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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

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Election 2026 Call to Parties - 21 October 2026

2026 Victorian Election Call to Parties: A vision for children, young people, families and carers

October 21 @ 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Ahead of the 28 November Victorian State Election, the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare brings together sector leaders to hear directly from parties and candidates on the […]

Events
Face-to-Face
Members

Latest Centre news

Housing is the anti-poverty policy Victoria’s children need

16 Oct 2026

Anti-poverty week is a chance to talk about what housing poverty looks like and what the gaps in our systems mean for the safety and stability of children and young people and their families. Whoever forms government after the state election on 28 November needs to rapidly expand social and affordable housing. And they must measure success by whether children are living in safe, stable homes.

Perspectives

VACYPA Election Priorities: protecting progress

14 Oct 2026

VACYPA's election priorities focus on protecting the progress Aboriginal communities have fought hard to achieve, strengthening Aboriginal community control and advancing Aboriginal self-determination by ensuring governments continue investing in what works for Aboriginal children, young people and families.

News

Bright Lives: New roadmap to strengthen out-of-home care in Tasmania

13 Oct 2026

The Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) has released Bright Lives: The Roadmap to Uplifting Care, outlining a long-term approach to improving safety, wellbeing and outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care.

News

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.