Effective Implementation Science

Aron Shlonsky is Professor of Evidence Informed Practice at University of Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Department of Social Work, Director of the Victoria Child Welfare Decision-Making Project, and Scientific Director of the Ontario Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (OCANDS). After graduating from UC Berkeley with a doctorate in social welfare and a masters degree in public health, Shlonsky was an Assistant Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work and was then Factor-Inwentash Chair in Child Welfare at the University of Toronto Faculty of Social Work. Prior to his academic career, he spent a number of years as a child protective services worker and substance abuse counselor in Los Angeles. Shlonsky is known internationally for his work in risk assessment for child maltreatment and domestic violence, child welfare practice and policy, data analytics and the use of evidence to inform practice and policy, and his long-term involvement with the Campbell Collaboration (an international group that promotes and produces systematic reviews in the areas of social welfare, education, crime and justice, and international development).

Bianca Albers is a Senior Advisor for Evidence in Practice and Policy at The Centre for Child Wellbeing, Save the Children Australia. Her work focuses on research synthesis and the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence--informed programs,;practices and service models, and on building the capacity within organisations and services to implement and sustain evidence--informed practices and programs. Bianca has worked for more than ten years with implementing evidence--based practices and programs in child, youth and family services. Before she joined The Centre for Child Wellbeing, she worked for the Parenting Research Centre, an intermediary organisation working to improve the quality and effectiveness of services and supports provided to children and families by translating and implementing scientific knowledge in collaboration with with governments and community organizations in the fields of health, education and welfare. Prior to her move to Australia in 2013, Bianca was the Director of the Danish Family and Evidence Centre in Copenhagen, a non--government organisation providing evidence--based programs to local governments in Eastern Denmark.
Robyn Mildon, PhD, is a Director at the Parenting Research Centre (PRC). The PRC is Australia's only national, independent, non-profit research, development, evaluation and implementation specialist agency. She leads a division that specialises in the implementation, mainstreaming, and scaling of evidence to achieve social impact for children and families in a range of human service areas (child welfare, parenting, family support). Robyn has extensive experience working with govt/non-govt agencies to refine outcomes (system, organisation, practice levels), develop program logics, support program/practice development, conduct service reviews and evaluations. She works with multiple stakeholders to help achieve effective implementation of empirically supported approaches to working with families and incorporate data to support data-based and outcome-focused decision making. Robyn is also Director for a number of govt funded national projects which focus on improving the well-being of children and families with multiple and complex needs. Robyn has authored/co-authored a number of peer-reviewed publications, commissioned reports and research monographs, and book chapters and have presented at several national and international conferences including invited keynote presentations and invited training and other technical assistance.