The Kids Research Institute Australia

The Kids Research Institute Australia We are non-profit and for kids! -- HOUSE RULES --

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The Kids Research Institute Australia is one of the largest and most successful medical research institutes in Australia, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people. We hope that you find the information we post useful and encourage you to leave comments and join in the conversation. To protect our space and you as users, we retain the right to moderate/remove content on this page at all times. We ask that you please be respectful of others when posting or leaving comments. We expect that Facebook users interacting with our page will make sure that their conduct is not:

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-- ON VACCINATIONS --
As a medical research institute with a firm basis in science and health, our stance on the vaccination issue is firm. They're the single most cost-effective health intervention that we've ever had. User comments or posts that push an alternative agenda out to the public are not only factually incorrect, but they are dangerous and misleading. Due to a handful of outspoken repeat offenders on this issue, those who continue to push a message that is at odds with our official stance on this issue will be hidden or banned. If you wish to learn more about vaccinations you're welcome to learn more via our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/


-- PLEASE NOTE --
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Strong family and social support before a type 1 diabetes diagnosis can shape how young people cope afterwards 💙 Researc...
25/02/2026

Strong family and social support before a type 1 diabetes diagnosis can shape how young people cope afterwards 💙

Researchers from our Embrace and Rio Tinto Children’s Diabetes Centre teams recently found that building resilience early in life can positively shape a young person’s outlook and engagement with diabetes care.

The research also highlights the transition to adulthood – when a young person takes more responsibility for managing their diabetes care – as one of the most challenging periods, particularly when trauma has gone unaddressed.

To address this, our researchers co-designed a trauma-informed intervention with young people, parents and clinicians to help kids develop diabetes resilience and reduce the impact of stress.

Read more about the project 🔗 https://shorturl.at/1At1S

Rio Tinto | Telethon7 Perth | Rio Tinto Children's Diabetes Centre

About half of all parenting tip videos on TikTok are being uploaded by a creator with no expertise, according to researc...
17/02/2026

About half of all parenting tip videos on TikTok are being uploaded by a creator with no expertise, according to research undertaken by The Kids Research Institute.

The Kids’ study analysed the top performing videos with tips for parents on the platform, finding that just 53.9 per cent of videos came from creators purported to have a relevant qualification or expertise in parenting.

Embrace Research Fellow and report lead author Dr Karen Lombardi said parents risk exposure to misinformation when they turn to social media for answers about their children’s health.

🔒 Read the article here: https://shorturl.at/gOGze

Or our media release here: https://shorturl.at/TPBUK

14/02/2026

On International Childhood Cancer Day, we’re proud to share how we're building a powerful new era of childhood cancer research and care in WA.

This year marks the establishment of the WA Comprehensive Kids Cancer Centre, bringing together world-class care at Perth Children's Hospital and Health Service with leading research from The Kids Research Institute Australia and The University of Western Australia.

Together, we envision a future where all children with cancer survive and thrive.

The Centre is made possible through the generous support of the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and Perth Children's Hospital Foundation.

A simple SMS reminder could help an extra 35,000 Aussie kids receive their vaccinations on time. 📱 Published today in Th...
12/02/2026

A simple SMS reminder could help an extra 35,000 Aussie kids receive their vaccinations on time. 📱

Published today in The Lancet Regional Health, new research from Professor Tom Snelling from the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases based at The Kids shows that a low-cost text ‘nudge’ sent from GP clinics significantly improves timely vaccination.

The AuTOMATIC trial engaged 10,000 families and delivered more than 20,000 automated reminders between 2021–2024 – proving small digital interventions can drive big public health impact.

With 1 in 5 children late for key vaccines at 18 months and four years, this simple strategy could make a measurable difference nationwide.

