NDC Rural is underway!

The NDC Rural program is an exciting 3-year initiative funded as an Emerging Priority by the Commonwealth Government’s Perinatal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program. This grant, awarded in 2021, aims to protect the mental health and emotional well-being of new parents in regional, rural and remote Australia.

The NDC Rural project offers a total of 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, 2000 families, as patients in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia are eligible to receive access to Possums' parent resources (Milk & Moon membership and the Possums Parent Hub). The Possums Parent Hub is a closed online community which offers peer support, mentoring by other parents who are experienced in the use of the Possums Programs and who have put them into practice themselves. The Milk & Moon membership provides a wealth of evidence-based resources for taking care of one’s baby and one’s own emotional well-being.

Applications

As we are more than half way through the 3-year program, we continue to accept applicants to the program, with 80 scholarships remaining. Intake rounds for the remainder of the program will close on:

• 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 at 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

Watch the original program launch video here  – to hear Dr Pamela Douglas, (founder of Possums for Mothers and Babies and the creator of this initiative) and the team say about what has changed, and what still needs to change in the field of caring for mothers and babies. This video also includes a panel discussion between Dr Douglas, Dr Sarah Gleeson (Goondiwindi GP/Obstetrician and Possums Advocate), Ms Renee Keogh (NDC Practitioner, IBCLC and Lactation Specialist), and Ms Kate Ross (Sleep Effect).

The Charity, Possums for Mothers and Babies, project manages this NDC Rural initiative. Possums, the Charity acknowledges that Dr Douglas has resigned from the Charity, and that this project is based on programs she created. The Charity is committed to continuing activities that ensure as many parents and families of babies as possible are supported and benefit from this knowledge and area of practice.