Understanding Early Trauma

To achieve the full development potential of South Australia's children and adolescents.HDA is an independent non-partisan organisation that encourages the use of evidence-based policy along with universal, targeted and clinical interventions designed to maximise the developmental potential of infants, children, adolescents and families in South Australia.HDA is funded and supported by the Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation, University of Adelaide (Robinson Research Institute), University of South Australia, Flinders University, the Department for Education, the Women’s and Children’s Health Network, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (Women and Kids), Department of Human Services, Department for Child Protection, and Novita.

Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA)

Please join us for the Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA) and Australian Association for Infant Mental Health SA branch (AAIMH) forum.

Napier 102 lecture theatre, 1st floor, Napier Building, University of Adelaide

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 SPEAKERSThe Hon Katrine Hildyard, Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, and Minister for Recreation, Sport and RacingOpening AddressThe Hon Katrine Hildyard will open this event. Katrine understands the value of being part of a community that is connected and inclusive, one where everyone is supported and empowered. Since 2014, Katrine has been the Member for Reynell representing people in the southern community. Katrine is driven by a visceral sense of fairness and deeply believes in equality of opportunity and strives to amplify the voices of community members, especially those who most need to be heard. She is well placed to help us consider the perspective of infant mental health, and the importance of “Understanding Early Trauma”, our theme for Infant Mental Health Awareness Week in 2022. Tessa Kong, AAIMH SA Branch President / Senior Clinical Practitioner, Child Protection Service, Flinders Medical Centre / Clinical Psychologist, Private PracticeInfant Mental Health Awareness Week and the Australian Association for Infant Mental HealthTessa is passionate about advocating for the needs of infants and promoting the importance of training and education in Infant Mental Health to ensure positive outcomes for our wider community. Tessa welcomes you to tonight’s event and hopes that the talks will provide greater insight into why “Understanding Early Traumas” is so important for our future.Dr Liberty Gallus, Senior Consultant Paediatrician, Flinders Medical Centre, Southern Adelaide Local Health NetworkThe clinical consequences of infant traumaLiberty is a general paediatrician who has been a staff specialist at the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network since 2004. She works with the Child Protection Service and is the medical lead for the Child Development Service. Her clinical work includes assessing children with complex developmental needs, providing ongoing follow up for children with a range of developmental disorders, the forensic examination of children who are suspected of having experienced abuse, and seeing children in an Out Of Home Care Clinic. Liberty has a non-clinical position with the Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS), providing specialist consultancy and advice to CaFHS clinical staff and leadership and to assist with strengthening pathways for young children and their families from CaFHS to other health providers. Joy Makepeace, Kamilaroi / Murrawari woman from North Western New South WalesMaking peace with my pastJoy is a member of the Stolen Generation, lives with complex PTSD and has an ACE score of 4 and considers herself a survivor. Joy has studied at university for 7 years, has her master’s in counselling and owns her own business “Change of Art, Mind and Body”. Joy is a qualified Circle of Security Facilitator and has a particular interest in Perinatal Infant Mental Health. Joy dedicates her life to educating others about how she manages her memories of her adverse childhood experiences and lives with the impact it has had on her life and development.Dr Prue McEvoy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist: Lead Psychiatric Director, Department for Child ProtectionChild Maltreatment and Infants – a dangerous combination. What do we know and what can we do?Dr Prue McEvoy is a senior Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist who is currently Lead Psychiatric Director within the Department of Child Protection in South Australia. This position was created 3 years ago, enhancing the interface between child and adolescent psychiatry and child protection. Previously she has been the Clinical Director of the state-wide Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service but has always worked with infants, children and adolescents who have experienced child maltreatment. She is the Chair of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Member Well-being Subcommittee.OUR CHAIRProfessor 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.Claire Roberts is an internationally recognised authority and thought leader in placenta research. She has a strong interest in genetic and modifiable lifestyle factors including maternal nutrition that contribute to health in pregnancy and long into the future for mother and child. She has lead research on large human pregnancy cohorts in Adelaide since 2005.Other event information:For those unable to attend on the night a video recording will be available on the HDA website after the event.Networking and light refreshments will follow the session from 7pm.University of Adelaide (COVID) requirements:Face masks will no longer be required to be worn indoors while on the University of Adelaide campus. Face masks do provide a level of protection from transmission of COVID-19 and some members of the community may still choose to wear a mask when they can’t physically distance from others. The personal choice to wear a mask should be respected.It’s recommended that you continue to follow health advice and maintain social distancing and wash or sanitise your hands regularly. QR code check-ins will also no longer be required on the University campus.

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Understanding Early Trauma

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Understanding Early Trauma

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