Event Description

Live Online Workshop

Capability levels: Emerging, Evolving, Established

One in five mothers and up to one in ten non-birthing parents will experience perinatal mental health challenges, yet many go unrecognised, unsupported, or misunderstood. Social workers are often on the front line of this work, navigating the intersection of mental health, identity, parenting, and systems of care.

This workshop explores perinatal mental health through a social work lens, acknowledging the profession’s unique role in providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and relational support and mental health care to families during this critical life stage. Participants will gain practical tools to build connection, assess need, and respond with confidence to parents experiencing distress and/or mental health concerns in the perinatal period and understand how to do so, while holding baby in mind.

This workshop will introduce a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach to perinatal assessment and intervention. Participants will explore working relationally with distress in the perinatal period, develop confidence in using simple yet effective engagement strategies, and reflect critically on their role and power within the systems of care surrounding parents and infants. 

Who should attend?

This workshop is designed for social workers with foundational or emerging experience in perinatal, child and family, or mental health settings who are looking to deepen their confidence and clinical skills in supporting parents during the perinatal period.

While the session assumes a basic understanding of perinatal mental health presentations, it moves beyond introductory content to focus on applied skills, reflective practice, and critical thinking. It is ideal for mental health social workers seeking practical tools, structured approaches to assessment and intervention, and a relational, trauma-informed framework for engaging with complex perinatal presentations, or those on the path to accreditation.

The content is also suitable for established mental health social workers looking to develop specialist skills in working with perinatal populations.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to: 

·        Identify key risk and protective factors influencing perinatal mental health across diverse social and cultural contexts.

·        Apply trauma-informed and relational approaches to psychosocial assessment and engagement with parents in the perinatal period.

·        Reflect critically on their own professional lens and communication style when working with perinatal distress, risk, and system navigation. 

This Workshop is not recorded; however, you will have access to materials and resources on AASW Online Learning for 4 weeks after the completion of the workshop.

AASW Credentials: Mental Health (FPS)

FPS:  Behavioural Interventions, Relaxation Strategies Interpersonal Skills Training Psychoeducation and Cognitive and Problem-Solving Techniques will be incorporated into a section of this workshop.

FPS: Skills Training will be incorporated into a section of this workshop under a, b, e, f, g and h of the Medicare schedule https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=MN.7.4&qt=noteID&criteria=MN%2E7%2E4)  

Please consider the AASW CPD Policy regarding FPS when logging your FPS hours manually.