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
CVC2026-643 – Beyond the classroom: The impact of outdoor mathematics activities on preschool teachers’ beliefs and self-efficacy
Çağla Banko-Bal, Yeditepe University, Türkiye; Merve Ketenci Tona, Ministry of Education, Türkiye; Berrin Akman, Hacettepe University, Türkiye
CVC2026-644 – Bridging the implementation gap: Inclusive classroom strategies to support learners with dyslexia
Naima Nosirova, Kharisma Bangsa School, Indonesia
CVC2026-645 – Beyond translation: Underserved families seeking asylum share what cultural recommendations are needed when participating in intervention
Sarah Bartlett, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Sharynne McLeod, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Carolyn Gregoric, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt ...
CVC2026-646 – “Little Libraries” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Sharynne McLeod, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Emily-Jane Woodhead, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Sarah Bartlett, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt ...
CVC2026-647 – Reaching every child: Evidence from a multisensory, play-based inclusive education program across diverse global contexts
Mandy Lau, Reach & Match Inclusive Education, Australia
CVC2026-648 – Including children in disaster preparedness across regional Australia’s high-risk communities
Lucia Wuersch, Charles Sturt University, Australia
CVC2026-649 – Children as partners in practice: Co‑designed resources for participation, feedback, and shared decision‑making
Kylie Matusewicz, Noah’s Ark Inc., Australia
CVC2026-650 – Capturing children’s voices beyond words: Quantitative methods for coding vocalisation and gesture in early communication
Megan Burkhardt-Reed, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, United States
CVC2026-651 – Drawing belonging: Refugee and migrant children’s voices of starting early childhood and primary school in Aotearoa New Zealand
Hazel Woodhouse, University of Waikato, New Zealand; Sally Peters, University of Waikato, New Zealand
CVC2026-653 – Children with disabilities’ views and experiences of engaging with the health sector: Scoping review
Kate Freire, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Kathryn Crowe, Charles Sturt University, Australia; University of Iceland, Iceland; Suzanne C. Hopf, Charles Sturt University, Australia; Sharynne McLeod, ...
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: