Gidget Foundation Australia, Federation University team up to offer free perinatal mental health qualification

A charity supporting the mental health of expectant parents has launched a fully-funded tertiary qualification to address the nationwide shortage of perinatal mental health specialists amid skyrocketing demand. Gidget Foundation Australia has partnered with Federation University Australia to offer the Graduate Diploma in Perinatal Mental Health as it grapples with a major surge in parents accessing its services. Perinatal depression and anxiety affects 100,000 Australians each year, or about one in five mums and one in 10 dads, and costs Australia $877 million every year. The foundation has experienced a 214 per cent surge in demand for its services since 2021. It has supported 30 per cent more clients in the past year alone. But the number of health professionals specialising in perinatal mental health, the time from pregnancy up to a year after birth, is far fewer than the increasing demand can handle. In response to that shortage, the non-profit has joined forces with Federation University to offer a unique 12-month program for clinicians to further their perinatal training through a paid placement, academic modules and comprehensive “on the job” training. The course is open to health professionals who are registered as clinical or registered psychologists, accredited mental health social workers or mental health occupational therapists. “It’s essential we have enough qualified clinicians to meet this growing demand to address the critical needs of the individuals impacted,” Gidget Foundation Australia chief executive Arabella Gibson said. “Equity, access, and affordability can be a barrier for allied health professionals to further extend their professional knowledge and skills. “The graduate diploma in perinatal mental health enables health professionals to upskill in perinatal and infant mental health and creates an accessible pathway to enhance knowledge and experience across the sector.” The foundation’s goal is to have 230 perinatal clinicians training by 2027. Professor Andrew J. Lewis, Deputy Dean of Federation University’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing, said the qualification was produced by expert clinicians and researchers, and designed to support busy clinicians in furthering their education. “This partnership will contribute to strengthening our regional and rural communities, as well as extending nationwide,” Prof. Lewis said. Ms Gibson said she was proud to be offering mental health professionals the opportunity to complete the one-year program to obtain a Graduate Diploma in Perinatal Mental Health “at no cost to the individual”. The first cohort of the new graduate diploma in perinatal mental health will graduate in July 2025.