Latest Posts

Improving child learning, development and wellbeing in the critical early years

Enhancing the wellbeing, learning and development pathways for children, especially those from disadvantaged families, depends on the timing, targeting and intensity of support though infancy and early childhood. These early environments impact health and psychosocial development throughout the life-course. Early childhood education and care settings (ECEC) – often referred to as child care – have the potential to partially compensate for disadvantaged and stressful early environments and amplify development.

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Kidney transplantation at RCH – a new path to success

The kidney transplantation program at RCH has a rich history and has contributed in significant ways to improving outcomes for children with kidney failure for over 50 years. Major changes have taken place in the last two years leading to a new collaboration with the Austin Hospital, a record-breaking year for transplants in 2014 and a world-first innovation to prevent sensitisation in paediatric transplant recipients

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The Epic EMR patient and family portal

It is less than a year until the RCH Epic EMR “goes live”. The transition to a proper electronic record with an extensive suite of functionality will mean many changes in the way we work. These changes will be bigger than those we experienced in the move to the new hospital. The EMR represents a great opportunity to improve the care we deliver and our ability to support research. It is a major investment and obviously we want to use it well.

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Successful school experiences for Victorian students with cerebral palsy

School participation is vital for children with disabilities. We will describe the current situation for students with a disability who attend their local school in Victoria. Background and challenges that students, families and schools currently experience will be discussed. Findings from research that involved a study of students, teachers, parents, principals and allied health professionals will be presented to highlight supports, services, and strategies that enabled students with cerebral palsy to experience success at school.

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Tour de ChIPS: How young people with chronic illness see it and how, through the RCH Chronic Illness Peer Support (ChIPS) Program, they shared this on a global scale in Paris

ChIPS the RCH Chronic Illness Peer Support program, is twenty one years old this year. Managed by the Centre for Adolescent Health, ChIPS brings young people together to share their experiences of chronic illness, create peer support networks and engage in activities that they may not get a chance to do otherwise. The program uses both Youth Participation and Peer Support models.

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Options for the failing Fontan

The Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry is the largest database of patients born with a single heart pumping chamber. The Fontan Registry has already allowed us to demonstrate that survival is far better than expected.

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Three decades of hypospadias repair and still learning

Hypospadias is a common malformation in boys with potential long-term consequences. Despite better understanding of the malformation and refinement of surgery, the results can remain unsatisfactory, especially in proximal hypospadias. Prof Martin Koyle will present the journey of an experienced pediatric urologist involved in surgical correction and follow-up of patients with hypospadias.

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Diversity in the Health Context – Bridging the Divide to Culturally Appropriate Care

Australian patients with low English proficiency are considerably disadvantaged compared to patients who are fluent in English; they stay in hospital longer, have higher readmission rates, and undergo more diagnostic tests. When these patients also have a disability or a mental health condition, the divide is even greater. ‘Diversity’ in the health context mainly translates to ‘disadvantage’ and inequality; this Grand Round will argue that we need to change the perception of ‘diversity’ as a problem, and embrace it as a solution.

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