Generation Victoria is a research program led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.

The opt-in project's recruitment phase will begin in mid-May and run for two years. It will collect data on babies and their parents to help better understand problems like asthma, food allergies, obesity and mental illness.

The program will be available to all newborns and their parents across Victoria.

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Generation Victoria Grampians area manager Rachael Cooper said regional areas such as Ararat would benefit from the all-encompassing nature of the program.

"Generally we find that people in regional and rural areas don't get involved in research because it's harder to reach participants in those areas," she said.

"GenV is very inclusive in that it includes regional and rural participants as well as people from diverse backgrounds.

"I think this is our opportunity in a rural area to find out more about what the health of rural families is like. We know that health in rural communities is different to metro, so we're hoping to get some answers in the future to give us more insight into what's happening in regional and rural areas."

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Ms Cooper said the program would not be a large commitment on participating families.

"It's designed to be low burden," she said.

"They'll be contacted three or four times during the year. They might do a short survey or a little assessment, mostly from home on their own devices.

"The rest of it is really just collecting information that is already collected. That's all the information and data that is collected by government organisations, schools and so on. It's bringing that together so researchers can use that and find answers quicker."

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East Grampians Health Services chief executive Andrew Freeman said he was eager for families in the Ararat region to be part of the project.

"GenV is a fantastic statewide project and is also a great opportunity to improve the health of our own Ararat community," he said.

"Information will be available for families through their antenatal visits, whether that's their GP or through their visits with our midwives."

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Generation Victoria Scientific Director Melissa Wake said the more people that joined the program, the more successful it was likely to be.

"Put simply, by signing up to be a part of the GenV generation, parents will help to create a healthier future for all children and their families," she said

"GenV truly is a collaborative study and a partnership of many. We are profoundly grateful to the team at East Grampians Health Service for partnering with us."

For more information on the program head to genv.org.au

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