Collaboration activities between WHO and Charles Sturt University (2025-2026)

Collaboration activities between WHO and Charles Sturt University (2025-2026)
Views of children and young people with disabilities about health and the health system

The Children's Voices Centre staff and affiliates have had a number of meetings this week. We are so proud of our achievements from 2025 and look forward to finalising the work during 2026.

CVC-WHO team meeting - 10 Feb 2026

Scoping review team - lead by Dr Kate Freire - 9 Feb 2026

FEEDBACK FROM WHO 14 February 2026

Thank you very much - this is wonderful!! Congratulations again to the whole team for the impressive work achieved in just one year. It is truly inspiring and we couldn’t be more pleased with the breadth of your activities and the quality of your inputs bringing the voices of children with disabilities in this space.

 Objective of the collaboration (2025-2026)
•    “The collaboration between WHO and Charles Sturt University will contribute to WHO’s efforts in supporting Member States to implement the actions and recommendations from the [WHO Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities]. More specifically, the collaboration activities will help to collect the latest evidence to support Member States promote engagement of communities and other stakeholders (particularly with children and young people with disabilities).”
•    “The overarching aim of these activities will be to provide guidance to WHO on how they could support Member States better understand the views of children and young people with disabilities, and integrate them in health system planning.”
 

Research team
•    World Health Organization Disability Programme (Switzerland): Dr Mélanie Gréaux
•    Charles Sturt University, Children’s Voices Centre (Australia): Prof Sharynne McLeod, A/Prof Kathryn Crowe, A/Prof Suzanne C. Hopf, Prof Sarah Verdon, Prof Julian Grant, Dr Lysa Dealtry, Dr Belinda Downey, Dr Kate Freire, Dr Helen L. Blake, Dr Carolyn Gregoric, and Holly McAlister, A/Prof Kathy Cologon

Research activities
During 2025 research activities were undertaken “to build evidence on the experiences and perspectives of children and young people with disabilities on health and access to healthcare services”. 

Monthly progress meetings were held with WHO and CSU were held (typically Thursday 7pm-8pm Australian time).

Two main research activities were planned over the 2-year period (2025-2026)

Activity #1: A world-wide online qualitative study to explore children and young people with disabilities’ views about health and their experiences in health services. 
Activity #2: A scoping or systematic review on the experiences of children with disabilities in the health sector. 

 Presentations (World Health Organization/United Nations)
•    76th Session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (RCM76) | Nadi, Fiji | October 2025 | Prof Sharynne McLeod, Dr Helen L. Blake, Holly McAlister https://speakingmylanguages.blogspot.com/2025/10/76th-session-of-world-health.html
•    Launch WHO Disability Health Equity Network Meeting | Geneva, Switzerland | 12-13 November, 2025 | Dr Mélanie Gréaux, Prof Sharynne McLeod https://speakingmylanguages.blogspot.com/2025/11/world-health-organization-disability.html
•    World Children's Day event at Charles Sturt University with  David Ohana, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, United Nations Foundation https://unfoundation.org/who-we-are/our-people/david-ohana/ | 20th November, 2025| A/Prof Kathy Cologon, A/Prof Tamara Cumming https://alumni.csu.edu.au/news-and-events/events/industry/from-regional-roots-to-global-impact-kids-interview-un-changemaker-david-ohana 

Outputs
Report
•    Children draw health to advance health equity: Insights from children with disabilities (lay-person’s report) https://cdn.csu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/4506148/CVC-Children-draw-health-2025-Fiji-submission.pdf

Art exhibitions 
•    Children Draw Health Global Online Gallery https://www.csu.edu.au/research/childrens-voices-centre/research/childrens-health
•    Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) exhibition (November 2025-January 2026) https://bathurstart.com.au/exhibitions-events/cvc-children-draw-health/ (Opening Night Event: Friday 21 November – A/Prof Tamara Cumming guest speaker)

Research outputs
Journal article (submitted)
•    McLeod, S., Gregoric, C., Downey, B., Cumming, T., Cologon, K. & Gréaux, M. (2025, submitted October). Children’s perspectives about health and healthcare: A global arts-based study focusing on children with disabilities [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Charles Sturt University. 

Charles Sturt University is a member of the WHO Disability Health Equity Network

Today we received the welcome news that we have been accepted as a member of the WHO Disability Health Equity Network.

We are pleased to welcome Charles Sturt University as a member of the WHO Disability Health Equity Network. Please find attached the Disability Health Equity Network membership certificate for your entity, and a copy of the Terms of reference for the Network. 

CSU's application was focused on the work of the Children's Voices Centre. We are proud to work with WHO to change the lives of children and others with disabilities and the workforce, families and communities who support them.

We have added this partnership to our CVC website: https://www.csu.edu.au/research/childrens-voices-centre/engage-with-us 

 

Terms of Reference

The WHO Disability Health Equity Network (hereinafter referred to as the Network)
envisions health equity for all persons with disabilities in support of the implementation of the WHA74.8 Resolution on the Highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities and advance WHO’s work on closing the avoidable health gaps between persons with disabilities and the broader population. The Network aims to advance the GPW14 Strategic Objective 4: Improve health service coverage and financial protection to address inequity and gender inequalities; more specifically:
• 4.1. Equity in access to quality services improved for noncommunicable diseases, mental health conditions and communicable diseases, while addressing antimicrobial resistance; and
• 4.2. Equity in access to sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent,
and older person health and nutrition services and immunization coverage improved. It also advances the goal of leaving no one behind.

