COVID-19 School research

The 2020 school closures forced Victorian children into remote learning, bringing about social isolation for many. The shift to remote learning led to numerous challenges for students, their families and teachers. 

To get children back to school, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) prepared the COVID-19 in Victorian ECEC and Schools report at the request of the Department of Health and the Department of Education, Victoria.

Led by Professors Fiona Russell and Sharon Goldfeld, the team analysed international evidence and Victorian school outbreak data to inform the return to school plan in Term 4, 2020. The team continue to work with the Department of Health and Department of Education to keep schools open safely and inform how to manage and monitor future outbreaks using enhanced surveillance.

Research

A guide to safely re-opening Victorian schools and early learning centres (November 2020)

MCRI researchers, led by Professors Fiona Russell and Sharon Goldfeld, published the COVID-19 in Victorian ECEC and Schools report which found COVID-19 cases in schools and childcare are mainly driven by community transmission. The report recommended that remote learning should be a last resort.

COVID-19 enhanced surveillance in schools (May 2022)

Led by Professor Margie Danchin, MCRI together with the Victorian Department of Health and the Victorian Department of Education Victoria, conducted a COVID-19 school study to increase understanding of COVID-19 transmission in schools and Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services. The findings from this research continue to inform the public health response to outbreaks in schools and ECEC services.

The study aims to increase knowledge about key aspects of COVID-19 transmission and the public health response. These include the role of young children and students in COVID-19 transmission and the impact of COVID-19 on schools and ECEC communities. This evidence helps to understand how COVID-19 is spread in schools and ECEC, inform the best way to respond to outbreaks, and ensure that children, students and staff are supported and can continue to learn and thrive.

Back to school: the evidence behind the return to school and a plan for staying open.

In this 2020 seminar, speakers describe the details of the school report, including the evidence behind the return to school and the plan for staying open. This is followed by a panellist discussion and Q&A. Panellists include the co-authors of the report, Professors Fiona Russell, Sharon Goldfeld and Margie Danchin and Drs Kathleen Ryan and Kathryn Snow. Liana Buchanan, the Commissioner for Children and Young People, also joins the panel.

In this 2020 seminar, speakers describe the details of the school report, including the evidence behind the return to school and the plan for staying open. This is followed by a panellist discussion and Q&A. Panellists include the co-authors of the...

In this 2020 seminar, speakers describe the details of the school report, including the evidence behind the return to school and the plan for staying open. This is followed by a panellist discussion and Q&A. Panellists include the co-authors of the report, Professors Fiona Russell, Sharon Goldfeld and Margie Danchin and Drs Kathleen Ryan and Kathryn Snow. Liana Buchanan, the Commissioner for Children and Young People, also joins the panel.

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