Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child
Supporting young children growing up in a rapidly changing digital age
Creating positive digital childhoods for all Australian children
The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child is the world’s first collaborative research centre dedicated to creating positive digital childhoods for all Australian children. We work alongside other university partners, government, industry and not-for-profits organisations to support children, families and communities navigate their own digital worlds and advocate for positive digital childhoods.
Deakin University is one of six university partners contributing to the Centre’s research. The Deakin hub of the Centre consists of over 30 members, including chief investigators, associate investigators, research fellows, graduate researchers and a project coordinator. We work collaboratively with the other university partners to conduct research focused on digital childhoods and provide evidence-informed resources for parents and carers, educators, children and policymakers.
Learn more about the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child
Our research programs
Our work empowers people who look out for the health, education and happiness of young children. Through our research programs, we develop resources and findings that equip children with the skills they need to live their best digital lives.
Healthy child
Our researchers produce high-quality evidence about the positive and negative health and wellbeing effects associated with young children’s use of digital technology. By understanding children’s lived experiences, we can provide guidance to families, educators and policymakers navigating this space.
Educated child
We seek to advance understandings of how children in diverse communities participate in digital learning and explore how this participation might align with curriculum guidelines and educational and learning practices.
Connected child
We investigate important issues associated with children’s use of the internet and mobile technologies related to data analytics, online engagement and commercial influences. We focus on how to make online engagement safer while promoting healthy digital relationships.
Help children navigate the digital world
Study a research degree or PhD with Deakin and enhance the lives of people through meaningful research.
Our researchers
We bring together the expertise of leading researchers across universities and disciplines to redefine digital childhoods and lead the conversation for a positive digital future.
Featured projects
Our research projects explore children’s lived experiences with digital technology and provide useful resources and environments for children to confidently navigate digital worlds.
Pandemic parenting
The 'Children, Media and Parenting in the COVID-19 Pandemic' project examines how parents and caregivers across seven countries (Australia, China, the UK, US, South Korea, Canada, and Colombia) navigated digital media during the pandemic. It explores shifts in media regulation, advice interpretation and visions for a healthy digital childhood.
Mapping data in the home
The 'Mapping data in the home' project investigates how Australian families interact with digital data generated by connected devices, toys and appliances. It aims to understand household practices and perceptions around data use and develop strategies to help families better manage and protect their digital data.
Contact us
Please get in touch if you would like to know more about the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.
