Few topics spark stronger opinions among parents than video games. For some families, games are a source of worry, conflict and negotiation. For others, they are a much-loved hobby and a way to relax, compete, create and connect. The research on gaming reflects this complexity (we suggest checking out the analysis of Dr. Rachel Kowert…

There has been a lot said in the headlines about the Australian social media ban. Some see it as a necessary step towards protecting children. Others question whether it will work at all.  Perhaps we need to sit back and have a little think about that.  The social media ban is one initiative, not the…

I spend most of my working week inside schools helping them think through governance, strategy and the practical realities of AI. But the conversation I keep coming back to, the one I think matters most, is happening at home. It’s the one between parents and their children. Here’s a fact that surprises a lot of…

It’s that time of the year again, enrolment season for the class starting in 2027! For many parents, this can feel like an overwhelming decision. After all, choosing the right school for your child is about more than academics; it’s about finding a place where they will thrive emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Whether it’s their…

We all know that exercise is important. We hear about its benefits constantly, from heart health and bone strength to mood, sleep, stress regulation and cognitive health and more. Research continues to show that movement has an extraordinary “bang for your buck” effect across multiple areas of wellbeing. In many ways, this is not surprising.…

Introduction Advice on what to eat and which diet is best for you is relentless and often contradictory. It varies from what you should eat, when you should eat, why you should eat this over that, how much you should eat, and how you should look and feel, depending on whichever diet is being promoted.…

In a recent blog, I explored how behaviours such as tantrums or meltdowns are often signs that a child’s regulatory capacity has been exceeded. When a child is overwhelmed, what looks like “bad behaviour” may be a nervous system struggling to cope. The same concept can be used to understand another challenge many families face;…

It is Monday morning. Your child is under the doona, saying they feel sick. They have been saying this a lot lately, and over the past month have not managed a full five-day week of school. You tell them there is nothing wrong and that they need to get up, but they snap back and…

In 2025, the Victorian Parliament undertook an inquiry into student pathways to in-demand industries. The Committee had received 139 submissions to the inquiry and held public hearings in November 2025. The two Peak Parent Bodies, Parents Victoria (representing Government school parents) and Victorian Parents Council (representing Non Government school parents) were invited to participate in…