Steven Crawford is the Head of Department at Queensland Children’s Hospital School (QCHS) on the Sunshine Coast, where he leads programs and initiatives that support educational engagement, wellbeing, and continuity of learning for children and young people experiencing complex medical and mental health challenges.

Steven’s professional journey has been diverse, beginning in civil construction and service in the Australian Defence Force before pursuing a career in education through studies at the University of Southern Queensland. He commenced his teaching career with the Queensland Department of Education in the Darling Downs before relocating to the United Kingdom, where he spent more than a decade working in hospital education.

During his time with Chelsea Community Hospital School (CCHS) in London, Steven supported children and young people across a range of specialist health settings, including St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, Collingham Gardens Child and Family Mental Health Unit, and the Royal Brompton Hospital. This experience provided him with extensive expertise in supporting learners whose education had been disrupted by significant physical and mental health challenges.

Since returning to Australia, Steven has worked across mainstream, special education, and hospital schooling settings, bringing a strong commitment to collaborative, student-centred practice. He is one of the architects of the School Transition and Engagement Program (STEP), an innovative partnership between Queensland Children’s Hospital School and Sunshine Coast Mental Health Services that provides early intervention and coordinated support for young people experiencing mental health challenges during the transition from primary to secondary school. Developed through strong collaboration between health, education, families, and schools, STEP reflects Steven’s commitment to preventative, relationship-based approaches that strengthen educational engagement and wellbeing outcomes.

Steven is a passionate advocate for partnerships between education, health, families, and community services, recognising the vital role that collaboration plays in supporting young people to remain connected to learning. His professional interests include educational engagement, school transitions, mental health, early intervention, and the development of innovative programs that improve outcomes for vulnerable learners.

An experienced presenter, Steven has shared his work nationally and internationally, including presentations at the HOPE Conference in Amsterdam on early childhood practice and at the ACHPER Conference on research examining sport and exercise participation in independent school settings. He remains committed to exploring innovative and evidence-informed approaches that empower children and young people to thrive despite significant barriers to learning and wellbeing.