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August 2025
Building a future-focused early childhood development system
The recent National Early Years Policy Summit made one thing clear: if we want to improve outcomes for children, we need to move beyond rhetoric and act with urgency. The Summit brought together policymakers, researchers, community leaders, practitioners, and those with lived experience to answer a critical question: how can we better use what we know works to improve outcomes for children?
We are encouraged by the Summit's outcomes and look forward to continuing to engage in the policy opportunities to realise an equitable, accessible, integrated system that reduces inequities in children’s outcomes.
Read our reflections on the Summit and the policy opportunities for progress.
This edition features:
- new research from the Changing Children’s Chances team on how measuring child disadvantage can shape the way we understand and respond to developmental inequities
- a policy brief from the National Child and Family Hubs Network responding to the announcement of the Building Early Education Fund
- the latest research snapshot from Restacking the Odds on ensuring the early childhood workforce has timely data for decision making
- a publication exploring whether taxation and transfer policies mitigate the child penalty in Australia.
Setting up the Building Early Education Fund for success
The National Child and Family Hubs Network has produced a policy brief outlining how the Fund can ensure more children can access what they need to thrive. Read more.
Unlocking maternal and child Health (MCH) data potential
Victoria’s MCH service holds one of Australia’s richest early childhood datasets. Generation Victoria researchers are calling for linkage with broader health and social data to better support families. Read more.
Difficult conversations: when care meets courage
How can we prepare ourselves for difficult conversations? The next article in our blog series explores frameworks and practical strategies to apply in your workplace. Read more.
Driving change for cCMV
Australia’s second national congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) Symposium brings families and experts together to change the future of cCMV. Read more.
Measuring child disadvantage
New research from the Changing Children’s Chances team shows that how we measure child disadvantage can shape the way we understand and respond to developmental inequities. Read more.
Launching the Voice of the Child
Our June webinar explored the development and application of the Voice of the Child Toolkit with local, national and international case studies.
Watch the recording.
Restacking the Odds: ensuring the early childhood workforce has timely data
When early years service providers have the right information, they can make informed decisions about their services and help to reduce childhood inequities. Read more.
New resources: birth experiences
July 14-20 marked Birth Trauma Awareness Week. Raising Children Network has new resources on distressing and traumatic birth experiences and PTSD after birth. Read more.
'They had the power': a Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) case study
Voice of the Child (VoC) facilitator, Lisa Haythorpe, was featured in our VoC launch webinar reflecting on her involvement in the MHiPS evaluation. Read more.
From pilot to policy
The Australia and New Zealand School of Government’s (ANZSOG) latest case study documents the unique origin story of the MHiPS initiative as one of Australia’s largest investments in children’s mental health. Read more.
Place Matters
The FrameWorks Institute and the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University have just released two new resources to support the public’s understanding of how place and racism shape early childhood development. Read more.
Webinar: The Power of Partnerships
Join Professor Harriet Hiscock for lessons from across health, education, and industry to translate research into scalable solutions. If you are an Early-to-Mid Career Researcher, email Growing Minds Australia (GMA) to join the Network and receive an invitation. Learn more about GMA.
Integrating evidence, policy and practice
In July, the Education and Learning team co-facilitated the Child Public Health subject as part of the University of Melbourne’s Master of Public Health program. Read more.
Change in language helping to drive reform in child mental health. 7 July, MJA Insight+.
Dr Georgia Dawson (MHiPS) interviewed on ABC Northwest Queensland. 24 July, ABC Radio.
Medical considerations in paediatric hearing loss. 11 August, Inner Ear Secrets: An Audiology Podcast.
Longitudinal observational research study: establishing the Australasian Congenital Cytomegalovirus Register (ACMVR). June 2025, BMJ Open.
Measuring Child Disadvantage: Comparing Multidimensional and Socioeconomic Approaches for Predicting Developmental Outcomes. July 2025, Australian Journal of Social Issues.
Do Taxation and Transfer Policies Mitigate the Child Penalty? Evidence from Australia. July 2025, Journal of Family and Economic Issues.
Upcoming course dates
28 August & 4 September Working in Partnership with Families (online) Register
17 & 18 September Small Group Facilitation (in-person) Register
7, 14 & 11 October Reflective Practice (online) Register
10 October Practical Tips for Supporting Children with Neurodiversity at School and in the Community (online) Register
eLearning courses
Infant Sleep Enrol
Laying the Foundations Enrol
Let's Read Enrol
Ask us about our customised training options. Email us at training.ccch@rch.org.au
Project Coordinator (Transition Compass Coach)
Closes 15 August.
