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Our work

Proudly strengthening the sector, building resilience, collaboration and shared success.

Last updated: 24 Dec 2024

Our purpose

We strengthen and guide the sector, building resilience, collaboration and shared success.

As the voice of organisations and individuals dedicated to advancing child and family wellbeing, we set the standards for professional education and practice in child and family services.

Our areas of expertise

Our programs and Projects

Early Start, Bright Future

Supporting professionals to connect families with early learning opportunities, prioritising kindergarten access and inclusive participation.

Child Safe Standards

Ensuring every organisation providing services or facilities for children implements Child Safe Standards.

Switch to Social Work

Creating a contemporary, highly skilled, and diverse child and family services workforce.

Raising Expectations

Supporting young people in out-of-home care or with care experience to, access, and thrive in vocational and higher education.

Education in Out-of-Home Care

Improving educational outcomes for children and young people in care by equipping professionals and carers with the knowledge and skills to navigate the education system and access support.

Outcomes, Practice and Evidence Network (OPEN)

Building evidence from research, practice and client experience to deliver better outcomes.

Family Preservation Reunification Response (FPRR)

Integrating evidence-informed Practice and Cultural Practice Elements to increase child safety.

Lived Experience Design Project

Bringing together expert birth parents with lived experience of child protection to design policy and reform solutions.

Adolescent Violence in the Home (AVITH)

Increasing the evidence base for addressing adolescent violence in the home.

Carer Kafe

Strengthening Victorian foster and kinship carers through free learning opportunities.

The Child Wellbeing Project

Cantering children and young people in practice.

Fostering Connections

Providing prospective foster carers with enhanced support, shaped by industry and driven by sector.

Children Australia

Equipping the sector with a robust knowledge base to improve outcomes.

Our values

Policy and Ideas

Develop, influence and advocate for public policies that advance the rights and wellbeing of children, young people and families and address the social, economic and cultural barriers to improving their lives.

Research and Practice

Lead and share research to support innovation and evidence-informed practice.

Capacity Building

Strengthen the capacity of organisations to provide services that best suit the needs of vulnerable families and children.

Resource hub

Enhance your expertise, empower your practice and broaden your understanding.

Find out more

Upcoming Centre events

View all events

Ochre Ribbon Week

February 12 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Statistics indicate Indigenous women experience disproportionate levels of violence – both structural and interpersonal – and face significant barriers to seeking support. Ochre Ribbon Week is an Aboriginal-led advocacy campaign running […]

Centre events

150+

Members

1,445

participants trained through CSO programs

374

participants trained in sector workforce programs

AVITH in Context: Supporting Families with School Attendance

23 Dec 2024

Exploring how school attendance issues intertwine with adolescent aggression.

Adolescent violence in the home

AVITH in Context: Childhood Maltreatment and Adult Aggression