Sharon Goldfeld

Professor Sharon Goldfeld is a paediatrician and Director of the Centre for Community Child Health (CCCH) at the Royal Children’s Hospital, as well as Co-Group Leader of Policy and Equity and Theme Director of Population Health at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. With a career spanning clinical practice, public health research, and senior health and education policymaking—including as Principal Medical Advisor for the Victorian Department of Education and Training—she bridges the worlds of research and real-world policy implementation.

Her research program is focused on developing sustainable, policy-relevant solutions to eliminate inequities in child health across Australia. With over 120 peer-reviewed publications, 46 government reports, and several book chapters, Professor Goldfeld has been awarded nearly $87 million in competitive research funding. Her leadership of the right@home study—a landmark trial to support parenting in disadvantaged families—earned her the prestigious inaugural Marles Medal in STEM for outstanding research impact.

Recognised nationally and internationally, she is regularly invited to policy roundtables and expert panels, where she advocates for rapid, effective translation of research into practice to improve the lives of children and families across Australia.