Rachel offers insights into how families can support children and young people to embrace the beauty of difference and encourage empathy, respect and curiosity. Rachel also discusses the important role parents play in supporting their children’s emotional intelligence and how parental modelling can help to build empathy in children. Finally, she looks at ways to respond when children struggle to understand or accept differences in others.  

In this episode you will hear: 

• Rachel share why it is important for children to learn about different family structures [00:01:53].
•  The signs a child is struggling to accept others and how parents can respond  [00:4:00].
•  The role media and negative stereotypes play, and how parents can use these as opportunities for conversations with their children [00:6:22].
•  How modeling empathy at home can help children to show empathy in their everyday lives and peer relationships [00:17:24]. 

Further information and resources:  

In focus: Understanding children’s emotions and behaviour 

Getting through tough times: Shame and stigma 

Why are connection and belonging important? 

Understanding and addressing your child’s bullying behaviour 

Supporting emotional development and empathy in boys 

The post My family is different to yours: Helping children embrace diversity appeared first on Emerging Minds.

For a lot of adults, talking with children and young people about consent – and sexual consent in particular – can feel daunting and uncomfortable. How should parents and trusted adults go about having these conversations? When should they begin talking to children about their bodies and relationships, and what should they even say? 

In this episode from our Emerging Minds Families podcast, Kirsty (Schools Coordinator, SHINE SA) discusses ways to equip children with the knowledge and skills to make informed and empowered decisions about their bodies and relationships. Kirsty shares how parents can start these conversations with their children, how adults can effectively model consent, and how these conversations support children’s wellbeing.  

In this episode, you will learn: 

• the difference between consent and sexual consent and why it is important to talk to children about both [02:13] 

• when parents should start talking to children about consent and how to start the conversation in age-appropriate ways [06:22] 

• how adults can model consent to children [18:51] 

• how using young people’s own language is key in conversations about sexual consent [29:37].

Further information and resources:

SHINE SA: Sexual health information networking and education  

Family Planning Alliance Australia  

The Commonwealth Consent Policy Framework  

Consent.gov.au  

The post Talking to children and young people about consent appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Rachel also shares some of the common misconceptions about boys and their emotional expressions, while emphasising that it is never too late to support children’s emotional development. 

In this episode you will hear: 

• The ways children learn to show emotions in their early years and how parents can help children navigate their emotions at any age [00:02:53].
•  The behaviours parents may see in an anxious or overwhelmed boy [00:09:52].
•  About the roles connection and empathy play in helping boys to feel emotionally safe [00:14:04].
•  How talking to boys about their emotions and demonstrating emotional openness helps to build healthy emotional development [00:20:40]. 

Further information and resources:

Masculinity and raising boys to be good men

Connection and belonging 

Five ways to support your children’s mental health 

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The post Supporting emotional development and empathy in boys appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Sharing these findings, Daryl speaks about the importance of understanding the enormity of this problem in Australia. He describes how the findings reinforce the need for universal prevention and early intervention policies and practices with children and young people. Daryl also discusses strategies that can be utilised by practitioners and workforces as part of early intervention with children where abuse has been identified or disclosed.  

In this episode you will learn about:    

• the importance of framing child maltreatment as something that can be prevented [3:12] 

• the shocking ACMS findings of multi-type maltreatment for children and young people in Australia [7:52] 

• the rise in harm of young people being sexually harmed within romantic relationships, particularly girls [15:32] 

• opportunities to contribute to a prevention agenda by building the confidence of children and young people to have conversations about sex, intimate relationships and body safety [24:03] 

• the need for trauma-informed workforces that can ask people about their experiences in ways that acknowledge the connection between child maltreatment and mental health conditions [30:47] 

Related resources 

Supporting children who disclose trauma (online course) https://learning.emergingminds.com.au/course/supporting-children-who-disclose-trauma  

Supporting children who have experienced trauma (online course) 

https://learning.emergingminds.com.au/course/supporting-children-who-have-experienced-trauma  

Working with children to prevent self-blame after disclosures of child sexual abuse (practice paper)  

Preventing self-blame after disclosures of child sexual abuse 

The post The Australian Child Maltreatment Study: What do the findings tell us? appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode host Nadia Rossi welcomes back Anna Ritan, an accredited paediatric dietitian-nutritionist and the founder of Nourish Little Lives.  

Anna gives insight into why mealtimes can be tricky for some children with ADHD and autism and provides actionable tips for the best ways we can support them. 

