What's next for kids' health in Australia?
Now, with a bold new ten-year strategy, 'Research Reimagined', the Institute is setting its sights even higher.
For 35 years, The Kids (formerly Telethon Kids Institute) has been at the forefront of children's health research, tackling the most pressing health and wellbeing challenges facing young people. Its latest strategy signals a pivotal shift, not just in what it aims to achieve, but how it intends to achieve it.
'We want to establish a pipeline of breakthrough discoveries,' Executive Director of The Kids Research Institute Professor Jonathan Carapetis said. 'But we want to do this in true partnership with our community, our corporate and philanthropic supporters, government and industry.'
The ambition is clear: bold science, global impact, and a commitment to solving the biggest problems for kids and families.
The work happening inside the Institute's labs is extraordinary and broad ranging, but it doesn't stop at medicine. The Institute is deeply engaged in the everyday realities of children's lives.
'Our researchers are also using science and data to help inform governments and service providers on policies and programs,' Professor Carapetis said. 'This includes using evidence from our research to develop best practice programs for physical activity for children under four, and to illustrate the impact of skipping breakfast on kids' school results.'
These findings go beyond data to become actionable programs and policy, helping to shape healthier futures for children across Australia and around the world.
Though headquartered in Perth, The Kids Research Institute is a national and global leader.
'We're known for major public health wins, like reducing neural tube defects by introducing folate into bread or creating the roadmap to eliminate rheumatic heart disease in Australia,' Professor Carapetis said. 'And we're leading the world in accelerating vaccines for Strep A.'
WA's collaborative health and research landscape, along with strong community support through initiatives like Telethon, is ideal for this kind of innovation. It's no coincidence that some of the most significant advances in children's health are being spearheaded right here.
Crucially, Research Reimagined puts equity front and centre. 'While our vision is for all kids to be happy and healthy, it is our duty to ensure that those who have the poorest outcomes receive proportionately more benefits from research,' Professor Carapetis said.
That includes a strong focus on Indigenous child health. The Institute aims to become the world's leading Indigenous child health research organisation, a goal built on deep, sustained partnerships with First Nations communities.
'We believe these partnerships provide pathways to improved outcomes for kids not just in Australia, but globally.'
At its heart, The Kids is powered by a single purpose: giving every child the chance to live a full, healthy life. With Research Reimagined, that mission has entered a new era, where scientific excellence meets social responsibility, and where WA remains at the forefront of a global movement.
The Kids Research Institute Australia is about giving children the best possible chance to grow, thrive, and enjoy life. And with every discovery, they're turning that vision into reality, one child at a time. To find out more,
visit the website
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Mothers in Victoria write to health minister amid confusion about RSV injection
A group of Victorian mothers have written to the health minister after struggling to get their children an antibody nirsevimab injection as part of the state's free RSV vaccination program. When Alissa Holder took her six-month-old baby to get a routine vaccination in April, she had no idea the ordeal she and her child was about to endure. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly infectious illness that infects up to 90 per cent of children in their first two years. It is one of the most common causes of hospitalisation of infants in Australia. This year the Victorian government introduced a program to provide free antibody nirsevimab injections, or the RSV shot, to eligible women and infants until late September 2025. Ms Holder saw seven doctors and five nurses in an effort to get her baby protected against RSV but said she was repeatedly denied the shot despite being eligible. A nurse from one clinic later confirmed her baby was eligible but that the clinic did not offer nirsevimab. She was advised to "doctor shop". On June 7, Ms Holder called triple-0 because her baby was coughing and struggling to breathe. Five days later, Ms Holder's baby tested positive for RSV. Ms Holder is now part of a group of 10 Ballarat parents with similarly confounding experiences that have written to Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas about "the inequitable, confusing and ultimately dangerous … roll-out of the program in [the Ballarat] area". Amy Fuller contributed to the letter to Ms Thomas, detailing her month-long "stressful" process to get her newborn the nirsevimab shot. "We were originally told by the maternal child health nurse when we went for our normal vaccinations that we weren't eligible." Ms Fuller was later told by a GP