Concussion Essentials (HeadCheck) app improves concussion care
MCRI's tool for better concussion outcomes
The HeadCheck app, developed by MCRI with The Royal Children’s Hospital and the AFL, educates parents, coaches and players to recognise concussion, understand when medical attention is needed and how manage recovery safely.
This free, evidence-based sideline assessment tool is based on concussion guidelines. It uses questions and observations to help users recognise signs of suspected concussion and identify when an ambulance, hospital, or GP visit is needed. The app records the patient’s symptoms and helps manage their safe return to school, study, work, exercise, and sport.
The HeadCheck app, developed by MCRI with The Royal Children’s Hospital and the AFL, educates parents, coaches and players to recognise concussion, understand when medical attention is needed and how manage recovery safely.
This free,...
The HeadCheck app, developed by MCRI with The Royal Children’s Hospital and the AFL, educates parents, coaches and players to recognise concussion, understand when medical attention is needed and how manage recovery safely.
This free, evidence-based sideline assessment tool is based on concussion guidelines. It uses questions and observations to help users recognise signs of suspected concussion and identify when an ambulance, hospital, or GP visit is needed. The app records the patient’s symptoms and helps manage their safe return to school, study, work, exercise, and sport.
What's the child health challenge?
While many sports change rules to reduce contact among younger players, concussion affect one in five by age 16, however, most parents don’t recognise the severity of symptoms or seek medical attention.
Our research shows that about one in three children and adolescents develop a mental health condition after concussion which can persist for several years. These problems include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, withdrawal, aggression, attention problems, and hyperactivity.
It’s important to be aware of the risks and potential for lasting problems if concussion is not dealt with quickly and effectively.
Concussion Essentials (HeadCheck) is changing children’s lives
This free access to the best child concussion education and advice is improving the identification and management of youth concussion and preventing premature return to activities that may worsen symptoms and expose them to further head injuries.
Mental health should form part of any concussion management so we have also developed a Concussion podcast with Neuropsychologist Professor Vicki Anderson, and are trialling an intervention to prevent long-term problems and support return to normal activities.
The intervention combines education about a healthy lifestyle, with physiotherapy and psychology treatments to address symptoms including headache and fatigue, with early data showing it speeds up recovery.
Clinical integration: Concussion Essentials Clinic
Concussion care has been fragmented in Victoria. Families must navigate a complex system and find providers with varying levels of expertise. There is no centralised, evidence-based paediatric concussion clinic available, this trial aims to change that.
In April 2025, MCRI launched the Concussion Essentials Clinic at The Royal Children’s Hospital, supported by Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF) funding.
The MCRI Concussion Essentials Clinic, is a concussion clinic for children and adolescents ages 8-18 years and assesses clinical outcomes for children and adolescents and uses evidence-based treatments including education, strategies to help common symptoms, return to school and sports guidance, physiotherapy and psychology.
National scaling
Backed by a $1.5 million Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant in September 2025, the clinic model will expand nationally via telehealth, extending access to families in regional areas and non-English-speaking communities. This initiative includes developing online training for health professionals and deeper integration of HeadCheck into personalised care.
Concussion Essentials implementation project
More information
Concussion newsroom
Accelerating recovery for children with concussion
Road to recovery after concussion
Professor Vicki Anderson receives MRFF grant to support concussion clinic
New children’s concussion clinic study to help recovery
Dealing with persistent concussion symptoms
Overcoming the lingering effects of concussion
Protein could help detect delayed concussion recovery
New diagnostic tools and updated best practice to treat childhood concussion
Need to better understand childhood concussion, inquiry hears
MRFF projects improving the health and well-being of Australians
Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Concussion podcast
