By Deborah Lockwood
5 June, 2019
This Infant Mental Health week will see the launch of new free web-based resources Let’s Talk about Conflict written by Jennifer E. McIntosh and Craig Olsson from the Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED), Deakin University and produced by Relationships Australia South Australia (RASA).
Two events will also be held for people who work with pregnant or new mothers, parents who are interested in the mental health of their infant, parenting program facilitators, midwives and home visiting services and those involved in child protection, with a particular interest in infants.
At the first event on 11 June a presentation will be delivered by Dr Jamie Lee, Principal Researcher at RASA. Dr Lee will present research being undertaken with Deakin University on the child-focused service Together4Kids about working with mothers and infants who are homeless and have experienced Family and Domestic Violence.
Niki Gelekis, the Clinical Supervisor of Together4Kids, will provide insights into the operational practice skills that the team is developing in participating in this research and Kerryn Roberts a midwife and Coordinator of Early Parenting Programs will talk about how RASA is involved in increasing Infant Mental Health literacy across community service providers and supporting infants and mothers to improve their mental health.
A second infant mental health event will be held in Berri on 13 June where three presenters will talk about their work with infants at RASA.
The afternoon event will include presentations from Carolyn Markey the new Team leader of Children’s Services, Miriam Van Der Woude from Together4Kids and Rebecca Cook from Children and Parenting programs in Berri.
Carolyn will lead a discussion about the relational trauma of family and domestic violence on infants. All the presenters will provide practical examples about how they work closely with both the caregiver and their infant to restore and repair early relational trauma.
June 11 Hindmarsh, Adelaide – register here
June 13 Berri, Riverland SA – register here
If you can’t be at the Adelaide event in person you can join the webinar and sign up here and ask questions live.
This event will also be streamed live with Facebook Live @RelationshipsAustraliaSA
Deborah Lockwood is the General Manager Children’s Services at Relationships Australia South Australia.