Read the media release 🔗 https://shorturl.at/hkAb7
Check out the article in The West Australian 🔒 🔗 https://shorturl.at/01OuS
View the research paper 🔗 https://shorturl.at/E3d12

University of Sydney I Immunisation Foundation of Australia I The University of Western Australia

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re celebrating the women shaping healthier futures through d...
11/02/2026

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re celebrating the women shaping healthier futures through discovery, collaboration and impact at The Kids.

💜 1,096 female researchers
💜 385 honoraries, community researchers, PhD candidates, students and volunteers
💜 55 women in professional services, spanning research management, biostatistics, lab operations, funding, and so much more.

Here at The Kids, gender equity, diversity and inclusivity aren’t just values – they’re essential to better science, stronger collaboration and real-world impact. When women and girls are supported to lead, innovate and belong, everyone benefits.

Here’s to the women driving change today, and the girls who will shape the science of tomorrow.

Now that teens under 16 are settling into life without social media, how is your family handling conversations about saf...
10/02/2026

Now that teens under 16 are settling into life without social media, how is your family handling conversations about safe internet use?

Safer Internet Day, led by eSafety Commissioner, is an opportunity to raise awareness about the safety of shared spaces online and discuss what we can do to make the internet a safer place for Australian kids and young people.

Dolly's Dream and The Kids joined forces in 2023 to launch a free cyber safety app, Beacon, to provide parents and carers with the latest information about safe internet use. From keeping kids safe on Roblox to building healthy screen habits, Beacon has countless helpful tips for parents and carers.

Ready to learn more about keeping your kids safe online? Download the Beacon app here: https://beacon.thekids.org.au/

| |

Western Australia experienced its worst flu season on record last year, with more than 36,000 cases reported across the ...
09/02/2026

Western Australia experienced its worst flu season on record last year, with more than 36,000 cases reported across the State.

As families settle into the new school year, Professor Chris Blyth, Head of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases based at The Kids, is urging parents to think ahead to winter and consider how best to protect their children.

Professor Blyth emphasises that flu vaccination remains the most effective protection against serious illness, noting that hundreds of children and adults are hospitalised each year due to influenza. With vaccination rates for WA school-aged children sitting at just 15.3 per cent last year, he is hopeful a new needle-free nasal spray flu vaccine for children will help boost uptake and keep children and the wider community safe.

With flu vaccines typically becoming available from April, now is the perfect time for families to start planning ahead.

Read The West Australian story 🔒: https://shorturl.at/Cwe9t

Learn more about the new nasal spray flu vaccine 👉 https://shorturl.at/nsHbm

Perth Children's Hospital and Health Service | The University of Western Australia

Supporting adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in secondary schools can be complex, but the right st...
09/02/2026

Supporting adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in secondary schools can be complex, but the right strategies make all the difference.

Start Term 1 strong with a FREE live webinar presented by FASD Hub Australia and Learning with FASD, focused on practical, classroom-ready approaches.

📅 Wednesday 18 February 2026

⏰ 12.05pm AWST | 2.05pm AEST | 3.05pm AEDT

The webinar – which is for secondary educators, professionals and carers – will feature:

🔵 Distinguished Professor Elizabeth Elliott, FASD Hub Chair and Researcher Clinician
🔵 Julia Riches, Research Officer and Project Coordinator
🔵 Vanessa Spiller, Clinical Psychologist and FASD educator
🔵 Jessica Birch, Lived experience and advocate

Register now 👉 https://shorturl.at/CnXc8

Let’s celebrate our local heroes. ⭐ Catherine Hughes AM and her family tragically lost their four-week-old baby son, Ril...
06/02/2026

Let’s celebrate our local heroes. ⭐ Catherine Hughes AM and her family tragically lost their four-week-old baby son, Riley, to whooping cough in 2015.

Following their loss, Catherine and her husband Greg established Light for Riley to shine a light on whooping cough in the community.

And, in a bid to introduce maternal vaccination to the National Immunisation Policy, Catherine and her family founded advocacy organisation Immunisation Foundation of Australia.

