The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, a major funder via the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, is supporting a new initiative that will connect health services and communities across metropolitan and regional Western Australia, improving early diagnosis and support for children living with cerebral palsy (CP).

CONNECT-CP (Clinical Research Program to Improve Connection, Access and Translation of Evidence in Cerebral Palsy) is being developed to ensure children across WA can access timely diagnosis, care and support in the earliest stages of life — regardless of where they live.

Cerebral palsy occurs in approximately one in 700 children born in Australia and may affect movement, posture, communication, learning and other aspects of development. While advances in screening mean a diagnosis can be made as early as 12 weeks after birth, more than half of children are still diagnosed after 12 months. Delays are more common for babies born in regional and remote areas, where access to specialist services can be limited.

Late diagnosis can mean families wait longer to receive appropriate support, affecting a child’s health and wellbeing over time. CONNECT-CP aims to address these challenges by strengthening connections across the healthcare system and supporting earlier intervention.

A connected, statewide network

Through a multi-directorate CONNECT-CP Network, Kids Rehab WA at Perth Children’s Hospital will act as the central hub, supporting and connecting with metropolitan and regional sites. Initial partners include King Edward Memorial Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital and WA Country Health Service Kimberley.

Together, the network will provide:

clear pathways to early detection and diagnosis
specialist education and training for healthcare providers
advanced digital health tools to support remote assessments and online learning

By increasing knowledge, building workforce capability and connecting health services across the state, CONNECT-CP aims to achieve earlier diagnosis of cerebral palsy and improve care for some of WA’s most vulnerable children, including those in rural and remote communities.

Building on a successful pilot

The CONNECT-CP model builds on the success of the Accelerate-WA pilot project, funded by the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and delivered in the Kimberley region in 2024. The pilot demonstrated the feasibility of implementing an early-intervention network in partnership with WA Country Health Service and provided valuable insights into implementation barriers and enablers.

Importantly, the Kimberley pilot strengthened collaboration with WA Country Health Service, supported relationships with local Aboriginal clinicians and researchers, and informed planning for the statewide scale-up of CONNECT-CP.

Equity, collaboration and culturally responsive care

The program will be overseen by Professor Jane Valentine (Child and Adolescent Health Service and The Kids Research Institute Australia), together with Professor Catherine Elliott (Curtin University and Rural Health West).

In keeping with its commitment to equitable healthcare, CONNECT-CP will engage universities, major hospitals and Aboriginal-led and regional health organisations across WA, including the Kimberley Aboriginal Health Service. Delivering culturally appropriate care to Aboriginal communities is a core priority, with the Kimberley region identified as the first regional link in the network.

Supporting better outcomes for children and families

The initiative reflects the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation’s commitment to prevention, early intervention and improving equity in healthcare for children across Western Australia.

Support from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation will enable additional regional hubs and connections to be established over the next five years, helping bring earlier diagnosis and coordinated care within reach for more families.

By strengthening collaboration, improving access to specialist knowledge, and embracing digital health innovation, CONNECT-CP aims to reduce barriers to early diagnosis and support, helping children living with cerebral palsy achieve the best possible health and developmental outcomes.

About CONNECT-CP

CONNECT-CP is led by Kids Rehab WA (Child and Adolescent Health Service) in collaboration with The Kids Research Institute Australia and Curtin University.

With support from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, a major funder via the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF), the program is connecting health services and communities across metropolitan and regional Western Australia.

It focuses on enabling earlier diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) and improving access to timely assessment and support. By strengthening connections, building local capability and equipping clinicians with specialist tools, CONNECT-CP is improving care and outcomes for children and families statewide.

What CONNECT-CP will deliver

Through a statewide clinical and research network, CONNECT-CP will provide:

Digital tools to support remote assessments, including secure video recording and analysis
Specialist education and training for healthcare providers and families to support earlier detection of CP
Clear referral pathways to help children and families access support sooner

Project partners and investigators

CONNECT-CP brings together a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, health services and consumer representatives, including:

Professor Jane Valentine (The Kids Research Institute Australia & Child and Adolescent Health Service)

Professor Catherine Elliott (Curtin University & Rural Health West)

Dr Tiffany Grisbrook (The Kids Research Institute Australia & The University of Western Australia)

Dr Caroline Alexander (The Kids Research Institute Australia & Curtin University)

Sue-Anne Davidson (The Kids Research Institute Australia & Child and Adolescent Health Service)

Associate Professor Alison Salt (The Kids Research Institute Australia & Child and Adolescent Health Service)

Dr Sian Williams (The Kids Research Institute Australia & Curtin University)

Dr Sarah Hall (The Kids Research Institute Australia & Child and Adolescent Health Service)

Dr Simon Garbellini (The Kids Research Institute Australia & Child and Adolescent Health Service)

Dr Ashleigh Thornton (The Kids Research Institute Australia & The University of Western Australia)

Professor Courtenay Harris (Curtin University)

Dr Dayna Pool (Curtin University)

Associate Professor Roslyn Ward (Curtin University)

Dr Anna Gubbay (Child and Adolescent Health Service)

Alishum Ali (consumer representative)

Dr Anna Robson (WA Country Health Service)

Associate Professor Mary Sharp (Child and Adolescent Health Service)

Slade Sibosabo (Kimberley Aboriginal Health Research Alliance)

Professor Alicia Spittle (The University of Melbourne)

For more information, visit: www.thekids.org.au/projects/connect-cp/

Published: April 2026

CONNECT-CP: VIRTUAL NETWORK TO EXPAND EARLY SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY