The Vernon Collins Oration was established in 1981, in memory of Professor Vernon Collins, the first Medical Director of The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), Melbourne. He held this position from 1949 to 1960 and then became the Professor of Child Health in the University of Melbourne, before retiring in 1974.

Synopsis: 

There has never been a better time for children in the Australian policy world, with portfolios like health, social services, education, disability and treasury all sounding the importance of children for the nation’s wellbeing and growth. At the same time, almost every child health and developmental metric shows stable or growing inequities –preventable inequalities due to social, geographic or economic circumstances. What would it take to change the trajectory of Australia’s children and is it even possible?

In this Vernon Collins Oration, Professor Goldfeld will suggest how ideas of radical pragmatism and the collective power of paediatrics, with its full scope of professions and perspectives, might drive change for children within a generation, turning fantasy into reality.

Speaker: 

Professor Sharon Goldfeld AM is the Director of the Centre for Community Child Health at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Co-Group Leader of the Policy and Equity Research Group, and Theme Director for Population Health at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. As a community paediatrician and public health physician who “grew up” on the Melbourne Children’s Campus, Professor Goldfeld has focused her research on reducing inequities among children – particularly in Australia. Her work has led to significant advancements in early childhood interventions, directly influencing policies and practices that improve the health, development, and educational outcomes for children living in disadvantage.

Professor Goldfeld has contributed to policy development through her research and a decade of work in state government, including as Principal Medical Advisor in the Victorian Department of Education and Training.

In 2024, Professor Goldfeld was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to paediatric medicine and public health research. Her contributions have been recognised with numerous awards, including the inaugural 2020 University of Melbourne Marles Medal in STEM for outstanding achievement in research impact.

The Vernon Collins Oration is jointly presented by the RCH and The University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics.