Exploring the lives of grandparents is a new and exciting field of enquiry. A multitude of factors influence the roles grandparents play in their families. Changing demographics mean there is greater demand and opportunity for actively engaged grandparents to help their families than ever before in human history. Grandparents have been filling this emerging niche because in some societies the role of community and government never has, or increasingly cannot, meet the diverse needs of families. Built on an empirical foundation of descriptive and correlational research, grandparent research has rapidly entered a phase where the potential causal relationships between grandparents’ roles and family health, well-being and structure can be scrutinised. High-quality theoretical work is now being applied to practical situations where grandparents are raising their own grandchildren. This evidence is now informing government policy. We have only just begun to explore the roles of grandparents in their families and communities.

Dr David Coall is a biological anthropologist. He holds the positions of Discipline Lead Medical Sciences, Senior Lecturer and Biomedical Science Course Coordinator in the School of Medical and Health Sciences at Edith Cowan University. David completed his PhD in the School of Anatomy and Human Biology at the University of Western Australia and his Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the Centre for Cognitive and Decision Sciences at The University of Basel, Switzerland.  After returning to UWA as a researcher in the School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, in 2010 David moved to his current position. He has authored more than 50 publications across the fields of evolutionary anthropology, paediatrics, cognitive science, mental health, and maternal and child health.  His research focuses on applying evolutionary theory to understanding the complex inter-generational influences on health and behaviour within families. He has two main lines of research, one exploring the impact the childhood environment has on subsequent growth, development and reproduction and the second examines the roles grandparents play in families and its health consequences. His work is impacting government policy and is being translated into support services for people in low resource family situations. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Turku.

Dr David Coall is a biological anthropologist. David has authored more than 50 publications across the fields of evolutionary anthropology, paediatrics, cognitive science, mental health, and maternal and child health.  His research focuses on applying evolutionary theory to understanding the complex inter-generational influences on health and behaviour within families. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Turku, Finland.