Emerging Minds Podcast

In this episode, we’re joined by Kerryn Roberts, coordinator of infant massage at Relationships Australia South Australia (RASA). Kerryn shares her knowledge and experience in delivering cue-based infant massage to families in various settings. She explains the value of cue-based infant massage for infant mental health and the emphasis this program places on relationship development, encouraging p...

In episode two of this two-part series, Dana Shen, Mel Lambert and Yasmin Sinclair share practical tips to support effective co-design with lived experience families.

In episode one of this two-part series, Dana Shen, Mel Lambert and Yasmin Sinclair share what establishing the Department of Human Services’ Lived Experience Network has taught them about co-design.

In this episode, psychologist Lauren Keegan explores how genograms provide a structure for collaborative and relational assessment conversations with parents. Lauren discusses how the development of a genogram provides a visual map of a family’s generational relationships, and how genograms can be useful in infant mental health assessments.

In this episode, Belynda Smith shares her considerable experience in practicing deep, unhurried and supportive listening with parents, and how this process helps to build safe, healing and reflective environments. Belynda Smith is a parenting facilitator at Meerilinga Young Children's Foundation in Western Australia, as well as a certified Hand in Hand parenting instructor. Belynda has listened to...

In this episode, we talk with Nikki Taranis, a social worker and therapeutic specialist, about working with children and caregivers to explore children’s relationship with video gaming.

In part two of this two-part series on bullying, we’re joined again by Jessica Staniland, clinical psychologist and Director of Counselling and Psychological Services at Trinity Grammar School, who shares some of the key considerations for supporting the mental health of children who engage in bullying behaviour. She discusses how practitioners can work through children’s protests and support them...

In part one of this two-part series on bullying, we’re joined by Jessica Staniland, clinical psychologist and Director of Counselling and Psychological Services at Trinity Grammar School, who shares some key considerations for supporting the mental health of children who experience bullying behaviour. She discusses how practitioners can open up conversations with children to explore their experien...

The period from pregnancy to the infant’s first birthday brings major life changes for parents, as they navigate the emotional and practical tasks of parenting. In this episode, Emerging Minds Child and Family Partners, Sarah and Claudius share an honest account of navigating the first year of parenting. They discuss the parenting joys and hopes they discovered and the challenges they faced in the...

In this episode, we speak with two social work students, Rachael and Megan about their career aspirations and discoveries about infant mental health. Rachael and Megan (who have since graduated) reflect on their placement experiences and how peer learning has increased their knowledge and confidence in working with infants and families.

For the past five years, Emerging Minds has worked in partnership with Flinders University’s Social Work Innovation Research Living Space (SWIRLS) to develop a range of resources for health and social services workers. This includes a series of practice papers which support child-focused practices where children and families face disadvantage, trauma or adversity. In episode two of this two-part s...

For the past five years, Emerging Minds has worked in partnership with Flinders University’s Social Work Innovation Research Living Space (SWIRLS) to develop a range of resources for health and social services workers. This includes a series of practice papers which support child-focused practices where children and families face disadvantage, trauma or adversity. In episode one of this two-part s...

In this re-release episode, Dr Priscilla Dunk-West joins the series again to discuss what separation and divorce look like when it goes well for children.

This re-release episode provides an insight into what culturally competent practice with children and families looks like from the perspective of Mthobeli Ncganga, a practitioner who works with families from migrant and refugee communities with experiences of torture and trauma.

Lou Turner is a proud Anangu father with Pitjantjatjara connections to Docker River and Mutitjulu communities. In this episode, Lou shares his journey of ‘walking in two worlds’, and the hopes and challenges he faces as an Aboriginal father in contemporary Australia. He provides insights into his experience as a descendant of the Stolen Generation and shares the hopes that he has for his children...

Emerging Minds has recently launched the 'Supporting the mental health of children with higher weight' online training course. In this episode, Bec Edser speaks with child and family partner Annie Crowe, a proud Autistic ADHD-er who is a strong advocate for body diversity and neurodivergent inclusion. They discuss Annie’s own lived experience of childhood higher weight and neurodivergence, along w...

The Looking Back 2020 project invited six young people (aged 20–27) with lived experience of adversity to share an inspiring story about their childhood. The result is a series of powerful short videos, conceived by each young person and produced with the help of artistic mentors and filmmakers. Largely taking place online during the Melbourne lockdown in 2020, the process was co-facilitated by ar...

The Looking Back 2020 project invited six young people (aged 20–27) with lived experience of adversity to share an inspiring story about their childhood. The result is a series of powerful short videos, conceived by each young person and produced with the help of artistic mentors and filmmakers. Largely taking place online during the Melbourne lockdown in 2020, the process was co-facilitated by ar...

For the past five years, Emerging Minds has been creating podcasts for professionals that explore effective ways to support infant and child mental health. Now, the new Emerging Minds Families podcast aims to do the same for parents and families. Over the past 12 months, Emerging Minds has been working with families across Australia to learn more about the kinds of resources they need to best supp...

This podcast discusses experiences of working with mothers who have experienced sexual trauma, have been subjected to child sexual abuse or sexual assault. Please be aware of your own emotional safety as you listen to this podcast, and if at any point you find you are struggling, or if you need to seek other help, please call lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, or SANE Australia on...

This is the second episode in a two-part series on childhood bullying and mental health. In this episode, we continue our conversation with Dr Lesley-Anne Ey, Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Education Futures and the Australian Centre for Child Protection at the University of South Australia. Dr Ey broadens the scope from part one to focus on the common attitudes and myths about childhood bullyi...

This episode is part one of a two-part series on childhood bullying and mental health. We’re joined by Dr Lesley-Anne Ey, Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Education Futures and the Australian Centre for Child Protection at the University of South Australia. In this episode, Dr Ey shares how definitions of childhood bullying vary and the impact this can have on children. She also discusses the inf...

In this episode, we explore strategies for when children and families experience setbacks in dealing with problems. We also look at ways of future-proofing children’s skills in dealing with problems.

In this episode, we explore ways of working with children that combine their experience and expertise with practitioners’ own wisdom and strategies.

This episode looks at how homelessness impacts upon child mental health. It outlines strategies that services can adopt to improve outcomes for children and families, and explores practical skills to help practitioners better engage and support the mental health of children experiencing homelessness.