ProfessorCraig Olsson
Deakin Distinguished Professor and Director, SEED
Faculty of Health/School of Psychology/Deakin Lifespan Institute
- Deakin Distinguished Professor and Director, SEEDFaculty of Health/School of Psychology/Deakin Lifespan Institute
- +61 3 522 78428 (Work)
- Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Professor Olsson's primary research interests are in mapping the major milestones in social and emotional development. He specialises in Lifecourse Epidemiology with a focus on promoting population mental health across the formative years of childhoood and adolescence, on transition to parenthood and raising the next generation, and into later adult life, and translating these findings into useable developmental indices capable of guiding targeted preventive and health promotion interventions in clinical and population health settings.
KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Lifecourse Epidemiology, Genetics, Prevention, Psychology, Public Health
MAJOR GRANTS - Category 1 - Chief Investigator A
* 2025-2029. NHMRC Clinical Trial and Cohort Studies. ($2,227,913)
Extending lifespan and healthspan: A 40-year prospective cohort study of early life determinants of leading causes of mental disorder and chronic disease burden in populations.
* 2026-2030. NHMRC Partnership Grant ($3,200,774)
A community based participatory research approach to strengthening social and emotional development from early childhood to young adulthood.
* 2024-2026. ARC Discovery Project ($682,134)
Drivers of ageing and adaptive ageing in middle-aged and older adults.
* 2020-2024. NHMRC Investigator Grant ($2,003,030)
Development and trial implementation of a comprehensive intergenerational mental health monitoring system.
* 2020-2022. ARC Discovery Project ($469,871)
Intergenerational determinants of child development on school entry.
* 2018-2020. ARC Discovery Project ($382,290)
The intergenerational origins of social and emotional wellbeing.
* 2016-2018. ARC Discovery Project ($453,000)
Intergenerational prediction of social and early emotional development.
* 2015-2019. NHMRC ($1,020,945)
Preconception determinants of child health and development: A 4-year follow up of offspring born to the Australian Temperament Project.
* 2013-2016. ARC Discovery Project ($1,044,035)
Pre-conception predictors of early childhood social and emotional development: A 30 year longitudinal study of grandparents, parents and children.
HONORARY INVESTIGATOR
* The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health Study (New Zealand)
* The Western Australian Pregnancy Study (Raine)
* The International Youth Development Study (Melbourne, Seattle)
* The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre Cannabis Consortium (Sydney)
* The Norwegian HUNT study
GRANTS
- CONTRACT RESEARCHAdvancing the Wellbeing of People Living with Diabetes Through Research15 Jul 2026 - 15 Jul 2029People funded by this grant:
- Lycett K,
- Frykberg G,
- Olsson C
- GRANTA community based participatory research approach to strengthening social and emotional development from early childhood to young adulthood1 Oct 2025 - 30 Sep 2030People funded by this grant:
- Olsson C,
- Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M,
- Zubrick S,
- Green M,
- Greenwood C
- COMPETITIVE GRANTA community based participatory research approach to strengthening social and emotional development from early childhood to young adulthoodNHMRC - Partnership Project - 2044727 - $1418655.931 Oct 2025 - 30 Sep 2030People funded by this grant:
- Olsson C,
- Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M,
- Zubrick S,
- Green M,
- Robinson S
- GRANTYouth Alcohol Use in the Digital Age: Harnessing longitudinal cohort data and living systematic reviews to inform prevention and harm minimisation.1 Sep 2025 - 30 Aug 2030People funded by this grant:
- Hutchinson D,
- Olsson C,
- Teague S,
- Slade T,
- Rickwood D
