Australia:
The National Conference of the Australian Association for Infant Mental Health and the Australasian Marce Society

1-3 October, 2009
University of Melbourne, Australia

Dr. Campbell Paul and Dr. Jane Fisher

Professor Kevin Nugent will be one of many international and Australian keynote speakers at a conference in Australia which aims to link the clinical and research work generated in the fields of infant mental health and development and the serious mental health issues facing women and their families. Professor Nugent and the work of the Brazelton Centre have created a deep understanding of babies and their carer relationships and hence created new ways that we can deliver effective interventions to prevent and treat real problems which may be experienced by vulnerable infants and parents. Many years ago Professor Nugent contributed to training some researchers who were part of the important longitudinal study which has explored the impact of maternal depression upon infant and child development. This project has been led by Professor Lynne Murray of the Winnicott Research Centre, Cambridge and Reading Universities in the UK. A tri-continental connection was then established when Campbell Paul, of the University of Melbourne, was able to undertake training in the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale. For Campbell, as an infant psychiatrist working in the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, the Brazelton Training was powerfully formative in allowing him to really get to know even the sickest babies and to share the infectious passion for babies which is the hallmark of Professors Brazelton and Nugent. In Australia we are excited about the opportunity to further develop our Understanding of Newborn Behaviour and Early Relationships..(This is the title of Kevin Nugent's new book..!)

The Australasian Marcé Society and the Australian Association of Infant Mental Health are collaborating to run the 2009 conferences of each society as a shared endeavour. The focus is on applying expert knowledge about the serious problems parents experience and the interventions to promote healthy family relationships in the modern world. International speakers will address this topic bringing the perspectives of both the parents and the developing infant to the foreground. The emphasis throughout will be on the application of new ideas and approaches in direct practice for health professionals from many disciplines.

There will be opportunities to learn, discuss and debate. The Conference Convenors welcome all participants to the joint Australasian Marcé Society and Australian Association of Infant Mental Health Conference in Melbourne in October 2009.

Associate Professor Campbell Paul and Associate Professor Jane Fisher, Conference Co-Convenors
Email: campbell.paul@rch.org.au

Further Conference details from The Conference Organiser: email: info@conorg.com.au