She has developed a strong partnership with the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases (WCVID) based at The Kids; donating over $50,000 to our research through the Foundation and doing an incredible job bridging scientists and the community.

Thankfully, a national free pertussis vaccination program for pregnant women was introduced in 2018.

We extend a big thanks to people like Catherine, whose courage has supported our vision of happy, healthy kids.

Light for Riley

Creating culturally safe mental health support for Aboriginal children and young people must start where they learn and ...
04/02/2026

Creating culturally safe mental health support for Aboriginal children and young people must start where they learn and grow 💛

Last week, more than 180 school psychologists came together to explore how cultural safety can be better embedded into everyday practice. Aboriginal Project Officers from The Kids shared early insights from a recently completed project focused on building cultural safety into mainstream mental healthcare.

School psychologists were also introduced to our Embrace safe yarning cards — a practical, culturally informed tool designed to support meaningful conversations with Aboriginal students. Feedback from schools will help shape the next phase of this work following Term 1.

👉 Read more about how this work is helping shape safer, more inclusive mental health care for Aboriginal children and young people: https://shorturl.at/zzG44

Embrace is proudly supported by principal partner Rio Tinto and Telethon7 Perth

School is back, and so is the daily lunchbox routine — raising an important question for families: how do we feed kids n...
03/02/2026

School is back, and so is the daily lunchbox routine — raising an important question for families: how do we feed kids nutritious food without breaking the bank?

Rebecca Flavel, a Senior Dietitian based at Perth Children’s Hospital and diabetes researcher in the Rio Tinto Children’s Diabetes Centre at The Kids Research Institute Australia, has kindly shared her top tips for stocking a nutritious lunchbox on a budget.

Swipe through the carousel or read her full list of recommendations here: https://diabetes.thekids.org.au/news-and-events/back-to-school-how-to-pack-a-healthy-lunchbox/.

| | Rio Tinto Children's Diabetes Centre | Perth Children's Hospital and Health Service

Great news for WA families 💙ORIGINS sub-project, STARS for Kids, was recently awarded a substantial Telethon7 Perth gran...
02/02/2026

Great news for WA families 💙

ORIGINS sub-project, STARS for Kids, was recently awarded a substantial Telethon7 Perth grant to help better support disadvantaged communities, where up to one in four children are starting school developmentally vulnerable.

This three-year grant will support the development of a scalable, online, tiered model of care, designed to help families with children under five through early intervention that addresses developmental, mental health and psychosocial needs.

ORIGINS Co-Director and Chief Investigator of STARS for Kids, Professor Desiree Silva, said early identification combined with targeted, compassionate support has the power to strengthen wellbeing, build resilience and ease pressure on the healthcare system.

“With families facing increasing delays in accessing services, the impact of early intervention cannot be overstated,” Professor Silva said.

👉 Read more : https://shorturl.at/Kug91

📍 Families in the City of Wanneroo with children aged 6 months to 3 years are now invited to take part in this important study.

👉 Check your eligibility and register here: https://shorturl.at/DbFYg

STARS for Kids is a national collaboration run in partnership with UNSW

Address

Northern Entrance, Perth Children’s Hospital, 15 Hospital Avenue
Nedlands, WA
6009

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Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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Discover. Prevent. Cure.

At Telethon Kids Institute, we're committed to children’s research that gives every child the best opportunity for a happy and healthy childhood.

Founded in 1990 by 2003 Australian of the Year, Professor Fiona Stanley, the Telethon Kids Institute's success stems from its innovative approach in bringing together researchers from different fields of science to tackle major issues in child health and wellbeing.

Director Dr Jonathan Carapetis leads the 700-strong team at our cutting-edge facility now based in Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands.

We are committed to collaboration. We create and facilitate connections with researches, practitioners, service providers, our partners and the community, to maximise the potential in what we do and deliver tangible benefits to kids and families.