NDC Rural is underway!

We are delighted to announce the 'NDC Rural' project, an exciting 3-year initiative funded as an Emerging Priority by the Commonwealth Government’s Perinatal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program. This grant aims to protect the mental health and emotional well-being of new parents in regional, rural and remote Australia.

NDC Rural is now offering 300 scholarships to health professionals wishing to complete the Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) Accreditation Pathway. These scholarships are available to a variety of registered health professionals who work in the perinatal space, including (but not limited to):

• General Practitioners
• Midwives
• Obstetricians
• Paediatricians
• Registered Nurses
• Child and Family Health Nurses
• IBCLCs with a background as a registered health professional
• Psychologists
• Speech Pathologists
• Social Workers

The ultimate goal of NDC Rural is to achieve multidisciplinary teams of health professionals in regional, rural and remote communities that have the capacity to offer content-aligned, evidence-based support across the domains of breastfeeding/feed, sleep, cry-fuss problems and maternal mental health.

Additionally, 3000 families who are patients of NDC Rural Scholarship recipients will be able given free access to Milk & Moon and the Possums Parent Hub, which offers peer support, mentoring by other parents, a facilitator who is a perinatal mental healthcare professional, and a wealth of evidence-based resources for taking care of one’s baby and one’s own emotional well-being.

How to apply

We are currently accepting applications for the scholarship program. Intake rounds for the remainder of the program will be held every 3 months. Closing dates for remaining rounds are as follows:

• Friday 9 September 2022
• Friday 9 December 2022
• Friday 10 March 2023
• Friday 9 June 2023

Applicants will be notified of the outcome within one week of the deadline. However, you can apply any time. Where we have capacity, your application may be reviewed earlier.

You can access the application form here. If you would like further information, please email our NDC Rural Project Manager. 

The Official NDC Rural Launch Online - Friday 12 November 2021

View the recording of the launch of the NDC Rural Project. Dr Pamela Douglas and the team met to discuss what has changed (and what still needs to change) in the care of mothers and babies, followed by a panel discussion with Dr Sarah Gleeson (Goondiwindi GP/Obstetrician and Possums Advocate), Ms Renee Keogh (NDC Practitioner, IBCLC) and Ms Kate Ross (Sleep Effect).

Watch the video by clicking here