Download this snapshot to view the results of 130 respondents who selected ‘maternal and child health nurse’ as their profession from 1,518 health, social and community services workers who took the 2020-21 National Workforce Survey.
Overview
- Maternal and child health nurses exposed to Emerging Minds reported higher capability in all subscales when compared to maternal and child health nurses not exposed to Emerging Minds. Highest scores were reported for infant mental health capability which is notably higher than the general workforce.
- Other highly rated capabilities were for skills in child mental health capability and facilitating support. And while maternal and child health nurses demonstrated high levels of understanding childhood trauma, they scored their capability to respond to children who have experienced trauma lower, on average, than the general workforce.
- Maternal and child health nurses were also more likely to have engaged with Emerging Minds learning activities than the average worker.
- Maternal and child health nurses working in more disadvantaged areas and those working in regional and rural areas may need some support to build their capacity in child mental health. Rural maternal and child health nurses especially report lower levels of workplace support for practice which promotes child mental health.
- Survey results indicate the maternal and child health nurse workforce could strengthen their support for children by incorporating child mental health in their interactions with families more often.
Recommended resources for maternal and child health nurses
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Online Course
Keeping the infant and toddler in mind
Online CourseThis free online course will provide you with an introduction to a relationship-based framework that promotes the mental health of children aged 0-5 years. -
Online Course
Practice strategies for infant and toddler assessment
Online CourseThis course builds on the foundational knowledge by expanding on the ally, advocate and awareness of relationship framework that promotes the mental health of children aged 0–5 years. -
Online Course
Promoting infant and toddler mental health with parents
Online CourseThis course explores the ways practitioners can support parents by providing reassurance, guidance, information or resources to promote positive mental health in their infant or toddler. -
Practitioners Podcast
Trauma-informed perinatal care for people who have experienced sexual trauma
Vicki MansfieldRuntime00:24:41Released17/10/22![]()
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Webinar
Perinatal support strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents experiencing complex trauma
Child Family Community Australia & Emerging MindsThis webinar drew on the voices, experiences and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners to explore how services can work through the perinatal period to support the social and emotional wellbeing of infants and their families. -
Practice paper
Supporting staff to work with children and families with complex needs: A checklist for organisations
Rhys Price-Robertson, Thy Meddick and Elise ParkerThis paper provides managers, practice leaders, and other decision-makers with practical guidance on supporting staff to work with children and families with complex needs. It will be useful in a broad range of health and welfare organisations, particularly those not specifically designed to work with clients with multiple interrelated problems.
