Enhancing the Lives of Children with Chronic Illness and their Families through Meaningful Collaboration and Robust Research
WELCOME to Child UnLimited
At Child UnLimited, we are dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people living with chronic illness through meaningful collaboration and robust research. We work in partnership with children, young people and their families to ensure lived experience shapes the research questions we ask and the solutions we design.
As you navigate through our site, you'll discover the ways we're building research that reflects what matters most to children, young people and families living with chronic illness across Australia. From groundbreaking research to impactful programs, we’re committed to fostering environments where children and young people with chronic conditions can thrive.
Join us in our journey to transform lives and build brighter futures. Explore our latest projects and opportunities to get involved. Together, we can create limitless possibilities for children and young people everywhere.
Thank you for visiting and for your interest in supporting our cause!
Did you know approximately ONE IN FIVE Australian children live with chronic illness?
Chronic diseases profoundly impact the lives of countless individuals, and unfortunately, this burden also extends to the youngest members of our communities. In Australia, an alarming one in five children live with chronic disease, facing challenges that affect not only their physical health but also their emotional well-being and social development. This statistic underscores the critical need for targeted healthcare strategies and supportive services to improve the quality of life for these children and their families.
As medical advances improve survival rates, our health systems are responsible for managing the long-term, chronic conditions of these survivors—a challenge that requires innovative and effective solutions.
At Child UnLimited, we are committed to ensuring children, young people and families with lived experience of chronic illness are genuine partners in the research that shapes their care. Our mission focuses on high-quality, person-centred research that addresses the challenges that children and young people face daily. By understanding and researching these issues together, we aim to help each child live their best life and reach their full potential.
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Chronic illness necessitates ongoing, sometimes intensive, medical care that can profoundly affect a child's everyday life. Daily medications, frequent blood tests, and prolonged hospital stays are common realities for these children. Such conditions disrupt their education, limit social interactions, and often lead to psychological stress and diminished physical well-being.
At Child UnLimited, we are dedicated to researching more effective solutions that can improve the holistic wellbeing of children and young people, ensuring they do not just survive but thrive.
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The challenges of managing a chronic illness extend to the entire family, creating significant emotional and financial burdens. Families often face overwhelming healthcare costs and caregiving demands, which can cause significant stress and disrupt family dynamics. This is especially true for families from rural, culturally diverse, or Indigenous backgrounds.Our work at Child UnLimited includes generating the research evidence needed to recognise and address these family challenges, helping to alleviate the pressures they face.
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More than 20% of all Australian children require hospital care for chronic conditions, with many more depending on community and primary care services. This ongoing demand stretches our health systems and impacts the economy through increased healthcare costs and lost productivity. Child UnLimited is actively involved in generating the research evidence that informs better health policy and innovative care models, aiming to streamline and improve the management of chronic illnesses. Through our research, conducted in partnership with children, young people and families, we seek to establish a standardised approach to care that reduces the economic burden and enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of health services.
OUR GOAL
At Child UnLimited, we recognise these gaps and are actively working towards innovative solutions that address the needs of children with chronic illness. Our goal is to reduce the 'whole of life' impact of chronic illnesses through better coordinated care across hospitals, primary health care providers, and community organisations, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive and lead a fulfilling life.
WHAT’S IT LIKE Living with Chronic Illness?
Approximately one in five Australian children lives with a chronic illness. These children encounter numerous daily challenges including compromised physical health, hindered educational achievements, disrupted social networks, emotional distress, and significant financial strain. As medical advances improve survival rates, our health systems are now responsible for managing the long-term, chronic conditions of these survivors—a challenge that requires innovative and effective solutions.
In this video, young Australians share their stories of living with chronic illness, and a mother tells her story.
Shaping Our Future: Our IMPACTFUL PROJECTS
Discover how Child UnLimited is making a profound difference through our impactful projects, each tailored to address the unique challenges faced by children with chronic illnesses.
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Transition Compass
Overview: Chronic health conditions often transition from child to adult services. We address the lack of national standards with our innovative model.
Impact: Collaboration with ACI Transition Care Network, hosting a national roundtable, and a $4.7 million NHMRC MRFF grant.
Timeframe: 2023 - 2028
Lead: Jordana McLoone
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Strengthening Care for Rural Children (SC4RC)
Overview: Adaptation of the SC4C model for rural settings to improve access and outcomes in paediatric care.
Impact: $3M grant for evaluation, aiming to integrate into routine primary care.
Timeframe: 2022 - 2026
Leads: Raghu Lingam and Lena Sanci
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Youth Mentorship Program
Overview: Empowering young people with skills to become health advocates, co-designed by consumers.
Impact: Engagement in consumer activities, grant proposal feedback, and research presentation.
Timeframe: 2023 - 2024
Lead: Kristine Pierce
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Rural Kids GPS
Overview: Expansion of the Kids Guided Personalised Service to rural areas, reducing ED visits and travel for families.
Impact: A $2.5 million annual savings to the health system, enhanced care coordination.
Timeframe: Ongoing since 2015
Lead: Raghu Lingam
EXPLORE Our Efforts & ENGAGE with Our Work
Dive into the heart of our work by exploring our robust partnerships, latest news, and strategic goals aimed at transforming child health and advocacy.
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Our Research Partners
Child UnLimited collaborates with a diverse network of esteemed research partners across Australia, each contributing unique expertise and resources to advance our mission of enhancing the lives of children with chronic illnesses.
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Our Goals and the Election Commitment Request
Child UnLimited sets strategic goals to influence policy and secure election commitments, aiming to shape a future where every child living with chronic illness receives the care they deserve. Click the 'Learn More' button to discover how you can support our initiatives.
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Latest News
Stay informed with the latest updates and breakthroughs from Child UnLimited, where we bring you closer to the developments that matter in child health advocacy. Click 'Read More' to read our recent news articles.
Join the Child UnLimited Community
Welcome to Child UnLimited! We work in partnership with children, young people and their families to ensure their experience of living with a chronic illness shapes the research questions we ask and the solutions we design. By signing up, you become part of a community helping to shape the research that improves the lives of children and young people living with chronic illness. Please fill out the form below to get started.