Australian Institute of Family Studies

Supporting infant and child mental health can be both extremely rewarding and challenging for practitioners working with families. Many different factors influence infant and toddler mental health, including their relationships, their community and the broader social context in which they live. While having limited social supports can contribute to poor mental health in children and their parents or carers, having a rich social support system, or a ‘village’, can promote mental health and wellbeing. This ‘village’ can include family members, friends and other trusted community members such as educators, community leaders, and healthcare providers. Practitioners can offer families more effective support by understanding their ‘village’ and what might be stopping families from reaching out for emotional or practical support. This webinar will discuss how to work collaboratively with families to engage with their ‘village’ and how this approach can influence infant and toddler mental health. Panellists will explore practice strategies that promote infant and toddler mental health and explore how asking questions about the family’s ‘village’ can help you better understand a family’s needs and strengths.

In Australia, over 45,000 children live in out-of-home care (OOHC). This webinar will outline practical ways to prioritise the voices of children in OOHC that can support their mental health and wellbeing.