Realising the Vision
August 2026
The first issue of the Implementing Thriving Kids series lays the foundation of the series with a focus on strengthening universal services, identifying the role of parenting and targeted supports, and presenting a dual-track approach to to accelerate implementation.
Related resources from the Centre
October 2014
Authors: Sharon Goldfeld, Meredith O’Connor, Jon Quach, Joanne Tarasuik and Amanda Kvalsvig.
A significant proportion of school-aged children experience special health care needs (SCHN) and seek care from pediatricians with a wide range of condition types and severity levels.
This study examines the learning pathways of children with established (already diagnosed at school entry) and emerging (teacher identified) SHCN from school entry through the elementary school years.
The research found that even children with less complex SCHN are at risk for academic failure. Early identification, together with integrated health and educational support, may promote stronger pathways of educational attainment for these children.
October 2024
Authors: Sharon Goldfeld, Elodie O'Connor, Cindy Pham and Sarah Gray.
Changing Children’s Chances focuses on the need for precision policy to address the growing inequity Australian children face.
Drawing on the critical thinking of multidisciplinary leaders across economics, health, education, social care, legislation and policy, the team converges on the ‘thinking and doing’ that can and should inform the early years policy and research agenda for Australia.
This perspective piece advocates for 'stacking' targeted, policy-relevant strategies in the early years, across multiple portfolios and layers of government.
May 2025
The National Best Practice Framework for Early Childhood Intervention guides how to support children up to age 9 with developmental concerns or disabilities. It helps families, practitioners, and services work together so all children in Australia can thrive and feel included. It was coauthored by Dr Tim More and A/Prof Anita D'Aprano from the Centre of Community Child Health.
Watch coauthor Prof Christine Imms (Chair of Neurodevelopment and Disability at the University of Melbourne) talk about the Framework at our March 2026 webinar.
December 2019
Authors: Carly Molloy, Meredith O'Connor, Shuaijun Guo, Colleen Lin, Christopher Harrop, Nicholas Perini, Sharon Goldfeld
Early childhood interventions are critical for reducing child health and development inequities. While most research focuses on the efficacy of single interventions, combining multiple evidence-based strategies over the early years of a child's life may yield greater impact.
This study examined the association between exposure to a combination of five evidence-based services from 0 to 5 years on children's reading at 8-9 years. The findings support the potential value of 'stacking' early interventions across the early years of a child's life to maximise impacts on child outcomes.
Restacking the Odds is an initiative of the Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Social Ventures Australia and Bain & Company. The team works with local early years partnerships to build a stronger stack of early years services using actionable data.
September 2025
Authors: Anna Price, Elodie O'Connor and Sharon Goldfeld
This perspective article highlights child and family services (CFH) as the health backbone — alongside early childhood education and care — of a universal early childhood development system. It emphasises the importance of monitoring and equity in CFH services, and presents a pragmatic conceptual model for delivering universal, equitable CFH services in Australia.
Read the article
October 2025
Harnessing Hubs to Realise the Vision of Thriving Kids
This brief outlines six key recommendations to leverage and strengthen the role of Child and Family Hubs as local delivery platforms for Thriving Kids.
The National Child and Family Hubs Network is a national, collaborative group working together to strengthen Child and Family Hubs Australia-wide through research, policy, advocacy, and learning.