Resources
Most recent releases
‘No one wants to be the odd one’: Growing up as a teenage boy today
This post is written by Aiden and Zach with Sharon Bessell and Cadhla O’Sullivan and appeared on The Power to Persuade 25 September, 2026
Falls the shadow: between the vision of the UNCRC and children’s experiences of poverty in Australia
This paper explores the gap between the transformative potential of the UNCRC and the lived realities of children who are growing up in poverty.
New Publication – Taking Action to Reduce Child Poverty: Patching, Reforming or Transforming?
We are pleased to announce a new publication from the Children’s Policy Centre: Taking Action to Reduce Child Poverty: Patching, Reforming or Transforming? by Sharon Bessell in the most recent issue of Social Alternatives.
Defining and Measuring Child Poverty in Australia
Poverty harms children now and into adulthood. It limits health, learning, and wellbeing, and undermines rights set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, including an adequate standard of living, health care, education, and play.
Journal Articles
Falls the shadow: between the vision of the UNCRC and children’s experiences of poverty in Australia
This paper explores the gap between the transformative potential of the UNCRC and the lived realities of children who are growing up in poverty.
New Publication – Taking Action to Reduce Child Poverty: Patching, Reforming or Transforming?
We are pleased to announce a new publication from the Children’s Policy Centre: Taking Action to Reduce Child Poverty: Patching, Reforming or Transforming? by Sharon Bessell in the most recent issue of Social Alternatives.
The failure to protect the rights and needs of children in Gaza.
Over the past 80 years, international human rights and humanitarian law have emphasized the protection of children during war and conflict as one key principles of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Reports
Kids need..
What children say makes life good or tough
A child-friendly report on the More for Children research project
More for Children: Children’s Experiences of Poverty in Australia
Bessell, S. and O'Sullivan, C. 2024. More for Children: Children’s Experiences ofPoverty in Australia, Canberra: The Children's Policy Centre, The AustralianNational University (PDF) More for Children: Children's Experiences of Poverty in Australia.
More for Children: Rights-based Methodology for Research with Children about Poverty
Bessell, S. and O'Sullivan, C. 2024. More for Children: Rights-based Methodology for Research with Children about Poverty. Canberra: The Children's Policy Centre, The Australian National University (PDF) More for Children: Rights-based Methodology for Research with...
Discussion Papers
More for Children Issues Paper 1: Transport
An overview of findings from the More for Children program of research, focusing on lack of transport as an element of multidimensional child poverty.
More for Children Issues Paper 2: Housing
This issues paper focuses on what children told us about housing – and how their lives are impacted when housing is unaffordable, inadequate or insecure.
More for Children Issues Paper 3: Food Insecurity
This issues paper focuses on what children told us when they and their families cannot afford quality, nutritious food.
More for Children Issues Paper 4: Education
This issues paper focuses on what children told us about education and how learning in and out of school is impacted by poverty.
Blogs and Short Articles
‘No one wants to be the odd one’: Growing up as a teenage boy today
This post is written by Aiden and Zach with Sharon Bessell and Cadhla O’Sullivan and appeared on The Power to Persuade 25 September, 2026
Defining and Measuring Child Poverty in Australia
Poverty harms children now and into adulthood. It limits health, learning, and wellbeing, and undermines rights set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, including an adequate standard of living, health care, education, and play.
We should be looking at what we can add to children’s lives instead of what we take away
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the government’s plan to introduce legislation to ban younger teens from social media.
Shifting narratives about poverty in Australia
This is the final post of a 3-part series by Sharon Bessell and Cadhla O’Sullivan from the Children’s Policy Centre at ANU. Today’s post covers welfare policy narratives of individual blame and how they don’t reflect the reality of children’s lives.
‘The Missing Middle’ in childhood poverty and wellbeing indicators
This is the second post in a 3-part series focusing on childhood poverty and wellbeing indicators. Today Cadhla O’Sullivan, Megan Lang and Sharon Bessell highlight the gaps for children in the middle years, why this matters, and the importance of listening to children to understand their experiences of poverty.
Reducing poverty and improving wellbeing for all children: Where do we stand?
This is the first post in a 3-part series) by Sharon Bessell and Cadhla O’Sullivan from the Children’s Policy Centre at ANU. Today they identify some trends from their analysis of poverty and wellbeing.
Children are hiding their hunger to avoid burdening their parents as food insecurity rises in Australia
13 March 2023
‘More for Children’ research underway
View article (sheppnews.com.au)
30 March 2023
Government’s wellbeing framework could create more sustainable Australian economy.
View article (themandarin.com.au)
25 October 2022
Budget to go beyond dollars to wellbeing.
View article – The Canberra Times
23 October 2022
In conversation with Children’s Commissioners
Join us as we talk one on one with the Commissioners about how they are working to keep children safe, happy and healthy, and to secure their human rights. View all episodes.
Helen Connolly and Colleagues
As part of the Children's Policy Webinar Series for 2024, Professor Sharon Bessell spoke with: Helen Connolly, South Australia's first Commissioner for Children and Young People Meena Singh, Commissioner for Aboriginal...
Liana Buchanan and Members of the Commission Youth Council
As part of the Children's Policy Webinar Series for 2024, Professor Sharon Bessell spoke with Victoria's Principal Commissioner Liana Buchanan and Amelia Hunt and Ruby Sait from the Commission Youth Council on 25...
In Conversation With Ann Hollands
Join Professor Sharon Bessell, Director of the Children’s Policy Centre, and Anne Hollonds, National Children’s Commissioner as they discuss the impacts of the pandemic and related policy responses on children. What do...
Videos
Below are some videos that outline the research behind the More for Children project – view the archive here.
On the Children’s Policy Centre YouTube channel you can see more videos, including webinar recordings.
The Community Jigsaw
A framework for strong, supportive, child-inclusive communities.
The MOR for Children Framework
A child-centred framework for assessing multidimensional child poverty.
Re-conceptualising Poverty
A major focus of our research is reconceptualising child poverty from a child-centred perspective
