Leadership for children in care
December 2025
Responding to the health needs of children and young people when they enter out-of-home care can improve their health and wellbeing.
Since 2012, the Centre has delivered multi disciplinary health assessments for children entering out-of-home care. Our research identified barriers to timely healthcare and informed advocacy that secured funding for statewide services in 2023. The newly established Victorian Centre of Health Leadership for Children in Care is supporting the Victorian Department of Health’s statewide rollout.
Our impact
Confident, connected workforce
Created regular opportunities for clinicians in Victoria to participate in evidence-informed professional development and reflective practice to strengthen confidence, capability and consistency in quality of care.
Accessible, responsive support
Partnered with the Department of Health and 17 health service providers to establish Pathway to Good Health navigators and clinics across Victoria, improving access and responsiveness for children requiring coordinated support.
Carer and clinician partnerships
Conducted research with clinicians, and foster and kinship carers, to capture priorities for comprehensive health assessment, ensuring services reflect the experiences and needs of those delivering and receiving care.
Next steps
In 2026, our priority is to embed quality improvement activities into clinical teams in Victoria and evaluate our professional development work to facilitate consistent, high-quality, statewide service delivery.
The Victorian Centre of Health Leadership for Children in Care provides clinical leadership for the statewide Pathway to Good Health initiative, including training and support for health navigators and multidisciplinary clinicians. It is supported by the Victorian Department of Health and The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation.
This case study originally appeared in the Centre's 2025 Impact Report.