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
CVC2026-736 – Play environments for blind and low vision children: Findings from a scoping review
Fatemeh Aminpour, University of Sydney, Australia; Dagmar Reinhardt, University of Sydney, Australia
CVC2026-737 – Understanding the representation of children with disabilities in Hindi cinema
Vidya Vishwakarma, Central University of Jharkhand, India
CVC2026-738 – Assent in action: Exploring ethical practice in arts-based research with young children
Tamara Cumming, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Sharynne McLeod, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Belinda Downey, Charles Sturt University, Australia
CVC2026-739 – Understanding the voices and learning experiences of children with autism in inclusive educational settings
Saguna Thapa, Kathmandu University, Nepal
CVC2026-740 – Children as meaning-makers: Home-educated children’s photo-narratives of learning, belonging and participation
Jeannette Simpson, St Mary’s University, United Kingdom
CVC2026-742 – Looking to hear: Engagement, dialogue, and encounters unpacking children’s voices in the context of play
Brooke Bailey, East Maitland Preschool, Australia; Jodie Cox, East Maitland Preschool, Australia
CVC2026-743 – Exploring similarities and differences between the early years learning framework (EYLF), Australia and Sri Lanka’s national early childhood curriculum framework: Implications for early childhood practice
Yasaara Kaluaratchi, Prospects College of Higher Education/Charles Sturt University-Colombo, Sri Lanka
CVC2026-Keynote 1 – Amplifying the voices of children with disabilities in the health sector: An overview of WHO initiatives
Dr Mélanie Gréaux, World Health Organization, Switzerland
CVC2026-Keynote 2 – Leaving no child behind: Global trends and transformative actions in early childhood development and parenting support
Dr Chemba Raghavan, Global Lead, Early Childhood Development, UNICEF Global Center of Excellence, Nairobi, Kenya
CVC2026-Keynote 3 – Beyond Fauxclusion: Generative listening for an inclusive world
Dr Zinnia Mevawalla, University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom (zinnia.mevawalla@strath.ac.uk)
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: