Department of Psychiatry

Master of Health Sciences (Infant and Parent Mental Health)

Summary

Introduction

This course is aimed at health care professionals working in the infant mental health field, who wish to develop their understanding and clinical skills in working with infants and parents or who are interested in participating in service development, delivery and evaluation. The course focuses primarily on the baby and the infant/parent relationships and provides training in skilled assessment and intervention with families which can greatly assist the capacity of parents to facilitate their child's development. Infant and Parent Mental Heath therefore is able to play a major role in the prevention of serious psychiatric disability.

The course has been developed out of clinical teaching work of the Infant Mental Health Group at the Royal Children's Hospital and draws on the disciplines of psychiatry, developmental psychology and psychoanalysis for it's theoretical basis.

The Masters course aims to provide a thorough knowledge of the principles and practice of infant mental health and equip students to directly apply the knowledge and skills gained to intervene effectively with infants and families presenting with infant mental heath problems.

Course Objectives

On completion of this course participants will have:

  1. Gained an increased knowledge of clinical skills, developed in assessing and treating infants and families with mental health problems
  2. Developed expertise in direct clinical work, consultation and liaison, early intervention and research

Course Structure

The stream will be offered on a two year part-time basis and will require the completion of seven course work subjects (each of which will have a written assessment of between 1,500 - 3,000 words) and a research project of 12-15,000 words.

The course will be conducted one afternoon per week over the academic year such that the time required for the course will be at least four hours per week.

Subject Outline

Year 1

Year 2

Clinical Seminar
Students will present their own clinical work in the seminar groups in order to develop appropriate interview, assessment and therapeutic skills, including skills in direct work with infants.

Psychopathology
This subject will focus on the clinical features, aetiology, epidemiology, severity and prognosis of regulatory disorders, psychosomatic illness, attachment and interactional problems, reactive disorders, parental psychopathology and infant mental health problems where infants have medical and surgical illness, developmental disorders or have suffered trauma or neglect and abuse.

Infant Mental Health Practice
This subject focuses on the clinical and theoretical knowledge base for infant mental health practice including principles and practices of assessment and diagnosis, models of infant parent psychotherapy, treatment planning, therapeutic consultations, prevention and early intervention, consultation liaison, social policy and public health implications.

Research Methods and Project
This subject will equip students to utilise and contribute to research in the infant mental health field, identify research needs and formulate research questions, and be able to select research strategies to appropriately answer research questions.

Students will be expected to research and write a research project of 12 - 15,000 words on a topic pertinent to infant mental health practice.

Selection Criteria

Students undertaking the Master of Health Sciences (Infant and Parent Mental Health) will normally require an Honours pass in the Graduate Diploma Mental Health Sciences (Infant and Parent Mental Health) or an equivalent qualification. Students will need to be currently working with infants and their families and have demonstrated an appropriate level of clinical competence and expertise.

Course Dates, Times and Fees

Dates:

Times:

Venue:

Fees:

Please contact the Course Administrator, or Admissions.

Further Information

To receive an application form or a course handbook, or to discuss your professional development interests, please contact:

A/Prof Cambell Paul, Course Coordinator

Royal Children's Hospital
Mental Health Services
Ground Floor, South East Building
Gatehouse Street
Parkville, Vic 3052

T: +61 3 9345 5511
F: +61 3 9345 6002
E: campbell.paul@ rch.org.au

The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. The University of Melbourne reserves the right to make any necessary amendments.

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