Evidence indicates worsening or unacceptably high levels of problems amongst Australia’s children and young people. These problems will not improve – and could get worse – unless we are able to effectively intervene to prevent these problems from occurring in the first place or address the problems early before they become entrenched.

In 2013, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released its long-awaited update of the Australian Dietary Guidelines. The Australian Dietary Guidelines draw on the latest evidence in order to provide health professionals, policymakers, educators, food manufacturers, food retailers and researchers with information about the types and amounts of foods to eat and to...

In December 2009 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a unified National Quality Framework (NQF) for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). The quality reforms—which include clear standards, streamlined regulatory approaches, an assessment and rating system and a national learning framework—are being implemented over the period 2012 to 2020 as an initiative of...

The Centre for Community Child Health (CCCH) at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and the Royal Children’s Hospital has undertaken two literature reviews to inform the design of a sustained home visiting program for vulnerable families with young children; the program is now known as 'right @home'. This project is being led by a collaboration...

The foundations of good social and emotional development are formed in early infant-parent and caregiver relationships (Centre for Community Child Health, 2009). In developing those relationships, families and caregivers ensure that their child develops on a healthy trajectory. With strong foundations, each child can go on to develop the capacity to manage life’s struggles and...