- COMPETITIVE GRANTYouth Alcohol Use in the Digital Age: Harnessing longitudinal cohort data and living systematic reviews to inform prevention and harm minimisation.Medical Research Future Fund1 Sep 2025 - 30 Aug 2030People funded by this grant:
- Hutchinson D,
- Olsson C,
- Macdonald J,
- Spry E
- GRANTPRevention of Mental Illness and Substance usE (PREMISE) Next Generation: New Targets, New Interventions1 Nov 2024 - 31 Oct 2029People funded by this grant:
- Slade T,
- Newton N,
- Chapman C,
- Calear A,
- Hudson J
- GRANTExtending lifespan and healthspan: A 40-year prospective cohort study of early life determinants of leading causes of mental disorder and chronic disease burden in populations.1 Oct 2024 - 30 Sep 2029People funded by this grant:
- Olsson C,
- Burgner D,
- Ryan J,
- Slade T,
- Greenwood C
- CONTRACT RESEARCHThe Australian Unity Wellbeing Index Survey 2024-20291 May 2024 - 31 Mar 2029People funded by this grant:
- Lycett K,
- Olsson C,
- Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M,
- Capic T,
- Hutchinson D
- GRANT1 in 10 men: Informing prevention of and treatment for paternal mental health problems1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2025People funded by this grant:
- Macdonald J,
- Seidler Z,
- Olsson C,
- Hutchinson D,
- Spry L
- GRANTDrivers of ageing and adaptive ageing in middle-aged and older adults.1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2026People funded by this grant:
- Olsson C,
- Slade T,
- Ryan J,
- Butterworth P,
- Wuthrich V
- CONTRACT RESEARCHAustralian Unity Wellbeing Index 2021 - 20231 Jan 2021 - 30 Apr 2024People funded by this grant:
- Lycett K,
- Olsson C,
- Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M,
- Capic T,
- Khor S
- GRANTStudent scholarship - Developing an Early Life Course Population Mental Health Monitoring System1 Jan 2021 - 31 Mar 2023People funded by this grant:
- Olsson C,
- Cleary J
- CONTRACT RESEARCHInvestigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Victorian healthcare workers and their families.1 Sep 2020 - 30 Mar 2023People funded by this grant:
- Sheen J,
- Olsson C,
- McGillivray J
- CONTRACT RESEARCHComprehensive Monitoring System in Lodden, Bulloke and Gannawarra.1 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2024People funded by this grant:
- Craig Olsson
- FELLOWSHIPDevelopment and Trial Implementation of a Comprehensive Intergenerational Mental Health Monitoring System1 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2024People funded by this grant:
- Craig Olsson
- GRANTIntergenerational determinants of child development on school entry1 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2022People funded by this grant:
- Olsson C,
- Sanson A,
- Enticott P,
- Mcintosh J,
- Guhn M
- CONTRACT RESEARCHLiterature review on barriers to health system access by men and boys.16 Sep 2019 - 30 Apr 2020People funded by this grant:
- Macdonald J,
- Olsson C,
- Linardon J
- GRANTThe Intergenerational Origins of Social and Emotional Wellbeing1 Jul 2018 - 30 Jun 2021People funded by this grant:
- Olsson C,
- Patton G,
- Hancox R,
- McGee R,
- Hutchinson D
- CONTRACT RESEARCHAustralian Unity Wellbeing Index 2018 - 202010 May 2018 - 31 Dec 2020People funded by this grant:
- Hutchinson D,
- Olsson C,
- Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M,
- Richardson B,
- Capic T
- CONTRACT RESEARCHMaternal and Child Health Nurses Child Informed Training17 Apr 2018 - 1 Jun 2019People funded by this grant:
- Mcintosh J,
- Olsson C,
- Newman L
- GRANTBreaking the intergenerational cycle of mental disorder: A longitudinal study of the social determinants of childhood psychosocial adjustment problems1 Jan 2018 - 31 Dec 2018People funded by this grant:
- Hutchinson D,
- Olsson C,
- Youssef G,
- Najman J
- GRANTTrial of Toddler Development Instrument for monitoring children's early experiences in family and community environments3 Nov 2017 - 29 Nov 2019People funded by this grant:
- Olsson C,
- Toumbourou J,
- Nolan C,
- Mcintosh J,
- Hutchinson D