Cheers from our team: Sharynne, Suzanne, Holly 

 

Meeting 3 with Australian advisors about our new research project with the World Health Organization

Today 17 enthusiastic children (and 8 parents) were our third group of Australian advisors about our new research project with the World Health Organization. They built on the knowledge from our first two meetings and taught us a lot. We are now ready to share their insights with the CSU researchers and the WHO. Thanks children (and parents)!

CSU children's advisory group

Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific

This week (21 to 25 October 2024) I am honoured to represent the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP) at the Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (RCM75) in Manila, the Philippines. 

Dr Ferdiliza Garcia (IALP, Philippines), Honourable Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown (Chairperson, Cook Islands) Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala (WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Tonga), Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod (IALP, CSU, Australia)

I was invited to present an intervention addressing communication disability. Here is the #RCM75 YouTube channel for Day 4 with my  IALP intervention (53:00 – 57:00): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvgPIaZKlo0

Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod presenting an intervention at WHO RCM75 in Manila

My colleague, Dr Ferdiliza Garcia from the University of the Philippines is also representing IALP and we have been promoting the right to communicate and the work of IALP in WHO's goal of "reaching the unreached" sharing IALP's book "The Unserved – Addressing the needs of those with communication disorders".

Prof Sharynne McLeod and Dr Ferdzila Garcia representing the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP) at the Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (RCM75) in Manila, the Philippines

"Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025−2029): Working together to improve health and well-being and save lives" is the vision presented by the first-ever WHO Regional Director from the Pacific - Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala.

"Our societies need to be better organized to support health systems that are inclusive and respectful of diversity – regardless of disability, race, ethnicity or gender – in order to combat inequity."

During Monday's discussion Dr Saia exhorted everyone: “We must do this work with our hearts – not just our minds”

The 2024 theme is "Weaving Health for All"

• WHO documents: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/governance/regional-committee/session-75/documents
• Live statements will be published at https://rcm.wpro.who.int/NSAstatements

The Regional Director's dinner was a celebration of cultures and accomplishments over the past year.

Catching up with Pauline McNeil, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Solomon Islands at the Regional Director's Dinner (my PhD student Holly McAlister will visit Pauline and the Solomon Islands later this years as part of her PhD)

The Regional Committee sang "Stand by me"

WHO Western Pacific has implemented a zero alcohol policy
- so the conference dinner has coconuts

Health Research Roundtable

I attended day 1 of the CSU Health Research Roundtable in Orange yesterday led by Prof Julian Grant. 

Prof Sharynne McLeod with Prof Julian Grant (Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Science and Health)

Aim

To bring together health research leaders from across the university to clarify our collective health research strengths and opportunities for growth.

1.    Identify contexts for enabling the growth of health research at Charles Sturt
2.    Identify key areas of research strength and areas for growth
3.    Identify key internal and external stakeholders and power-interests

Health

Our health is important. All aspects of our lives (including our work) are impacted when we are unwell or family members are unwell. These impacts can be short-term -- but also can be long term, especially for researchers like me. There are many years between planning research, writing grant or book proposals, receiving funding, undertaking research and writing it up. Research that involves multiple collaborators can also be impacted by ill health and other circumstances (including happy circumstances such as maternity leave). 

The past few years with the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the world and have slowed down the research cycle. Additionally, I have been impacted by cancer since 2018. Many times, the impact has limited my capacity to think, plan and work. At other times, I have been well and have really enjoyed my work as a distraction from my treatments. During 2022 I have had a number of unanticipated treatments that have significantly reduced my capacity to work - and also my reliability to meet deadlines - and particularly to answer emails. I have appreciated the patience and encouragement from my colleagues.

This week I have had really great news about my health. I am hoping that 2023 will see a healthier year.

New ways of supporting children with SSD

Today Emily Davies (Western NSW Health), Prof Kirrie Ballard (University of Sydney) and I had a wonderful 1.5-hour brainstorm about new ways of supporting children with speech sound disorders during these challenging times. Kirrie and I had another brainstorm earlier in the week sharing new knowledge we have been creating in separate research projects.

Great news re: health

Recently I visited my oncologist who celebrated my cancer goal of speaking at the United Nations, and gave me an "excellent" health report. She asked to have a photo with me and the UN flag! I see her again in a year.

Professor Fran Boyle and Sharynne

Invited speaker at National Health Innovation and Research Symposium

I was an invited speaker at National Health Innovation and Research Symposium this week in Coffs Harbour. The program and presenters are here: https://www.mnclhdevents.com.au/
My presentation was titled: Communicating with children and families in a multilingual world
Here is my synopsis:

More than 20 per cent of Australians speak a language other than English at home. This presentation will highlight the benefits of multilingualism and provide insights from an international research program into how monolingual health professionals can successfully work with multilingual children and families.

Presenting in a session chaired by Professor Gail Whiteford

Presenting recent data from the Australian Census about
changes in the top 5 languages spoken between 2001 and 2016

The dinner speaker was Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and amongst many other topics he described the importance of free education and healthcare to a nation's wellbeing.