Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) - Welcome
Acknowledgment of Country
Children's Voices Conference 2026
CVC2026 is an interdisciplinary international conference that provides a platform for sharing research about innovative methods, theories, and partnerships with children, families, and practitioners. It supports social justice both during childhood and in the childhood sector.
CVC2026 is organised by the Charles Sturt University Children’s Voices Centre and is an opportunity to present research in a virtual online space. CVC2026 showcases the work of seven outstanding keynote presentations as well as 144 oral presentations.
- STREAM 1: Creating a more inclusive world for children: International interdisciplinary research
- STREAM 2: Children Draw Health Global Online Gallery
CVC2026 is held entirely online and asynchronously from 1–3 September 2026. There is no registration fee, and there are no fees to present or view the presentations.
Papers are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 10, and SDG 17.
Our hope is that this conference supports social justice during childhood and in the childhood sector across the world. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in organising, presenting, and participating in CVC2026. We particularly thank Professor Neena Mitter (Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Research), who has championed our endeavours. Thank you, everyone.
Associate Professor Kathy Cologon, Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod, and Associate Professor Tamara Cumming
Charles Sturt University Children’s Voices Conference 2026 Conference Co-chairs
Dr Carolyn Gregoric
Charles Sturt University Children’s Voices Conference 2026 Conference Secretary
Emma Hayes
Charles Sturt University Children’s Voices Conference 2026 Conference Administrator
Conference Proceedings Book
Download Here
PDF, 2.51MB
Keynote Speakers
1. Amplifying the voices of children with disabilities in the health sector: An overview of WHO initiatives
Dr Mélanie Gréaux
World Health Organization, Switzerland
2. Leaving no child behind: Global trends and transformative actions in early childhood development and parenting support
Dr Chemba Raghavan UNICEF Global Center of Excellence, Nairobi, Kenya
3. Beyond Fauxclusion: Generative listening for an inclusive world
Dr Zinnia Mevawalla University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom
4. Weaving play into the national fabric: What can we learn from international leaders in children’s right to play?
Robyn Monro Miller AM
Play Australia (IPA Australia Inc), Australia
5. Stories that shape us: ABC Kids Early Education and the power of reflective media engagement
Laura Stone
Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) Kids, Australia
7.
Panel 1: Children’s perspectives on the Australian Disability Discrimination Act: Barriers, fairness and belonging
Panel 2: Child friendly healthcare: Children’s perspectives from the Children Draw Health project
Children’s Advisory Group with Associate Professor Kathy Cologon
Charles Sturt University Children’s Voices Centre
Children's Voices Conference: International interdisciplinary research
Presentations By Topics
- All
- Children's communication
- Children's health and disability
- Children's inclusion
- Children's learning and activities
- Children's rights, voices, and perspectives
- Children's services workforce and policy
- Presentations
- All
- Children's communication
- Children's health and disability
- Children's inclusion
- Children's learning and activities
- Children's rights, voices, and perspectives
- Children's services workforce and policy
- Presentations
CVC2026-601 – Listening as inclusion: Co‑constructing emotionally safe spaces with children and practitioners
Jayne Carter, Ignite Education Ltd, United Kingdom
CVC2026-602 – Beyond access: Centring children’s voices in inclusive digital early childhood practices in resource-constrained contexts
Adedayo Olofinnika, Early Childhood Institute, Nigeria
CVC2026-603 – Bringing neurodiverse learners’ voices to life through participatory action research
Kate Kernaghan, The University of Waikato, New Zealand
CVC2026-604 – Children’s insights about health and healthcare can advance health equity for children with disabilities across the world
Sharynne McLeod, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Carolyn Gregoric, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Helen L. Blake, Charles Sturt University, Australia; ...
CVC2026-605 – Enhancing participation and voice in early childhood classrooms: A scoping review of inclusive practices for children with developmental delays
Adenike Marquis-Otoijamun, Inclusive Minds.ed, Nigeria; Chidubem Precious Ezurike, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
CVC2026-606 – Home-school-community collaboration programs for 0- to 6-year-old children: A scoping review
Jinjin Lu, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China; Tong Lin, Wenzhou-Kean University, China; Stefan Reindl, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China; Wenping Zhang, Wenzhou-Kean University, China
CVC2026-607 – Youth perspectives: Experiences with a multidisciplinary weight management service, a qualitative study
Shen Meei Chia, NSW Health, Australia; Slavica Krstic, NSW Health, Australia; Fang Lin, NSW Health, Australia; Faye Southcombe, NSW Health, Australia; Sarah Dennis, The University ...
CVC2026-608 – Children draw playing: Interdisciplinary insights from drawings from 10 countries
Carolyn Gregoric, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Sharynne McLeod, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Belinda Downey, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Brendon ...
CVC2026-609 – Using digital storytelling in teaching foreign languages to young learners
Kamila Wichrowsk, University of Warsaw, Poland; Paulina Marchlik, University of Warsaw, Poland
CVC2026-610 – What should we call play? Teachers’ discursive negotiation of play’s legitimacy in schools
Brendon Hyndman, Charles Sturt University, Australia
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The work of the Children’s Voices Centre supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 8, 10, 17 (and others). Each CVC2026 presentation will be aligned with relevant SDGs.
Children’s Voices Global Online Gallery
Children are invited to share their ideas about belonging by creating drawings, artwork, podcasts or postcards about being together, feeling included, or being part of something. Submitted works will be displayed in a global online gallery. To submit a child’s work, please use the online submission forms here: