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Partnering to deliver real world outcomes
Parenting Research Centre Case Studies Partnering to deliver real world outcomes
Service: Innovative change solutions
Supporting implementation in complex service systems
In the context of major policy reforms impacting the community sector, such as Thriving Kids, the Parenting Research Centre has several existing programs and services that position us well to work with organisations and governments to design and implement these changes. Our work combines practical implementation expertise, trusted parent engagement approaches, and established national assets shaped through years of supporting families of children with developmental delay and additional needs.
Looking to connect policy, practice and impact?About this work
A connected system of support
We combine a strong evidence base in child development – including children with additional needs and developmental delay – with practical expertise in workforce capability, program design, implementation, and evaluation. By working with us, governments and organisations can turn reform priorities into practical approaches that work in real-world settings.
Together, our offerings cover the full range of supports needed to enable families, equip practitioners, and deliver meaningful reform outcomes. We offer established experience in:
- Universal digital support
- Peer connection and community-based care
- Targeted parenting programs
- Workforce capability development
- Unearthing data and evidence to guide decisions.
Investment in these areas strengthens families early, reduces pressure on downstream services, and supports long-term outcomes across health, education and disability systems.
Why this matters
Children thrive when parents are confident
Children develop in the context of relationships. Their developmental trajectories are shaped by the quality of the environments they experience every day, particularly in the home.
This means:
- Parents and carers are key agents of change in children’s lives
- Supporting the parent-child relationship is one of the most powerful ways to improve outcomes
- A strong home learning environment is a high-impact, equity-promoting investment
- Children thrive when parents feel confident, connected and supported
- Families benefit when systems are effective in informing, equipping, connecting, and enabling.
Importantly, when practitioners are supported to have skilled, sensitive interactions with parents, families feel understood and supported. This is what creates conditions for meaningful, lasting change.
What we offer
We help the sector equip families to manage
We help systems and services:
- Strengthen how practitioners engage with parents
- Build parenting confidence and capability from the start
- Support children with developmental concerns earlier and more effectively
- Translate evidence into practical tools, programs and supports
- Measure what’s working, and adapt in real time.
Our role is to connect policy intent with practice, all while ensuring reforms are experienced by families as helpful, respectful and easy to access.
What we can offer
Below are examples of existing programs, services, and assets that can support the implementation of Thriving Kids.
Australia’s first national survey of parenting experiences, providing large-scale insight into parent wellbeing, confidence and support needs.
What it can support:
- National, state and local insights into how families are faring
- Understanding parent needs, concerns and help-seeking behaviour
- Data to inform service design, targeting and investment decisions
- Visibility of families of children with developmental delay and complex needs
Australia’s trusted national digital parenting resource, funded by the Australian Government and delivered with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
What it can support:
- A universal, non-stigmatising entry point for families
- Translation of policy and evidence into accessible guidance
- High-reach, low-cost delivery of parenting information
- Connection between families and broader service systems
A national peer support initiative for parents and carers of children with disability, developmental delay or chronic health conditions.
What it can support:
- Scalable peer support that reduces isolation
- Increased parent confidence navigating complex systems
- Strengthened community-based supports across metro, rural and remote areas
- Integration with formal services
An evidence-based approach to strengthening the home learning environment through everyday interactions.
What it can support:
- Practical strategies for parents to support learning through daily routines
- Increased parent confidence and capability
- Improved developmental and literacy outcomes, especially for children experiencing disadvantage
- Adaptable approaches for families with developmental concerns
A structured, evidence-informed approach to supporting behaviour change through everyday interactions between parents and children.
What it can support:
- A consistent, sector-wide approach to working with parents
- Practitioner capability in supporting behaviour change
- Practical, goal-oriented strategies for families
- Application across universal, targeted and intensive services
A practice support system that strengthens educator-parent relationships.
What it can support:
- Educator confidence in engaging families
- Skilled conversations about child development and emerging concerns
- Earlier identification of developmental needs
- Stronger alignment between home and learning environments
An evidence-based parenting program for families of children with developmental and behavioural needs.
What it can support:
- Practical strategies for managing behaviours of concern
- Early intervention to prevent escalation
- Strengthened parent capability and child outcomes
- Complementary support alongside existing services
Embedded approaches to using data that enable systems to learn, adapt and improve in real time.
What it can support:
- Testing and refining new models during implementation
- Monitoring quality across multiple providers
- Generating real-world evidence
- Strengthening system-wide practice and outcomes
National work supporting effective remote service delivery for families.
What it can support:
- Expanded access for families unable to attend in person
- Consistent, evidence-informed telepractice approaches
- Workforce capability and shared learning
- Scalable models for service delivery
Want to know more?
We welcome the opportunity to contribute to the rollout of Thriving Kids and in supporting collaboration, shared learning, and outcomes that make a meaningful difference for families in communities like yours.