Systems impact
The early years system plays a critical role in supporting children’s health, development and wellbeing and fostering connections with parents. Unfortunately, not all children and families can access the services and support they need to thrive when they need it or close to where they live. Because of this, some children are missing out, resulting in life-long impacts.
One of the major challenges for Australia today is to evolve from traditional models of ‘siloed’ service delivery, which no longer serves the needs of children and families, to a stronger, more integrated system of services and supports for families.
At the Centre for Community Child Health, we build capability and knowledge to tackle the increasingly complex challenges facing children and families. We can coordinate integrated responses to meet their needs by working in partnership with professionals, communities and governments in a variety of contexts. We provide support to implement innovative and evidence-informed solutions across service, community and policy levels. Our goal is to ensure that the early years system is well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of children and families, particularly those experiencing disadvantage.
For more information on our system and service design expertise, please contact Lauren Heery, Manager, Service System Innovation
Examples of our systems impact work
Learning partner of ByFive
Bringing together Local Government Areas, local services, practitioners, families and research organisations to strengthen the local system, By Five co-creates and trials innovative, place-based services and intervention strategies for children and young people.
Evaluating Kids First
This model blends high-quality teaching and learning with support services that ‘wrap around’ children and families. This helps to address a child’s developmental needs, reduce the impacts and risks of adverse, traumatic events, and strengthen family functioning.
Leading research and development of Healthier Wealthier Families
In partnership with health and social services, families experiencing financial hardship are linked with financial counselling services in their community. We are analysing the implementation, cost and benefits of the program to understand how best to adapt and scale the approach for other services beyond the health and social sector.