Building change together

Highlights from the Hubs Network conference

The National Child and Family Hubs Network has released a video and recordings from their inaugural conference held in November 2025. Access the recordings.

Evidence to action webinar recording

This webinar explored the implications of the 2024 Australian Early Development Census results and the action necessary to optimise children’s development. Watch the recording.

Engaging adolescents webinar

In this session, Dr Debi Feldman and Dr Connie Chong will discuss the importance of supporting adolescent health and the role of the clinician in building safe and successful partnerships with adolescents in clinic. Learn more.

GenV sets new benchmark for inclusive research

A new paper in the International Journal of Epidemiology highlights who is taking part in GenV – and what is possible when research is designed to include everyone from the start. Read more.

Using Hubs to deliver Thriving Kids

The National Child and Family Hubs Network has published a new position paper outlining how Hubs can deliver on Thriving Kids effectively. Read more.

'Play your voice out'

The Centre has piloted the Voice of the Child toolkit with children aged 3–12 across three community health services and two early childhood education and care settings in Victoria. Read more.

Boosting student mental health and wellbeing

The Centre’s latest policy brief highlights the unique opportunity schools have as a platform for promoting children’s mental health. Read more.

Medibank grant to track impact of mental health initiative

Dr Simone Darling was awarded a $200,000 Medibank Better Health Research Hub grant to investigate the longer-term impact of the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative. Read more.

Local signals for local change

In partnership with Restacking the Odds, Bourke and District Children’s Services is using local signals to guide decisions, strengthen practice and support better outcomes for children and families. Read more.

Strengthening playgroups in Hubs

The Centre has partnered with Hume City Council to articulate and share the Hume Playgroup Model. The resulting reports outline a theory of change as well as the strengths and needs of the people delivering them. Read more.

Thriving Kids, thriving families, thriving communities

Join Centre Director Prof Sharon Goldfeld AM at a panel event hosted by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence on 29 April. Register now.

Airway safety animation

Babies are still developing the strength and reflexes to keep their airways open. This Raising Children Network animation offers clear, evidence-based guidance on safe positioning. There's also an article and a shareable poster for parents and caregivers.

MHiPS: a parent perspective

While the focus of MHiPS is children’s wellbeing at schools, its benefits can extend well beyond the classroom. Here a parent shares their experience. Read more.

Can medicinal cannabis help kids’ autism, ADHD or Tourette’s? Here’s what we know so far. 
7 April, The Conversation.

This 'one stop shop' for families says its model could be scaled up for Thriving Kids. 
29 March, ABC. 

The world-leading primary mental health program having an extraordinary impact.
26 February, Education HQ.

Data for Equity: Can Linked Administrative Data Inform Pathways to More Equitable Child Health? March 2026, Medical Journal of Australia.

Study protocol - the Australian National Child hearing Health Outcomes Registry (ANCHOR): collecting and connecting national data into a child deafness Learning Health System. March 2026, BMC Health Services Research.

Beyond the Pandemic: How COVID-19 Highlighted the Need for Cross-Sector Healthcare Solutions for Young Australians Living with Adversity. March 2026, Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.

Understanding the Experience of Clinical Supervision in Community Child Health: A Mixed-Methods Cross Sectional Study. December 2025, Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.