BSL Talks - Thriving Kids, thriving families, thriving communities

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2026 marks a pivotal moment for early childhood development in Australia. With the rollout of Thriving Kids, governments, communities and service providers have a shared opportunity to reshape how children and families access the support they need - where they live, learn and play.

For too long, families of children with developmental concerns or differences have faced fragmented systems, long wait times and inconsistent access to early supports. Thriving Kids presents the opportunity to build a more equitable, integrated approach: one that meets families earlier, responds to their real‑world contexts, and strengthens inclusion.

Building on the momentum of this national reform, our webinar brought together leading voices from research, practice and policy to explore what it will take to create a system where every child can thrive.

Hosted by Zeah Behrend, BSL’s Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, the discussion examined how equity, community‑embedded supports and cross‑sector collaboration can transform outcomes for children and families, and what practical steps are already showing promise on the ground.

Our panel included:

- Professor Sharon Goldfeld, The Centre for Community Child Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute a leading pediatrician and researcher, Professor Goldfeld brings deep expertise in child development, population health and system reform.

- Dr Caroline Croser‑Barlow, CEO, The Front Project offers national leadership in early learning system design and workforce capability.

- BSL’s frontline insights on integrated service design will be shared from Tanya Oxlade, Head of Disability Service and Innovation and Leah Robertson, Senior Manager Early Years. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this important conversation.