The four categories are not hierarchical. They reflect different scopes of work and recognise skills and knowledge, training and
position responsibilities that meet best practice standards.
| Category |
Brief description
|
|
Infant Family Worker
(IFW)
Focus on promotion
|
Workers, practitioners and professionals who are in a position to strengthen the social and emotional development of infants.
For example: early childhood educators, child health nurses, parenting course facilitators, community support workers and others
Qualifications/experience: two years work experience with infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months or
certificate/diploma from an accredited provider.
|
|
Infant Family Practitioner
(IFP)
Focus on prevention and early intervention
|
Professionals and practitioners whose work experience comes from providing services with a primary focus on the social-emotional needs of
infants and toddlers, with attention to the relationships surrounding the infant/toddler.
For example: child health nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health professionals (OT, speech therapists, physiotherapists,
psychologists, social workers) and others
Qualifications/experience:
No degree required. Minimum of 2 years paid work experience providing services to 0-36 month olds and their families. Served at
least 10 families.
|
|
Infant Mental Health Practitioner
(IMHP)
Focus on clinical intervention
and/or treatment
|
Professionals whose role includes intervention or treatment of the infant/toddlers' primary caregiving relationship.
For example: child psychiatrists, GPs, psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, early intervention
practitioners, mental health clinicians and consultants, social workers and others
Qualifications/experience: Master’s degree AND 2 years post-Master's, supervised work experience
|
|
Infant Mental Health Mentor
(IMHM)
Focus on leadership
|
Professionals whose role focuses on leadership, including advocacy, motivating and development of talent to promote effective infant
mental health principles, practice and programs.
Qualifications for the three IMHM categories (Clinical, Policy and Research/Academic:
Professionals who have a Master’s and/or Doctoral degree in a relevant field, or are a qualified medical doctor, and meet the
requirements in any of the three categories:
Experience: Meets the specialised work experience criteria specified for Infant Mental Health Practitioners plus three
years post-graduate experience providing infant mental health reflective supervision/ consultation and other leadership activities at
regional or state level.
Experience: Three years post-Master's experience as a leader in policy and/or programme administration related to the
infant/family field and other leadership activities at regional or state level.
Experience: Three years post-Masters experience as a leader in university-level teaching and/or published research related
to the infant/family field and other leadership activities at regional or state level.
|
|
Categories and fees
|
Education |
Training |
Experience |
Reflective Supervision |
Infant Family
Worker
(IFW)
|
Any academic degree OR minimum 2 years infant
and family work experience
|
30+ hours of training (average 40 hours) |
2 years work experience with infants and young children from birth to 36 months |
Not required |
Fees:
- Registration: $50
- Processing of application: $50
|
Infant Family
Practitioner
(IFP)
|
No degree required |
30+ hours of defined training |
2 years of prevention and/or early intervention service to 0-36 months old and their families. Served a minumum of 10 families
|
24+ hours over 1-2 years of working with infants, young children and their families
|
Fees:
- Registration: $50
- Processing of application: $100
|
Infant Mental Health Practitioner
(IMHP)
|
Master's or Doctorate in defined fields |
30+hours of defined training |
2 years post-grad supervised IMH work experience (direct services) to infant/caregivers, OR one year supervised postgraduate
practicum
|
50+ hours over 1-2 years of reflective practice |
Fees:
- Registration: $50
- Processing of application: $300
|
Infant Mental Health Mentor Clinical
(IMHM-C)
|
Master's or Doctorate in defined fields |
30+hours of defined training |
Meets IMHP requirements + 3 years post-grad providing IMH reflective practice supervision/consultation and defined leadership activities
|
50 hours over 1-2 years of reflective practice |
Fees:
- Registration: $50
- Processing of application: $400
|
Infant Mental Health Mentor Policy
IMHM-P
|
Master's or Doctorate in defined fields |
30+hours of defined training |
3 years post-grad experience in Policy/Administration related to IMH field and defined leadership activities
|
OPTIONAL:
50 hours over 1-2 years of reflective practice
|
Fees:
- Registration: $50
- Processing of application: $400
|
Infant Mental Health Mentor Research/Academic
IMHM-R/A
|
Master's or Doctorate in defined fields |
30+hours of defined training |
3 years post-grad experience as a leader in university-teaching and/or published research and other defined leadership activities
|
OPTIONAL:
50 hours over 1-2 years of reflective practice
|
Fees:
- Registration: $50
- Processing of application: $400
|
