Partnership to address clinician shortages

GIDGET Foundation Australia has announced they are partnering with Federation University to launch a graduate diploma in perinatal mental health.

The qualification is fully funded and an Australian first, aiming to address the shortage of perinatal mental health clinicians.

Gidget Foundation Australia has seen a 30 per cent increase in clients this year compared to last and a 214 per cent increase since 2021.

The organisation recently opened a free mental health support service centre at Stockland Wendouree.

“The partnership, with Federation University, is committed to ensuring robust clinical standards are achieved through providing exceptional education for clinicians working in the perinatal space,” said CEO of Gidget Foundation Australia, Arabella Gibson.

“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.”

The graduate diploma allows clinicians to receive on the job training, weekly supervision, academic modules, and a paid placement opportunity.

Graduates will have the opportunity to continue working for Gidget Foundation Australia. “This partnership will contribute to strengthening our regional and rural communities, as well as extending nationwide,” said Federation University Australia deputy dean Institute of Health and Wellbeing Professor Andrew Lewis.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the team at Gidget and to advance Federation University’s goal of being Australia’s first fully co-operative university, built on co-designed and co-delivered content, drawing on strong partnerships with service providers,” he said.

More information about the course can be found on the Federation University Australia website.