Home / Our work

Our work

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

Last updated: 22 Jul 2026

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

A pilot program designed to create 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

Centring children and young people in practice.

Children Australia

An open-access scholarly journal equipping the sector with a robust knowledge base to improve outcomes.

Fostering Connections

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

Social Scope

Sector-led benchmarking.

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

Childhood experiences of domestic and family violence and youth suicide

August 20 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Join the Centre for an online webinar exploring new research into the relationship between childhood experiences of domestic and family violence and youth suicide.

Online
OPEN: Outcomes Practice and Evidence Network
Workshops and Network forums

Latest Centre news

ResiROCKS 2026

17 Aug 2026

Over 500 residential carers from across Victoria and Tasmania gathered for a day of celebration and connection at ResiROCKS 2026 on Thursday 6 August – and it was an event to remember.

News

The Centre at ISPCAN 2026

13 Aug 2026

The Centre is proud to exhibit and present our research at this year's International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (ISPCAN) Congress.

News

Building belonging in the lives of children in residential care

12 Aug 2026

"To truly learn how to help, I first have to understand who they are deep down, how they see themselves, how they make sense of their journey, and what they hope for in the future. To get to that part, though, I need to first make sure they feel safe," says developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey.

Perspectives

Our Members

Become a member

The Centre’s membership benefits build collaboration, advocacy, and capacity within the child and family services sector, ensuring a more resilient and supportive environment that provides better outcomes for children and families.