Centre for Children and Young People

CCYP co-leads International child abuse & neglect congress

Professor Lynne McPherson was appointed Scientific Committee Co-Chair of the ISPCAN International Congress, held in Melbourne in August, where she and colleagues from the Centre for Children and Young People (CCYP) played a key leadership role in shaping the Congress program. A distinctive feature of the event was its strong focus on First Nations perspectives and youth participation, with dedicated streams designed to amplify these voices in child protection research, policy and practice.

“We are thrilled to have Southern Cross University as a regional university representing the Australian partnership with ISPCAN Melbourne 2026, alongside industry partner Australian Childhood Foundation,” said Professor McPherson.

CCYP staff contributed extensively to the Congress by reviewing abstracts, chairing sessions, presenting research and leading activities within the ISPCAN Network of Emerging Expertise in Child Protection (NEXT) Working Group.

“The Centre’s participation reflects its growing international profile and leadership in research that promotes the rights, wellbeing and safety of children and young people,” said Professor McPherson. Through its involvement, CCYP showcased its commitment to research excellence, collaboration and meaningful impact for children and families.

Celebrating the Legacy of Distinguished Professor Anne Graham AO

After more than three decades of research, teaching and leadership, Distinguished Professor Anne Graham AO is retiring from academia, leaving an extraordinary legacy for children and young people at Southern Cross University and beyond. The founding Director of the Centre for Children and Young People (CCYP), Anne has led more than 70 research projects, produced over 300 scholarly publications and championed children's rights, wellbeing and participation in research, policy and practice.

Among her many achievements are the internationally recognised Seasons for Growth program and the UNICEF-partnered Ethical Research Involving Children (ERIC) initiative, now used in 178 countries. Reflecting on her career, Anne said: “There is no greater privilege in my mind than working with children.” Throughout her career, Anne has consistently championed children's voices. Reflecting on what children need most from the adults around them, she noted:

"For many children, the little things are the big things. Kids yearn first and foremost for recognition - to feel cared for, respected, valued."

As Anne steps into retirement, her influence will continue through the researchers, practitioners, students and communities she has inspired. Her unwavering commitment to children's rights, wellbeing and participation has helped shape a generation of research and practice, ensuring that children's voices remain at the heart of decisions that affect their lives.

ARC Linkage Success

A groundbreaking Australian Research Council funded project, led by Southern Cross University, will reimagine how to strengthen belonging, identity and wellbeing for children growing up in kinship care. Southern Cross University’s Professor Lynne McPherson, who holds the Chair of Out-of-Home Care and will lead the project, said the initiative will place the lived experience of children and families at its centre.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people living in kinship care, most often with their grandparents,” said Professor McPherson who is also the Deputy Director of the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University.

The research brings together key partners including Anglicare Victoria, OzChild, AbCare, and CASPA alongside the Australian Childhood Foundation. International partner Emeritus Professor Robbie Gilligan, from Trinity College Dublin, will ensure that the project maintains high global relevance.

Lynne McPherson, Chair Out of Home Care Research

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Lynne McPherson as Chair, Out of Home Care Research, based in the Centre for Children and Young People, Faculty of Health. The Chair is a collaborative initiative between the Australian Childhood Foundation and Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University. It will build on an established, successful research partnership that has demonstrated the development and timely application of new knowledge aimed at improving outcomes for some of Australia’s most vulnerable children.

CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation, Dr Joe Tucci said that “a key driver for the establishment of the Chair role is to elevate the status of out of home care in Australia through strengthening the evidence base supporting it.” Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Southern Cross University, Professor Julie Jomeen points out that, “For those who know Lynne, her passion for this research area is clear.  She brings to the role a deep understanding, at a range of levels, the issues facing children in Out of Home Care.  She is one of few people in academia who can bring that breadth and depth of experience to the research in this area. Lynne will also bring freshness and flexibility to the role and is eager to really address the issues facing policy and practice”.

Lynne said that she was honoured and humbled to be the first person to take up this newly created and innovative role in the area of out of home care. “This is a very important opportunity to allow the voices of the children and young people we all serve to be seen and heard”, she added.

Research impact

We work hard to develop and sustain collaborative partnerships with government and community agencies to deliver research and program evaluation that has high relevance and impact.

Impact and engagement are critically important aspects of our work. Our research is focused on generating knowledge that can inform policy and practice likely to improve children and young people’s lives. 

Our research is widely disseminated. We do this through high quality academic publications but also through colourful 'plain-English' research summaries, 'good-practice' guidelines, websites, education programs, professional learning workshops, conferences and various digital forms. Explore Our Research and Resources to see examples for each of our projects.