In this episode you will hear: 

• Some common behaviours of neurodivergent children at mealtimes, the reasons behind the behaviours and how we can support them [00:02:02].  
•  How to support neurodivergent children when eating outside of the family home [00:12:11].
•  Strategies to support parents who may find dealing with mealtimes challenging [00:20:17].
•  Anna share ways a neurotypical family can support a neurodivergent child who is visiting for mealtimes [00:22:17].
•  About the importance of nutrition and how parents can support their neurodivergent children to get the nutrition they need [30:11].  

Further information and resources:

How you can support your neurodivergent child 

Neurodiversity and neurodivergence: A guide for families 

The post ADHD, autism and food: Supporting neurodivergent children at mealtimes appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In discussing their approaches to child-centred practice, the specialists explore ways of genuinely prioritising children’s safety, emotional needs, wellbeing, voice and rights. They also describe their professional and lived experiences within the child protection system, providing case examples of practices that hold children at the centre of practice and policy. The episode includes an exploration of conversations with children that help to identify their hopes and preferences for professional engagement.

In this episode you will learn about:    

• how transparent practice can let children know about the process for working with them [4:37]  

• the importance of relationship skills with vulnerable children [7:02] 

• ways to demonstrate patience and empathy with parents who are experiencing adversity [14:32] 

• developing a sense of consistency, routine and structure with children so that they can develop confidence in their engagement with you [17:55] 

• the role that self-awareness plays for practitioners working with children and families [20:54] 

Related Emerging Minds resources  

Engaging with children (online course)  

Recognising and strengthening the stories of children in care (practice paper) 

Child-focused practice for complex problems (practice paper)

The post Child-centred practice in child protection – part two   appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Speech pathology goes far beyond helping children pronounce tricky sounds or building their vocabulary. In this episode, host Nadia Rossi speaks with Sally Venus, a paediatric speech pathologist with over 25 years’ experience, to unpack what a speech pathologist does and how they play a vital part in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. 

In this episode you will learn:

• About the role of a speech pathologist [00:1:53]. 
•  The signs parents can look out for that their child may need the support of a speech pathologist and how to then access these specialists [00:4:11]. 
• How to prepare for and what you can expect from your first session with a speech pathologist [0010:16].
•  Ways you can support your child at home in their speech, swallowing or any kind of communication [00:14:38]. 

Further information and resources:  
 

What is a speech pathologist? (video)  

Speech pathology Australia – Speech sound development 0–3 years  

Speech pathology Australia – Communication milestones 

Speech pathology Australia – What to expect from my first session 

The post How a speech pathologist can support your child appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Amy, Arabella and Chloe describe their professional and lived experiences within the child protection system, providing case examples of practices that hold children at the centre of practice and policy. This includes an exploration of conversations with children that help to identify their hopes and preferences for professional engagement.

In this episode you will learn about:   

• professional descriptions and interpretations of child-centred practice [2:20] 

• ways in which conversations with children can occur without prejudice and give them opportunities to share their perspectives and preferences [8:08] 

• a case example of a professional who made a profound difference by operating in child-centred ways [12:45] 

• descriptions of practice processes that allow for authentic connection with children in a child protection context [15:47] 

• approaches for responding to children’s experiences of trauma and disrupted attachment [21:03] 

• centring a child’s needs in the context of trauma experiences [25:02] 

Related Emerging Minds resources 

Engaging with children (online course) 

Recognising and strengthening the stories of children in care (practice paper) 

Child-focused practice for complex problems (practice paper) 

The post Child-centred practice in child protection – part one appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode, host Nadia Rossi is joined by Rochelle Courtney, who is more affectionately known as the ‘Pad Lady’. Rochelle is the founder of Share the Dignity and has made it her mission to ensure that no one who menstruates has to choose between food and period products.  

Rochelle talks about the reality of period poverty and how we can better educate our children with the right language about periods to eliminate shame and stigma while supporting their mental health and wellbeing. 

In this episode you will learn: 

• How important it is to educate all children about periods and how using the right language can be empowering for them and the adults in their lives  [00:5:20].
• About period poverty and how it can affect the mental health and wellbeing of those experiencing it [00:22:33].
• How everyone can help to eliminate the shame and stigma that surrounds period poverty [00:26:00].

