Public Health

Vernon Collins Oration: “The power of paediatrics to address child health inequity within a generation: reality or fantasy?”

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?

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Towards National Paediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are intended to improve the quality of clinical care by promoting evidence- based care, reducing inappropriate variation, and producing optimal outcomes for patients. CPGs have been developed at RCH since 1996. These CPGs were focussed on practice at RCH until 2011, when many were adapted for use across Victoria.

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Collaborating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities to Promote Early Childhood Development

The STRONG kids, STRONG future team from the University of Melbourne’s Department of Paediatrics works in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, communities, and organisations to research, develop and implement culturally responsive tools that enhance developmental outcomes for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.  The STRONG kids, STRONG future team is excited to co-present with key partners from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations our approach to advancing children’s health. We will describe how we have co-developed culturally responsive developmental instruments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.  We will hear from our partners who will share their experience of collaborating on research projects, the importance of culturally responsive tools, implementation of these instruments in their settings and what works in partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

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Reshaping Mental Health Resources: A Collaborative Approach

Join us for a panel discussion to explore how integrating the voices of children and their parents can transform the work we do in mental health. We will share our projects and insights, emphasising the impact of lived experience on the supports and resources we create. We will discuss practical insights for supporting lived experience in research, knowledge translation and clinical practice and challenge current assumptions to reshape mental health resources and how they are created.

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Localising efforts to improve care for children in a global world, to reach those in greatest need

Globally, we face many common challenges. Yet how do we address these in different health contexts to ensure that the right care reaches those who need it the most, in the right way? Decentralisation, localisation, “glocalisation”…many labels been applied to approaches, and debate ensues about which approach is “right”. Yet the aim is common – best care, best outcomes, everywhere. 

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You could make this place beautiful – Narrative Medicine in a children’s hospital

In 2023, Dr Mariam Tokhi and Dr Fiona Reilly launched Australia’s first Narrative Medicine course at the University of Melbourne, teaching medical students. In this Grand Round, they will share the vision they have for integrating Narrative Medicine skills into the worlds of university education as well as community and hospital medicine. 

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Aboriginal child health and Out of Home Care in Victoria

The Royal Children’s Hospital had over 7000 interactions with Aboriginal children and families last year.  Wadja Aboriginal Family Place Case Managers provide culturally sensitive support and care coordination to Aboriginal and Torres Strait families attending the hospital, either as inpatients or outpatients. 

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The Centre for Adolescent Health: Supporting the healthy development of young people

Spanning the three campus partners, the Centre for the Adolescent Health has driven actions for adolescent health over more than 3 decades, with the aim of understanding and promoting the healthy development of young people, locally and globally. Newly appointed as a Professor of Adolescent Health, Professor Peter Azzopardi will share his personal journey in adolescent health, and in doing so will celebrate the legacy of the late Professor George Patton. 

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