Gidget Initiatives

The Gidget Foundation is the only organisation in NSW which is working to provide synergy with the various organisations who work in the area of perinatal mood disorders.

At this time it is very difficult for mothers suffering from perinatal anxiety and depression to be assessed and to access appropriate help. While there is general information available, the community as a whole are not well informed about this illness which has the potential to affect us all.

 

Grant success through the nib foundation

Emotional Wellbeing Program at North Shore Private Hospital

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The nib foundation grant is enabling the Gidget Foundation to introduce antenatal mental health screening into North Shore Private Hospital.

In a first for private hospitals in Australia, antenatal mental health screening will be introduced at North Shore Private Hospital thanks to a new partnership between nib foundation and the Gidget Foundation.

The $252,000 grant from the nib foundation will enable the Emotional Wellbeing Program to be rolled out to all pregnant women attending the hospital for delivery, meaning more than 2,500 women will being screened annually for antenatal anxiety and depression.

nib foundation Chairman, Terry Lawler, said the delivery of the pilot program in the private health sector was a significant development for expectant mothers. “We are proud to be supporting the establishment of such an important health and wellbeing program for Australian mothers, that will help raise awareness and understanding of perinatal anxiety and depression,” Mr Lawler said. “All mothers deserve to receive this simple and effective screening process which can reduce mental health problems during the perinatal period, creating stronger families and better maternal and infant psychological outcomes,” he said.

About the nib foundation

In 2008, nib heath funds established nib foundation – a not-for-profit charitable organisation – to support programs aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of all Australians.

 

Gidget Foundation Launches Educational DVD

Behind the Mask: The Hidden struggle of Parenthood.

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On Tuesday 15th March at North Shore Private Hosipital, The Gidget Foundation will launch the much anticipated DVD Behind the Mask: The Hidden struggle of Parenthood.

This DVD includes the stories of mothers and fathers, and educational input from health professionals. We have created an emotionally engaging and informative resource that is relevant to consumers, health care providers and educators. The DVD brings the reality of perinatal depression and anxiety to life, deepening our understanding of the illnesses while providing practical ideas to assist in recovery.

Behind the Mask: The Hidden struggle of Parenthood was a collaborative project between PANDA (The Post and Antenatal Depression Association) and the Gidget Foundation, and was professionally produced by Australian Business Theatre and is proudly supported by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, The Victorian Department of Health and the NSW Department of Health.

To order DVD click here

The Gidget Midwives

With the support of Ramsay Health Care, Australia's largest provider of private health care, North Shore Private Hospital and the Mater Hospital, midwives will be trained by St John of God Health Services in antenatal screening for anxiety and depression and domestic violence.

This screening will be offered to all women booking at the hospital for maternity. The Gidget Foundation has brought together 6 independent private hospital groups for the workshop.

All parties acknowledge that this simply would not have happened without the assistance of the Gidget Foundation. We are actively engaged in discussions to expand the programme to private hospitals across Australia.

Gidget Scholarship

The Gidget Foundation has raised funds to establish the Gidget Scholarship which will be used to fund the ongoing education of a Tresillian mothercraft nurse. Each year applications will be assessed and one nurse will be awarded this scholarship to enable them to undertake a 12 month course in mental health.

Letter from Jan - 2009 Scholarship winner

"I wish to sincerely thank the Gidget Foundation for awarding me the Gidget Scholarship for 2009. As a Registered Child and Family Health Nurse I have worked periodically with Tresillian for the past 19 years. Interspersed with my professional life I have given birth and raised three wonderful individuals.

My lived experience of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression has fuelled my passion for assisting women in their first year of parenting through my professional life. The generosity of the Gidget Foundation has allowed me to complete a Graduate Certificate in Adult Mental Health at the NSW Institute of Psychiatry. The flexibility of this course has meant that I have been able to direct my research and learning to a deeper understanding of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression. This has translated to an immediate application of theory to practice. In keeping with the National Action Plan for Perinatal Mental Health, I am finding my primary health training as a Child and Family Health Nurse is complementing my mental health training, resulting in improved care for perinatal women and their families.   

