New graduates ready to strengthen perinatal mental health support

The first cohort of students to complete the Diploma in Perinatal Mental Health, delivered in partnership with Federation University and Gidget Foundation, will graduate in Ballarat this week.

The diploma, first launched in July last year, is the first of its kind in Australia and gives clinicians comprehensive on-the-job training while they learn.

The qualification – which is fully-funded – equips students with the knowledge and skills to support families experiencing mental health difficulties during the perinatal period which is from the conception period to the first 12 months following childbirth.

Perinatal depression and anxiety impact 100,000 Australians each year – equating to one in five mums and one in ten dads – and costs the Australian economy $877 million annually, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting (Australia). 

The diploma was launched to help address the nationwide shortage of specialist perinatal mental health clinicians and enable more health care professionals to enter the field.

Hester Duffin, one of 24 graduating students and a mum to young children, said studying perinatal mental health was important to her on a professional and personal level.

“I’ve always had a strong interest in mental health and wellbeing, and I became increasingly aware of the unique challenges faced during pregnancy and early parenthood,” she said.

“There's something unique about working in this space having had a shared experience with the clients that we are seeing. It's a genuine privilege to have walked this path before and to be able to support parents and caregivers through what can be a really difficult time.”

For Hester, the student experience was both rewarding and supportive.

“The balance of theory and practical integration made it very worthwhile for me,” she said.

“The course provides specialised knowledge, as well as practical experiences, so it’s worth embracing it fully. It’s an opportunity to grow professionally and make a difference in families’ lives.”

CEO of Gidget Foundation Australia, Arabella Gibson, said the program was critical in helping to build a skilled workforce to meet growing demand.  

“The demand for Gidget Foundation Australia’s services continues to grow year-on-year.  In fact, from FY24 to FY25 we saw a growth of over 20 per cent in the number of families we have supported,” she said.

“To meet this growing demand, it is crucial to have a skilled perinatal healthcare workforce.  We are so proud to celebrate the first cohort of Diploma in Perinatal Mental Health Graduates and we are driven to reach our goal of 200 perinatal trained clinicians by 2027.”

Professor Andrew J. Lewis, Acting Executive Dean of the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at Federation, said the emphasis on learning on the job was a key difference.

“A unique feature of this course is the integration of clinical placement with university study,” he said.

“Students apply their learning directly to practice under supervision. This Co-op model approach ensures graduates are not only academically prepared but ready to support new parents from day one.”

The graduation ceremony will take place at Founders Theatre (Mt Helen campus), on Wednesday, 22 October at 10:30am.