Professor Frank Oberklaid, AM, MD, FRACP, DCH, was the Foundation Director of the Centre for Community Child Health at The Royal Children's Hospital – Melbourne for over 25 years. He is currently Co-Group Leader, Policy and Equity, at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and an Honorary Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne. Professor Oberklaid leads the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative.


Professor Oberklaid is an internationally recognised researcher, author, lecturer and consultant, and has written two books and over 200 scientific publications on various aspects of paediatrics.

His work has been acknowledged in the form of a number of prestigious awards and many invited international lectureships and visiting professorships.

For many years he was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, and remains on the editorial boards of a number of international journals.


Professor Oberklaid most recently co-Chaired the Thriving Kids Advisory Group with the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, producing a national report recommending an early identification system for developmental and behavioural concerns in children 0-8 years. This work will inform policy, strengthen national system consistency and improve pathways for early access to supports.

Professor Oberklaid was co-Chair of an expert working group tasked with developing the National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy in 2021. He was Chair of the Victorian Children’s Council for 12 years, providing expert advice to the Premier and Ministers on child health policies and services for children, and has chaired or been a member of many national health committees, expert working groups and advisory boards.

Professor Oberklaid is especially interested in prevention and early intervention, child mental health and the use of research findings to inform public policy and service delivery. His clinical and research training is in child development and behaviour, and his work as a specialist paediatrician is with children who have developmental and behavioural problems.

Awards
Professor Oberklaid has been the recipient of numerous research grants and his work has been acknowledged in the form of a number of prestigious awards, including; 2023 Senior Australian of the Year for Victoria, Member of the Order of Australia in 2018, the Nils Rosen von Rosenstein Medal in 2013 awarded by the Swedish Pediatric Association and Swedish Society of Medicine, a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1998, a Centenary Medal from the Commonwealth of Australia in 2003, the John Sands Medal from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2003, the Chairman's Medal from The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne in 2003, and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians’ Howard Williams Medal in 2009. He is a consultant for UNICEF and WHO, and has had numerous invited international lectureships and visiting professorships.