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June 2026
Fairer child health and wellbeing
Accessible and actionable evidence is vital to strengthening the information, policies, services and systems that support children to thrive. In this edition, we spotlight some of the Centre's efforts to translate and apply evidence for fairer child health, development and wellbeing.
This includes the Centre's new Impact Accelerator, generously funded by the Ian Potter Foundation.
This investment moves us beyond short-term projects and means we can focus on what really matters – achieving equitable, real-life improvements in children’s health, development and wellbeing within a generation.
Prof Sharon Goldfeld AM, Director, Centre for Community Child Health.
This edition also features:
- two new papers from the Changing Children's Chances and Restacking the Odds teams aim to support those working in early years systems to use data for early action to better support children
- an infographic on the Mental Health in Primary School’s Victorian statewide expansion to more than 1900 schools
- a series of videos that bring the Children's Wellbeing Continuum to life
- a report from the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee calling to extend the delivery of Child and Family Hubs.
How can relational practice deliver an equitable early years system?
The Centre’s upcoming webinar will explore how strong relationships can improve children's health and wellbeing.
Date: Tuesday 14 July (AEST)
Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm
Cost: Free
Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common cause of permanent hearing loss in children, but early screening can support earlier care. A research snapshot by the Centre's Child Deafness and Hearing Research Program explores a timely screening test for cCMV available via the Victorian Infant Hearing Screening program.
Establishing the Centre Impact Accelerator
The Centre has received a $3 million grant from The Ian Potter Foundation to bridge the research-to-impact gap to support children and families across Australia. Read more.
Clearer signals for child equity
Two new papers from Restacking the Odds and Changing Children’s Chances show that while Australia is already collecting powerful data that tells us how children are tracking, we can use it more effectively. Read more.
Improving support for autism and intellectual disability
The third session in the 2026 paediatric professional development series will be presented by A/Prof Daryl Efron on Wednesday 29 July. Learn more.
‘These sessions are essential to my ongoing professional development. They provide explicit teaching for core competencies and give me confidence in incorporating holistic care for children and families in circumstances where they are so often seeking diagnoses but are better served by addressing all the surrounding issues informing their challenges.' – 2025 program participant
Missed the first two sessions of the 2026 series? Recordings and resources are available to watch on-demand. Register now.
Hubs recommended to strengthen economic inclusion
The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee 2026 Report to Government has called to extend the delivery of Child and Family Hubs. Read more.
Embedding family voice
This case study describes how a remote child and family wellbeing support service sought to increase family engagement in the design and delivery of their services. Read more.
Using AI to map early childhood disadvantage
The Changing Children’s Chances team participated in an AI pilot with the Melbourne Medical School. Read more.
New video series on the Children's Wellbeing Continuum
Children's wellbeing shifts all the time – but noticing those changes, making sense of them, and knowing how to talk about them isn't always easy. A new video series brings the Continuum to life. Read more
MHiPS Victoria hits statewide milestone
Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) has welcomed the final cohort of more than 1900 schools as part of the Victorian statewide expansion. Read more.
The wellbeing crisis in schools: what must change now?
You're invited to join the University of Melbourne Dean's Lecture Series panel facilitated by Prof Jon Quach in conversation with Prof Frank Oberklaid AM, Prof Sharon Goldfeld AM and Stephen Fraser. Read more.
Voice lab with Polyglot Theatre
As part of the Voice of the Child pilot in community healthcare settings, Polyglot has developed a video showcasing what children said about visiting new places, sharing their feelings, and being heard by their adults. Watch the video.
Child Public Health course
Registrations are now open for our six-day professional development program in July. Learn more by reading a reflection on last year's course.
Big deal, little deal
Raising Children Network has developed an activity to help children learn about problem size. This activity involves sorting problems into little, medium and big deals, and talking about solutions. Access the resource.
Don't wait for our newsletter for updates from across the Centre!
School mental health program delivers boost for Victorian students. 10 News.
Prof Sharon Goldfeld on Radiotherapy. Triple R.
Celebrating 40 years of impact 2026. MCRI.
Clearer signals, earlier action: Using data to make better decisions for children. May 2026, Children Australia.
Parents’ preferences for interventions to improve aspects of children’s current and future health: two discrete choice experiments. April 2026, Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Do the benefits of universal screening outweigh the harms? April 2026, The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Upcoming course dates
Engaging Families. 6, 13 August Online Register
Difficult Conversations. 22 & 29 October Online Register
Working in Partnership. 5 & 12 November Online Register
Reflective Practice. 9, 16 & 23 November Online Register
Ask us about our customised training options by emailing us at training.ccch@rch.org.au
