiencing joy, pursuing interests and hobbies, and engaging in playful and restful activities bring fulfillment and a sense of balance to life. Cultivating and finding time for play, leisure, recreation and rest, contributes to overall well-being.

In a succinct description of brain-based ‘core capabilities’, HCDC states[2] :

“Mounting research from neuroscience and psychology tells us that there is a set of underlying core capabilities that people use to manage life, work, and parenting effectively. These include, but are not limited to:?planning, focus, self-control, awareness,?and?flexibility.?To scientists, these capabilities fall under the umbrella of?self-regulation and executive function .”

These capabilities support individuals to reach their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.?Importantly, these core capabilities work in synergy - they are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. They are also each a continuum, adjusting through life’s ups and downs and as we relate and interact with others.?Collectively they?contribute to creating a society that promotes well-being, equality, and sustainable progress for all.??

As the saying goes, ‘what surrounds us shapes us; who is around us shapes us; and what happens to us shapes us’. Our capabilities are?shaped?by our genes, relationships, experiences, cultures and environments, and by all the institutions and systems impacting our development.?They can be?impaired by?adverse experiences and interactions in childhood and beyond, and indeed, by the experiences of our caregivers.

As we know, building these capabilities starts from conception and continues through childhood and across the life course.??We also know that adversity profoundly affects our brains and bodies, with lifelong health and wellbeing consequences, including on our core capabilities.?As the HCDC states:

“Chaotic, stressful, and/or threatening situations can derail anyone, yet individuals who experience a pile-up of adversity are often even less able to deploy all of the skills they have to cope with challenging circumstances. Early in life, the experience of?severe, frequent stress ?directs the focus of brain development?toward?building the capacity for rapid response to threat and?away?from planning and impulse control. In adulthood, significant and continuous adversity can overload the ability to use existing capacities that are needed the most to overcome challenges.”

Nurturing these capabilities positively is a role and responsibility for all. It requires support for our caregivers, and the collective effort of all systems and organisational leaders, policy makers, program managers and practitioners[3] . ARACY and TQKP are working to have systems and organisations make ‘capability building’ more explicit as a foundational principle in strategies, policies, investments, programs, services and practices.

[1] ???This list was generated with the help of ChatGPT! For an alternative schema, see, for example, Richardson, D., Vrolijk, M., Cunsolo, S., Cebotari, V. (2021).?What makes me? Core capacities for living and learning, UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti, Florence;?and?https://www.learningforwellbeing.org/our-approach/9-core-capacities/

[2] ??See:?https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/deep-dives/adult-capabilities/

[3] ??Rubenstein, L. (2021), Building?Children’s Potential: A Capability Investment Strategy, ARACY Policy Brief (see?https://www.aracy.org.au/documents/item/667 ).