Dear  ,

The Section of Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry is pleased to present its latest newsletter.

Notes from the Chair

As we reach the end of the year the SPIP committee have been busy finalising the venue, keynote speakers and dates for the first SPIP conference in 2024. The save the date and details are in the newsletter and I encourage you to attend as it is shaping up as a great program as well as opportunity to connect with colleagues from around Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Good news for the proposed Advanced training certificate for Perinatal Psychiatry as we now have a path from our application to working towards the establishment over the next 1-2 years. There is much to understand in this process and details to be confirmed and developed and we will provide a more detailed update to members as we get this clarity. There are now activities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand with active SPIP local groups and I encourage you if you have not reached out to your local colleagues to do so.

Finally happy holidays from SPIP and we all from the SPIP committee wish you the best for 2023 as well as looking forward to 2024.

Megan Galbally
Chair, Bi-national SPIP Committee

SPIP Conference 2024

The Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry is delighted to present its inaugural Conference. The conference will focus on the theme of “New Frontiers & Clinical Challenges”.

The conference will be held across one and a half days at the RACV Healesville Country Club and Resort, Victoria from Friday 14 – Friday 15 June 2024. There will be a welcome function on the evening of Friday 14 June 2024.

Conference registration and abstract submission will open over the coming months, but in the meantime, please mark the conference dates above in your diary.

We hope you will join us for what promises to be an exciting and stimulating conference and look forward to seeing you there.

State News

Australia Capital Territory

The first Mother-Infant- DBT (MI-DBT) program in the ACT, run but the Perinatal and Infant mental health Consultation Service (PIMHCS) is coming to completion.

It has been a positive experience for participants and staff with a high completion rate of 9 out of 11, and one of those who was unable to complete returning next year. Outcome data for the program will be collated.

I would like to thank all of the Clinicians who have delivered and supported the program, Community Options for providing transport for participants and the ‘Perinatal Buddies for Babies’ volunteers who provided childcare.

Recruitment is commencing for next year and the program will be expanded to include an increased number of pre-treatment sessions and the University of Canberra has agreed to assist with research related to the program next year.

The First 100 Days Conference presented by Tresillian, Marymead catholic Care, The Perinatal Wellbeing Centre was well attended.

An ACT Perinatal Mental Health Networking Working Group was held on the 27th of October, kindly held at Tresillian, and was well attended by many of the NGOs and Government organisations who support and work with families in the ACT in the perinatal period. The intention and purpose to work out how best we can improve channels of communication, share resources and education.

Scoping for an ACT parent infant unit continues.

Ilona DiBella
ACT Representative Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

Queensland

The QLD Section for Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry continues to meet regularly 4 times a year. This year in addition to the online meetings we met face to face in August. We had a presentation from Dr Ted Weaver, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Griffith University and Senior medical officer at Sunshine Coast University Hospital QLD on “Perinatal Mental Health- do Obstetricians and Psychiatrists work collaboratively to provide what is best for women?” which provoked a discussion around improving educational and liaison activities in QLD between Obstetricians and Perinatal Psychiatrists.

The QLD Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Symposium was held on the 9^th and 10^th of November on the Gold Coast and provided a great opportunity for networking and learning with workshops from Dr Zali Yager on Enhancing outcomes through body image and from Sally Chance and lee Collins from the Acorn program with plenary sessions on Rainbow families from Dr Claire McAllister, Parenting , Emotional regulation and substance use from Professor Sharon Dawe and Mothercare: Building online resources for mothers and infants from Dr Koa Whittingham.

This year also sees the roll out of $89m in funding from the state government initiative Better Care Together for perinatal psychiatrists and perinatal and infant mental health clinicians around the state. There will need to be ongoing considerations for the support and supervision of these new colleagues.

Over the next 12 months will also see the implementation of iCOPE digital screening across public maternity services. Individual Hospital and Health Services are working with COPE to ensure the introduction is individualised to their circumstances.

Susan Roberts
QLD Representative Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

New South Wales

The NSW Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry continued to meet virtually through the year of 2023 for education sessions. Sessions this year included a case presentation and discussion on the first case of uterine transplantation in NSW, parent-infant CARE index therapy from the Southwest Sydney Perinatal Infant Mental Health Service.

Whilst we have been heartened by the strong attendance at these virtual education sessions, we are aware of what we are missing out from face-to-face networking and support opportunities. Our goal for 2024 is to organise hybrid-based sessions back at the refurbished Maddison House.

The Naamuru Parent and Baby Unit was pleased to be recognised at the NSW Health Awards this year winning the prestigious Excellent in Mental Health Care award.

Excitingly, NSW also opened its second public mother baby unit in the middle of the year – the Westmead MBU and NSW SPIP looks forward to a presentation from the team of the unit.

Sylvia Lim-Gibson
NSW Representative Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

South Australia

Gidget Foundation are planning to open a Gidget House here in the near future, and a Head to Health 0-12 mental health centre is also being planned, both with Commonwealth funds. The Villagehood peer support organisation is planning a Community Day for awareness raising and fundraising, 19^th November.

The Mind in Labour, Mind in Life (mindfulness-based childbirth) program has secured ongoing funding from the Women’s and Children’s Foundation.

Helen Mayo House have received grant funding for a pilot dance/movement therapy project for 6 months in 2024.

A 10-12 session DBT and MBT intervention for mothers with BPD, “lifeboat” is under development in conjunction with BPD Collaborative, soon to have its first run.

The Northern LHN are undertaking a project to develop a Model of Care for perinatal services.

Liz Coventry
SA Representative Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

Victoria

This year has seen significant changes at Monash Health with exciting perinatal initiatives growing wings.

Professor Megan Galbally is now the Program Director of Mental Health at Monash. With her support Monash has now established a Research Centre for Women’s and Children’s Health. In addition, a new perinatal mental health service is being created which will oversee Monash MBU and perinatal inpatient/outpatient services. Monash is a leading provider of perinatal services in Victoria.

Of interest to SPIP members is that a previous committee member Katherine Sevar has been appointed as Lead Consultant at Monash MBU. 

Congratulations all round!

Kristine Mercuri
VIC Representative Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

Northern Territory

Currently in the NT there are significant gaps in service delivery of perinatal mental health, partly due to the substantial land mass of the NT and the population of around 250,000 people being spread into rural, remote, and very remote areas. There are identified needs in the provision of clinical service delivery and access to training and education for health providers. There are multiple projects currently underway that will see an increase in resources. These include expansion of existing public perinatal mental health services, rollout of iCOPE and establishment of a Gidget House.

Nimalee Kanakkahewa
NT Representative Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

Next Edition 

If there is anything you would like to see included in future newsletters please contact membership@ranzcp.org.