New study tackles concussion in kids

We’re investing $450,000 in a pilot clinic that is treating kids to recover from concussion with groundbreaking care.

The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) launched the Concussion Essentials Clinic at The Royal Children’s Hospital in November 2024. The pilot clinic treats mild traumatic brain injuries in children with a new care-based model.

The clinic is also developing a research base to recognise and understand concussions in children. It will be used by parents, carers, sports coaches and teachers.

One in 5 children will experience a concussion before the age of 10, and children can take twice as long as adults to recover. If left untreated, concussions can prevent children from attending school, being active and seeing their friends.

A 2023 Royal Children’s Hospital study found that more than one third of parents have little knowledge about the signs of concussion in children. These signs include fatigue, irritability and feeling anxious.

The pilot clinic was supported by a Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund grant in 2024. It uses the HeadCheck app to help parents identify concussion signs and manage their child’s recovery. The app was developed by MCRI in collaboration with the Australian Football League (AFL).

Health technologies and medical research are top priority areas in the Victorian Government’s Economic Growth Statement.