Centre for Children and Young People - Southern Cross University

About Us

Children and young people matter. Understanding their lives, circumstances and the issues that are important to them are central to our research. So, too, is identifying how such knowledge can improve policy and practice

At the Centre for Children and Young People, our research focuses on the rights and wellbeing of children and young people (0-25 years) in the different contexts in which they live their lives. Children and young people’s views and experiences are central to the research that we do, why we do it and how it is approached.

Located within the Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University, the Centre has partnered with over 70 organisations to undertake projects ranging from small community-based or regional research initiatives to major national and international studies, including 8 Australian Research Council (ARC) funded projects.

From working collaboratively with partners to develop an International Charter and evidence-based guidance and resources on Ethical Research Involving Children (now translated into 6 languages) to authoring the highly successful suite of Seasons for Growth loss and grief education programs (implemented in 5 countries with over 360,00 children, young people and adults participating) we focus on ensuring our research has measurable social as well as academic impact.

Research Areas

Our research focuses on topics broadly linked to:

children and young people’s wellbeing, safety and participation (in school, family, community and research settings);
the relevance and impact of policies, practices, programs and services designed to improve children and young people’s lives and circumstances (such as in schools, out-of-home care, mental health services, disability services, family law, juvenile justice).

Explore our research

Research Approach

Our research is highly collaborative and underpinned by an understanding that children and young people have the right to protection, provision and participation (as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child).

This means:

We are proactive and innovative in progressing ethical and participatory mixed-method research with children and young people, regardless of background, age or ability.

Children and young people are involved not only as participants in our research but also collaborate in the design of our studies, advise on our progress, and co-develop outputs that are relevant for children and young people.

New publication alert

Day, K., Barlo, S., McPherson, L., & Menzel, K. (2024). Aboriginal dance as pedagogy: privileging voices of Bundjalung elders. Critical Studies in Education, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1080/17508487.2023.2298203

Centre Announcement:

Centre Director, Professor Anne Graham, AO has been appointed as Distinguished Professor, Southern Cross University.

The announcement was made by University Vice Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Carlin.

“The title of Distinguished Professor is reserved for the recognition of genuinely outstanding leadership and service to our University over the span of many years. It is the highest academic honour within our University and as such, is conferred only in very exceptional circumstances.

In announcing Anne’s appointment, I reflected on her focus on doing and leading the highest quality work that has real impact, her leadership through mentorship and in particular on her humility as a person and her deep dedication to our University and to our region.

Anne is a role model for all of us both as regards what she has accomplished and how she has adopted a very purpose and values led approach to her work and community engagement.

We are deeply fortunate to have her as our colleague and I hope you will join with me in congratulating her on her appointment.”

Meet our researchers

Research Launch at Office of the NSW Advocate for Children & Young People Sydney

Research impact

We work hard to develop and sustain collaborative partnerships with government and community agencies to deliver research and program evaluation that has high relevance and impact.

Impact and engagement are critically important aspects of our work. Our research is focused on generating knowledge that can inform policy and practice likely to improve children and young people’s lives.

Our research is widely disseminated. We do this through high quality academic publications but also through colourful 'plain-English' research summaries, 'good-practice' guidelines, websites, education programs, professional learning workshops, conferences and various digital forms. Explore Our Research and Resources to see examples for each of our projects.

Meet our researchers

Discover more about us

Explore Our Projects

Our research covers a wide range of issues that impact on children and young people's mental health and wellbeing. A distinctive feature of this research is the ways in which we involve children and young people, not only as research participants but in co-designing research and advising on each phase of our projects.

Photo of Dr Kate Neale in garden with children

Meet The Team

Our research is undertaken by a diverse multidisciplinary team bringing different disciplinary understandings to the Centre from sociology, social policy, education, social work, community welfare, education, cultural studies, anthropology, law, psychology and health.

Partner With Us

We value the strengths of our partnerships and collaborations. Our work is committed to the co-design of research projects with government, non-government, statutory bodies, local organisations, international partners and most importantly with children and young people with lived experience.

Thinking about HDR study?

We are happy to discuss projects of an interdisciplinary nature that focus on children and young people.

Browse Our Resources

Knowledge translation and the ways in which our research can be understood and utilised by those seeking to change and improve policy and practice is central to our work. We have created a freely available library of non-academic outputs for you to use in your own work.

Project Spotlight: Strengthening Relationships and Connections

Young people in residential care face major challenges that can prevent them from forming healthy relationships and a strong personal identity, which are critical building blocks for their wellbeing and safety. For the first time in a large-scale mixed-methods study, we will listen to young people living in therapeutic residential care, staff and managers across NSW about current practice and how it can be improved.

From January – March 2023 the research team is reaching out to staff and young people currently living in intensive therapeutic care (ITC) and ITC-significant disability to hear your perspectives about relational practice that strengthens connections and relationships for young people. To find out more, please read the information sheet and contact Meaghan at meaghan.vosz@scu.edu.au.

If you are interested in joining the co-design team, please watch our video and get in touch!

For updates on this project, follow #StrengtheningConnectionsAndRelationships on Linked In and Twitter.

If you are interested in partnering with us, please get in touch. We welcome enquiries, ideas or proposals at any time.

ccyp@scu.edu.au