My hope and desire is to be able to continue to improve services and outcomes for all women and their families in this exciting but daunting time of their lives. Timely, appropriate and supportive care is the right of every woman in her perinatal period and by the increased awareness raised by the Gidget Foundation this is within sight for many women."

The Gidget Foundation also seeks submissions from interested stakeholders to support future initiatives assisting women during the perinatal period.

Members of The Gidget Foundation have been invited to participate on a number of professional committees, and we have established networks and relationships with a variety of organisations.

The Gidget Foundation provides speakers for professional and community events.

The Gidget Foundation has been very successful in creating relationships with medical and allied health professionals as well as community organisations.

 

Conference Involvement

  • Marce Conference, Melbourne. Oct 2009
  • Byron Bay: Preventing the Bough from Breaking. May 2008
    Conference attended by Catherine Knox. Included the launch of the perinatal depression workbook. Catherine has since been active in distributing information to individuals and medical practitioners regarding the usefulness of this book.
  • Panda Conference Melbourn. Sept 2008
    Attended by Catherine Knox and Rebecca Dunn
  • The International Marce Society Conference. Sept 2008
     Policy Planning and Effective Delivery of Perinatal Mental Health Care
    Gidget Foundation sponsored the breakfast attended by 100 delegates - speakers included Dr Vijay Roach, Professor Bryanne Barnett, Beyondblue and Ms Deborah Thomas Executive Editor ACP magazines.  
    1. Paper presented by Catherine Knox: Postnatal Depression - The Social Construct viewed through the Lived Experience
    2. Session chaired by Catherine Knox
    3. Hypothetical Panel participant: Dr Vijay Roach
  • Rural Doctors Conferences - various over the last 3 years
    The Gidget Foundation has attended in a variety of capacities, manning information booths and speaking.  

General Speaking Engagements

 Representatives from the Gidget Foundation were invited speakers by the following organisations during 2009 & 2010

  • Wyeth Perinatal Information meeting
  • Birthing Rites Bondi
  • Northern Beaches Mother and Baby Group
  • Baracks Medical  Information event Brisbane
  • Australian General Practice Network 
  • Hornsby Kuring gai Division of GPs
  • Innerwest Division of GPs
  • Wyeth Perinatal Information meeting
  • SBS Television Insight Program
  • Various radio interviewsMater Hospital Midwives Workshop - Catherine Knox
  • The Playgroup Association - Catherine Knox
  • NSPH Midwives Workshop - Catherine Knox
  • NSPH antenatal education provided by Catherine Knox and Rebecca Dunn on the transition to parenthood
  • SSIAHS - perinatal meeting - Catherine Knox and Vijay Roach
  • Mildura Perinatal meeting  -  Catherine Knox and Vijay Roach
  • Perinatal Educators Meeting - Catherine Knox
  • Sydney West Multicultural services  -  Catherine Knox

Relationships and Networks

Tresillian Family Care Centres

  • The Gidget Scholarship: The Gidget Foundation has raised funds to establish the Gidget Scholarship which will be used to fund the ongoing education of a Tresillian mothercraft nurse. Each year applications will be assessed and one nurse will be awarded this scholarship to enable them to undertake a 12 month course in mental health.
  • Suicide Prevention Programme: Simone Short and Catherine Knox were members of this committee.
  • Tresillian Mental Health Workshop 2007: Simone Short and Catherine Knox were invited to attend and contribute.
  • Various ad hoc activities including writing and providing input to a range of areas.

LNS PND Support Group

Catherine Knox and Rebecca Dunn are members of this committee which is based at the Social Work Dept at RNSH and meets bimonthly. Other members include midwives and social workers from NSCCAHS, NSPH and the Mater as well as some private practitioners.

Safe Start Implementation Committee

Catherine Knox is a member of this committee Incorporating Perinatal psychosocial assessment, clinical pathways, supervision to support nurses and sustainable training to support implementation for the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service.

ATAPS committee

Catherine Knox is a member of this committee

National Consumer Advisory Committee 

Catherine Knox is a member of this committee

Karitane 

The Gidget Foundation maintains a close relationship with this organisation

St John Of God Perinatal Services 

The Gidget foundation maintains a close relationship with this organisation