Centring children’s voices at the World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified that children and young people with disabilities are often missing from health decision-making, limiting how well Member States can plan inclusive health systems. A team of Charles Sturt researchers are working with WHO to research and report on the experiences of young people with disability, and their access to valuable healthcare services.

Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod is leading a team of researchers at the Children’s Voices Centre (CVC) to help communities best support children with disabilities. The Centre is leading research projects, including an online qualitative study of young people with disabilities views about health, and a systematic review of experiences of children with disabilities in the health sector.

By strengthening evidence on how children and young people with disabilities experience and access healthcare, this work supports more inclusive participation in health decision-making and helps reduce systemic barriers and discrimination in health systems.