that her baby was eligible, but that the clinic did not have any nirsevimab medicine. "We rang around Ballarat looking for vaccines and most places didn't have them," she said. Ms Fuller eventually found two clinics that offered the shot but was denied access because they were not "regular patients" at those clinics. She only recently got her child protected against the virus at a clinic but said there was still confusion. "They weren't entirely sure [about the injection]," Ms Fuller said. "One of them told us it was a live vaccine, one told us it wasn't, and they weren't sure if we had to wait 15 minutes or not [afterwards]." In the letter to the health minister, one mother said their doctors advised them the RSV injection "did not exist" and other parents said that some clinics could only order one dose per week or per month. Ms Thomas's office did not respond to a request for comment for this article, instead referring the ABC to the Department of Health. Under the Victorian RSV Mother and Infant Protection Program: The ABC understands the Department of Health is aware of the confusion about the RSV program within Victorian clinics and has since redistributed information and literature. "There is no shortage of nirsevimab in Victoria," a department spokesperson said. "Providers have been advised to order only what they need for scheduled appointments to ensure fair and efficient distribution. "Order limits have been relaxed as the respiratory illness season has progressed." The department said it had proactively sought to support health providers with additional information and guidance, including direct engagement with GP clinic staff. It said 46,000 doses of maternal RSV vaccine Abrysvo and more than 23,000 doses of nirsevimab had been distributed in Victoria. Ramya Raman, a practising GP and the Royal Australian College of GPs vice-president, said her patients had voiced confusion about the RSV injection. "The rate at which the public policy has been rolled out has been a little bit staggered and different between the states, and that's probably contributed a little bit to the confusion," Dr Raman said. She advised against doctor shopping. "It's important to have a regular GP because it means that that doctor will know exactly the family history, the mum's history, and will be able to advise appropriately whether they are eligible or not eligible," Dr Raman said. The day after her baby tested positive for RSV, Ms Holder got a call from the first nurse she met with, who apologised. The nurse went on to say that her baby was in fact eligible for RSV protection and she had since begun administering the jab to other infants as a result of multiple parents asking questions. "When it comes to health care it's important [governing bodies] don't leave any room for misinterpretation … because it can lead to illness and potentially death," Ms Holder said. "Make it really clear and simple and in plain English so that anyone can understand it." Editorial note 4/7/2025: The nirsevimap injection is not a vaccine, but a is a long-acting monoclonal antibody that can be given to infants to protect them from severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus disease. There is an RSV vaccine available for pregnant women, Arexvy and Abrysvo.
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Mothers in Victoria write to health minister amid confusion about RSV vaccination
A group of Victorian mothers have written to the health minister after struggling to get their children vaccinated as part of the state's free RSV vaccination program. When Alissa Holder took her six-month-old baby to get a routine vaccination in April, she had no idea the ordeal she and her child was about to endure. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly infectious illness that infects up to 90 per cent of children in their first two years. It is one of the most common causes of hospitalisation of infants in Australia. This year the Victorian government introduced a program to provide free RSV vaccines to eligible women and infants until late September 2025. Ms Holder saw seven doctors and five nurses in an effort to get her baby vaccinated against RSV, but said she was repeatedly denied the vaccine despite being eligible. A nurse from one clinic later confirmed her baby was eligible but that the clinic did not offer the vaccine. She was advised to "doctor shop". On June 7, Ms Holder called triple-0 because her baby was coughing and struggling to breathe. Five days later, Ms Holder's baby tested positive for RSV. Ms Holder is now part of a group of 10 Ballarat parents with similarly confounding experiences that have written to Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas about "the inequitable, confusing and ultimately dangerous … roll-out of the vaccine program in [the Ballarat] area". Amy Fuller contributed to the letter to Ms Thomas, detailing her month-long "stressful" process to get her newborn vaccinated. "We were originally told by the maternal child health nurse when we went for our normal vaccinations that we weren't eligible." Ms Fuller was later told by a GP that her baby was eligible, but that the clinic didn't have any of the vaccine. "We rang around Ballarat looking for vaccines and most places didn't have them," she said. Ms Fuller eventually found two clinics that offered the vaccine but was denied access because they weren't "regular patients" at those clinics. She only recently got her child vaccinated at a clinic but said there was still confusion. "They weren't entirely sure [about the vaccine]," Ms Fuller said. "One of them told us it was a live vaccine, one told us it wasn't, and they weren't sure if we had to wait 15 minutes or not [afterwards]." In the letter to the health minister, one mother said their doctors advised them the RSV vaccine "did not exist" and other parents said that some clinics could only order one dose per week or per month. Ms Thomas's office did not respond to a request for comment for this article, instead referring the ABC to the Department of Health. The Department of Health recommends RSV vaccines for certain population groups, including: The ABC understands the Department of Health is aware of the confusion about the RSV vaccine within Victorian clinics, and has since redistributed information and literature about the vaccine. "There is no shortage of nirsevimab [the vaccine] in Victoria," a department spokesperson said. "Providers have been advised to order only what they need for scheduled appointments to ensure fair and efficient distribution. "Order limits have been relaxed as the respiratory illness season has progressed." The department said it had proactively sought to support immunisation providers with additional information and guidance, including direct engagement with GP clinic staff. It said 46,000 doses of maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) and more than 23,000 doses of nirsevimab had been distributed in Victoria. Ramya Raman, a practising GP and the Royal Australian College of GPs vice-president, said her patients had voiced confusion about the RSV vaccine. "The rate at which the public policy has been rolled out has been a little bit staggered and different between the states, and that's probably contributed a little bit to the confusion," Dr Raman said. She advised against doctor shopping. "It's important to have a regular GP because it means that that doctor will know exactly the family history, the mum's history, and will be able to advise appropriately whether they are eligible or not eligible," Dr Raman said. The day after her baby tested positive for RSV, Ms Holder got a call from the first nurse she met with, who apologised. The nurse went on to say that her baby was in fact eligible for RSV vaccination and she had since begun vaccinating other infants as a result of multiple parents asking questions. "When it comes to health care, it's important [governing bodies] don't leave any room for misinterpretation… because it can lead to illness and potentially death," Ms Holder said. "Make it really clear and simple and in plain English so that anyone can understand it."
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
WA Health issues urgent warning after reports wrong vaccine jabs given to patients by medical staff
Medical staff in Western Australia have been warned after reports of the wrong immunisations being given to patients. The West Australian reports a vaccine update was sent to medical offices in the western state on Thursday reminding staff to make sure they are giving patients the right jab for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 'It is essential to check the correct RSV immunisation product is being given prior to administration,' WA Health said. 'Recent reporting to the Australian Immunisation Register and Western Australia Vaccine Safety Surveillance System has indicated that some Respiratory Syncytial Virus immunisation products have been administered incorrectly.' In the alert, WA Health urged staff to use the correct products according to the Australian Immunisation Handbook NewsWire has contacted WA Health for further comment. There are different types of RSV jabs for particular demographics. Beyfortus (nirsevimab) can be given to children aged up to two-years-old, while Abrysvo is a vaccine registered for women who are 28-36 weeks pregnant and for adults over the age of 60. Another vaccine, Arexvy, is registered for adults over 60, or adults over 50 with increased risk. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently released advice on the 'correct administration' of RSV vaccines, which was released in response to reports of administration errors. 'We have been receiving reports in 2025 of product administration errors related to RSV prevention products,' the TGA's advice states. 'No adverse event was reported for most of the product administration error reports received by the TGA to date, but an administration error may lead to various problems, including unknown levels of protection for vaccine recipients. 'The potential consequences of these errors could include inadequate immunological protection, cost impacts, inconvenience and reduced confidence in vaccination more broadly.' According to the TGA this year there have been 24 medication error reports of Arexvy being given in pregnancy, 24 reports of Abrysvo being administered to children less than 12 months old, and 36 reports of Beyfortus (nirsevimab) being administered to females aged 15–54 years.
