Understanding Early Trauma

As Infant Mental Health Awareness Week approaches (13-19 June) we focus on infant mental health as an often overlooked and misunderstood subject. This forum provides an opportunity to discuss the importance of babies’ mental health as well as some of the issues that affect it.

Why Understanding Early Trauma?

The experiences we have in the earliest years of our lives impact the development of our brains. Experiencing trauma, such as exposure to domestic abuse, in the earliest years can have a significant impact on brain development, potentially leaving serious and lasting consequences that can create difficulties for the child into their adult years. This is not inevitable. Secure relationships with parents and carers can reduce stress caused by trauma and limit the long term impact it has on the baby’s development. Specialist support can help to strengthen these relationships and reduce the harms to babies.

Our speakers:
The Hon Katrine Hildyard, Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, and Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing - Opening Address

Tessa Kong, AAIMH SA Branch President / Senior Clinical Practitioner, Child Protection Service, Flinders Medical Centre / Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice - Infant Mental Health Awareness Week and the Australian Association for Infant Mental Health

Dr Liberty Gallus, Senior Consultant Paediatrician, Flinders Medical Centre, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network - The clinical consequences of infant trauma

Joy Makepeace, Kamilaroi / Murrawari woman from North Western New South Wales - Making peace with my past

Dr Prue McEvoy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist: Lead Psychiatric Director, Department for Child Protection - Child Maltreatment and Infants – a dangerous combination. What do we know and what can we do?

Our Chair: 
Professor Claire Roberts (HDA Co-Convenor), NHMRC Leadership Fellow / Professor and Matthew Flinders Fellow / Group Leader, Pregnancy Health and Beyond Laboratory (PHaB Lab), College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University.