In part one of this two-part series on bullying, we’re joined by Jessica Staniland, clinical psychologist and Director of Counselling and Psychological Services at Trinity Grammar School, who shares some key considerations for supporting the mental health of children who experience bullying behaviour. She discusses how practitioners can open up conversations with children to explore their experiences of bullying sensitively. Jessica talks about the importance of moving away from self-blame and how practitioners can support children to do this ..read more

The period from pregnancy to the infant’s first birthday brings major life changes for parents, as they navigate the emotional and practical tasks of parenting. In this episode, Emerging Minds Child and Family Partners, Sarah and Claudius share an honest account of navigating the first year of parenting. They discuss the parenting joys and hopes they discovered and the challenges they faced in the first twelve months of parenting their son ..read more

In this episode, we speak with two social work students, Rachael and Megan about their career aspirations and discoveries about infant mental health. Rachael and Megan (who have since graduated) reflect on their placement experiences and how peer learning has increased their knowledge and confidence in working with infants and families ..read more

For the past five years, Emerging Minds has worked in partnership with Flinders University’s Social Work Innovation Research Living Space (SWIRLS) to develop a range of resources for health and social services workers. This includes a series of practice papers which support child-focused practices where children and families face disadvantage, trauma or adversity. In episode two of this two-part series, Professor Sarah Wendt and the SWIRLS team describe child-focused approaches to working with children and families affected by family violence and trauma. They describe the specialist knowledge ..read more

Childhood bullying has significant impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of children. These effects can extend well into adulthood, especially if there is little or no intervention. Understandings and official definitions of childhood bullying have varied over the years, which has made it difficult for bullying to be recognised as a mental health issue for children. This also lends itself to misunderstandings in labelling children as ‘bullies’ or ‘victims’. This episode is part one of a two-part series on childhood bullying and mental health. In this episode, Nicole Rollbusch talks to Dr ..read more

In this episode, we explore strategies for when children and families experience setbacks in dealing with problems. We also look at ways of future-proofing children’s skills in dealing with problems ..read more

In this episode, we explore ways of working with children that combine their experience and expertise with practitioners’ own wisdom and strategies ..read more

This podcast explores the topic of homelessness and its impacts on children and families – in particular, how it affects child mental health. Most importantly, it provides workable strategies and skills for improving support to families experiencing homelessness. In this episode, we talk with Susie Lukis and Kirren O'Brien, Coordinators for the Statewide Children’s Resource Program in Victoria. The Statewide Children’s Resource Program (SCRP) advocates for and assists practitioners in homelessness support and other non-government services to respond more effectively to the needs of children wh ..read more

Children and young people’s healthy development is directly related to the nature and quality of the parenting they receive. The National Action Plan for the Health of Children and Young People 2020–2030 highlights that effective parenting support improves both immediate and long-term child outcomes, especially during the antenatal and early childhood period. But due to discrimination, psychosocial/language barriers, poor continuity of care and a lack of accessible, affordable, quality health services, many parents find it hard to get the support they need. In this episode, Vicki Mansfield tal ..read more

David Tully has been a therapist, supervisor and manager for 25 years. In his role as Practice Manager at Relationships Australia SA, he uses trauma-informed care principles to support children and families affected by sexual abuse and physical trauma.   In the first episode of this two-part series, David talks about how children make meaning of their experiences of trauma and sexual abuse, and how perpetrators can manipulate children into believing they were complicit in the abuse. He discusses the practitioner’s role in bringing power and protest into focus, in ways that begin to c ..read more