Australian Association for Infant Mental Health Inc

Welcome to AAIMH

AAIMH is a national organisation of professionals from many fields who work with infants, young children and their families. Our mission is to work towards  improving professional and community recognition that infancy and early childhood is a critical time for the development of emotional, physical and mental health.

AAIMH is affiliated with the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) and contributes to international developments and initiatives.

AAIMH organises regular national conferences as well as workshops and seminars to enhance knowledge about social and emotional development in 0 to 3-year-olds and develop skills to assist families and communities to build nurturing and strong relationships with their infants and young children.

AAIMH works with other agencies on advocacy and educational initiatives, responds to Government inquiries and reports relating to infancy and provides information to members through its website and newsletter.

AAIMH also develops position statements and guidelines to support Infant Mental Health professionals and parents.

*15/8/2023 Notice: AAIMH will be migrating email systems during the first weekend of September. There will be disruptions in sending and receiving emails during this time. We recommend to hold off any email correspondence with AAIMH until Monday 4th September 2023.

Indigenous Voice

The Australian Association for Infant Mental Health is committed to supporting recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a constitutionally enshrined voice.  We note that structural reform of our governance is required to move towards more equitable health and development outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants and children. 
As a group of professionals working with babies and toddlers and their families, we commit to leading conversations that promote respect, trust, and goodwill between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.  And we acknowledge that these conversations and reform will benefit ALL Australians. We note the words of Professor Fiona Stanley and Professor Marcia Langton, that “The evidence is clear that having a Voice – that is, a say, in issues and programs that affect them – makes a huge difference to improving daily life for First Nations people, from the time of their birth onwards (Stanley & Langton, 2023).  As infant mental health specialists we also note that the positive impacts of a Voice start well before a child’s birth.  Programs that are initiated and implemented by Indigenous experts, or in close collaboration with them, are trusted and effectively used by Indigenous communities and organisations, and improve health and development outcomes, including attendance at antenatal care, reduced suicide rates, improved educational participation.  Aboriginal birthing on country is a prime example of the importance and positive impact of a Voice in health program design (e.g. Hartz et al, 2020, Briggs, 2019).   We look forward to all members working together to progress this important piece of advocacy work by AAIMH. 

 If not now, when?

ReferencesBriggs M.  (2019). Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation (Waminda).  Australian Midwifery News, 19(1).  16-17.Hartz D, Briggs M, Cutmore S, Delaney-Thiele, D & Buzzacott C. (2020). Why Aboriginal women want to avoid the biomedical system.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s stories.  Ch. 16 in Dahlen H, Kumar-Hazard B, Schmied V. (Eds.)  Birthing Outside the System:  The Canary in the Coal Mine.  Milton:  Taylor & Francis. 344-359. Stanley, F. & Langton, M (2023). How the Voice can help to close the gap.  Ch. 9 in T. Mayo & K. O’Brien. The Voice to Parliament Handbook.  Hardie Grant. Add your content here.

The Creative Heart - in honour of Dr Julie Stone

A celebration of practice and thinking in honour of the work of Infant, Child & Family Psychiatrist, Churchill Fellow and Zero to Three Fellow Dr Julie Stone. Come to meet, share and enjoy the companionship of colleagues and be part of what will be a reflective, stimulating, and nourishing day.

Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) Training with Julie Larrieu

Julie A. Larrieu, Ph.D., a developmental and clinical psychologist, is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Tulane University School of Medicine. This training meets criteria for an Implementation Level Course in Child-Parent Psychotherapy. CPP is an intervention model for children ages 0-5 years who have experienced traumatic events and/or are experiencing mental health, attachment, and/or behavioral problems. 

National Tour Dr Claudia Gold

Claudia M. Gold, MD is a pediatrician and writer who practiced general and behavioral pediatrics for over 20 years and now specializes in early childhood mental health. Her most recent book, The Power of Discord: Why the Ups and downs of Relationships are the Secret to Building Intimacy, Resilience and Trust, was co-authored with Ed Tronick. Join us for Dr Gold's  presentation on Getting to Know You: Lessons in Early Relational Health from Infants and Caregivers

Support Us

Your donation will provide scholarships and other financial support to enable eligible students, practitioners and educators to access training and professional development in Infant Mental Health so they can better support families and advocate for Infant Mental Health.

Donate Now Donate Now

We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of Australia and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Indigenous Australia.