High-rise parenting: experiences of families in private, high-rise housing in inner city Melbourne and implications for children’s health

Abstract

Families raising children in private, high-rise, housing are a new phenomenon in Australian cities. This study explored their experiences and the implications of these findings for children’s health. Parents’ experiences of raising preschool age children in private, high-rise housing (3 storeys or more) in one, inner city Melbourne municipality were explored using the participatory research method Photovoice. Ten parents photographed aspects of their development and neighbourhood perceived to have positive or negative impacts on raising young children. Parents participated in both individual and group interviews about their photographs and key themes were determined. 120 images and over 15 hours of interview material were collected. Three themes were developed from the interviews and photographs relating to: (1) space (2) density and (3) design of housing complexes. The health implications of these experiences were discussed with regards to social ecology theory. Microsystem influences on children’s health included the safety of windows, balconies and car parks, along with exposure to sunlight, noise and places to play. Exosystem influences included the opportunity inner city, high-rise housing provided in maintaining work/family balance. Macrosystem influences included policy on apartment design, which while improving over time (chronosystem influence), is still not directed to families raising children.

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