Name
Building perinatal mental health services in the NT: workforce survey and future directions
Date & Time
Friday, August 14, 2026, 4:05 PM - 4:25 PM
Louise Collins
Description

High-quality perinatal mental health care relies on a skilled, confident, and well-supported workforce. This presentation provides the first NT-wide overview of the perinatal mental health workforce, drawing on a survey of 86 health professionals to explore workforce capability, training needs, and barriers to providing care for women, infants, and families. Almost half of participants (48%) reported having no previous perinatal mental health training, while self-rated knowledge of both perinatal and infant mental health was only moderate. Participants identified limited referral pathways, insufficient resources, and knowledge gaps as key barriers to providing effective care. Despite these challenges, there was strong interest in further education, particularly in perinatal and infant mental health, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive approaches for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. The presentation will discuss how these findings are informing workforce development and the implementation of the NT-wide electronic perinatal and infant mental health service.

Location Name
📍Damibila 1