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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

View all events

Annual General Meeting - 24 November 2026

Annual General Meeting 2026

November 24 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Notice is hereby given to all members that the Board of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare has convened the 114th Annual General Meeting of the Association […]

Events
Face-to-Face
Members
Online

Latest Centre news

Learn, connect and share at the 2027 Carer Kafe Learning and Development Conference

05 Nov 2026

The Centre’s Carer Kafe program is pleased to announce the 2027 Carer Kafe Learning and Development Conference to be held at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins from the 22 to 23 April, 2027.

News

New MARAM Child and Young Person Practice Guides released

04 Nov 2026

The Child and Young Person MARAM Practice Guides have been released, providing new guidance to support professionals working with children and young people affected by family violence.

News

Centre joins calls to reverse Disability Inclusion funding cuts

30 Oct 2026

The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare has joined disability, education and community organisations in calling on the Victorian Government to reverse planned cuts to the Disability Inclusion program.

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.