Research
Explore our research focus and projects.
Our research pillars
Our work is centred around five key areas:
- Academic Excellence: Competitive grants, high-impact publications and global thought leadership.
- Innovation & Implementation: Co-designed interventions, digital health solutions and integrated care models.
- Evaluation & Impact: Rigorous assessment of programs and interventions to ensure they are effective, scalable and sustainable.
- Social Impact: Measurable improvements in health equity and service delivery for underserved populations.
- Capacity Building: Training the next generation of leaders in child health research and policy.
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We bring together clinicians, researchers, people with lived experience and policymakers from across disciplines, including paediatrics, public health, health economics, implementation science, digital health and community engagement.
By working collaboratively, we ensure our research doesn’t just add to knowledge, it helps improve care, strengthen systems and make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families.
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Our work is guided by six strategic objectives that shape how we design research, partner with health systems, and translate evidence into practice.
- Advance equitable child health systems
Reduce disparities in health access, experience and outcomes for children across Australia. - Strengthen integrated care models
Develop and scale approaches that improve coordination between primary, community and hospital care. - Transform early childhood health and development
Support families during the critical first 2000 days with evidence-based, system-level interventions. - Innovate through digital and hybrid models
Leverage technology to enhance access and quality of care, especially in rural and remote communities. - Build capacity and leadership in child health research
Train the next generation of clinicians, researchers and policy leaders. - Generate high-quality evidence for policy and practice
Conduct rigorous evaluations to guide system improvement and inform national and state health strategies.
- Advance equitable child health systems
Current projects
GenV Intervention Hub
National research infrastructure for large-scale intervention trials and population evaluations.
Youth Service Integration Resource Kit Evaluation
Pilot feasibility RCT to improve integration between headspace centres and community mental health services.
Enhancing Paediatrics in Primary Care (EPiPC)
A scalable model of paediatric multidisciplinary care in regional New South Wales.
BUBs Quit Study
Enhanced smoking cessation in maternity services to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Providing Enhanced Access to Child Health Services (PEACH)
An organisation-wide equity initiative across the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network.
Health Services Implementation and Economics Enabling Platform (HSIE)
Implementation science, health services research and economic evaluation supporting equity-focused interventions.
Healthy Beginnings
Co-designed early intervention to support children's health and development before school.
Strengthening Care for Rural Children (SC4RC)
Integrated GP-paediatrician care for rural and regional Victoria and NSW.
Child Unlimited
A not-for-profit organisation and research platform for children with chronic illness, disability and complex needs.
virtualKIDS Service Evaluation (CHRIS)
Evaluating two nurse-led virtual paediatric care models delivered through SCHN.
The CHA Learning Health System (CHRIS)
Using national hospital data to improve care for children and adolescents.
Australian Child and Youth Wellbeing Atlas
Interactive geospatial platform visualising the health and wellbeing of children and young people.
Optimising Children & Young People's Precision Medicine Cancer Care
A National Health Systems Sustainability Framework for Precision Cancer Care.
Keeping Kids Safe in Hospital
This national program addresses the critical issue of ensuring the 670,000 kids admitted to hospitals and the 1.7M who attend emergency departments each year in Australia receive timely and safe care.
Completed projects
SUSTAIN: Strengthening Care for Children
A virtual paediatrician-supported model embedded in general practice across NSW.
RuralKidsGPS
Equitable care coordination for children with chronic and complex conditions in rural NSW.
Youth Integration Project (YIP)
A translational research program strengthening integration across the youth mental health system.
EPIC-CP: Equitable Pathways for Cerebral Palsy
Co-designed social care navigation for children with cerebral palsy and their families.
Child and Family eHub
A co-designed digital front door to community, social and mental health services for families.
Contact us
We welcome enquiries about our research programs, partnerships, student opportunities, and collaborations. The PCH Research Group works across hospitals, universities, communities and government to improve child health systems in Australia and internationally.