Further information and resources:

Share the dignity  

Connection and belonging  

The post Talking about periods: Ending shame and building understanding for every child appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode, Dana Shen speaks with Jem Stone, a practitioner with Wayapa Wuurrk, the first internationally accredited Indigenous wellness program. Wayapa Wuurrk combines earth mindfulness, narrative meditation, physical movement storytelling and earth reciprocity to create a holistic wellbeing program for children. 

Jem takes our listeners on a journey into her healing, talking about how Wayapa Wuurrk and the elements of creative healing practices filled that gap in her own story. Connection to Country and the earth is the starting point for wellbeing in these practices. Jem describes the Wayapa Wuurrk program, and how the elements of earth, mind, body and spirit connect to social and emotional wellbeing.  

Jem speaks about our reciprocal relationship with nature and how we can bring this connection into our work with children experiencing trauma. She details how the Wayapa Wuurrk program recognises that we are all on a learning journey and describes the importance of passing on knowledge so that we all have access to intergenerational wellbeing.   

Note: The preferred terminology used by Emerging Minds in our resources is ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’, as guided by our National Consultancy Group. However, in this instance the term ‘Indigenous’ has been used as it more accurately encompasses the healing practices and worldview behind the work of Wayapa Wurruk.

In this episode you will learn

• that every person is connected with nature and the earth [02:56] 

• how to use Country to ground children who may have experienced trauma [15:09] 

• about Indigenous concepts of healing and wellbeing that support children and families [16:51] 

• about the importance of connection to support wellbeing [20:15] 

Further information and resources:Replanting the Birthing Trees: Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children in the first 2,000 days (Emerging Minds online course) 

Healing through voice, culture and Country: Short films (Emerging Minds resource) 

Wayapa Wuurrk website  

The post Creative healing practices to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode our host Nadia Rossi is joined by Amy Saunders, the Wellbeing Impact Lead from Nature Play SA. Amy talks about how playing outside in nature can help to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and provide moments of connection for families. 

In this episode you will learn: 

• What nature play is and how it can support the mental health and wellbeing of children [00:01:04].
• Ways parents can encourage children to play outside [00:07:28].
• About ‘risky play’, the role it plays in your child’s development and how parents can support their children when they are testing their boundaries [00:19:39].
• Language and strategies parents can use to look after themselves and their children during ‘risky play’ [00:25:45].

Further information and resources

Nature Play SA 

Parent-child relationship: How positive connections support children’s wellbeing 

The post Nurtured by nature: Outdoor play for children’s mental health appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Sophie describes her practice in helping children to use their own words, communication preferences and meaning-making to describe the trauma events in their lives in ways that are supportive and hopeful. She also talks about how non-specialist practitioners can support children to describe their experiences of sexual abuse and violence. 

Throughout the conversation, Sophie draws on her experiences at RASA, in the adult mental health sector, and in the family and domestic violence sector, where she worked with both victims and perpetrators of sexual and physical violence. She also shares her insights from working with non-offending parents to support their children’s recovery from abuse. 

Content warning:  

This episode discusses practices to support children who have experienced sexual abuse. Please keep your own wellbeing in mind as you listen and seek support from your manager, supervisor, mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services if needed. 

In this episode you will learn about:   

• how self-blame, shame and anxiety might be affecting children when meeting with a professional for the first time  [2:09]

• strategies to talk to children about their experiences of sexual abuse without causing distress [7:20]

• using resistance and response-based practice to ensure children’s stories of resilience, protection and know-how are brought into focus [14:24]

• how non-specialist practitioners can create opportunities for children to describe ways they might feel unsafe [16:39]

• ways to speak with parents about supporting their children to overcome the effects of sexual abuse [22:21]

Related Emerging Minds resources  

Supporting children who disclose trauma (online course) 

Supporting children who have experienced trauma (online course) 

Working with children to prevent self-blame after disclosures of child sexual abuse (practice paper)

The post Supporting children who have experienced sexual abuse appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode, host Nadia Rossi speaks with Mike Feszczak, the CEO of Grandcarers SA, to learn more about this lesser-known caring role.   

 In this episode you will learn:

•  About the role of grandparent carers and how they support the mental health and wellbeing of the children in their care [02:20].
•  About the challenges and strengths of grandparent carers and the positive effects they can have on the child they care for [08:08].
•  What you can do to support a grandparent carer you know  [16:29].

Further information and resources:

Grandcarers SA

Building support networks for you and your child

Feeling connection and belonging outside our families

Supporting children of parents living with mental illness

The post Exploring the role of grandparent carers appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Many incarcerated fathers want to learn the skills to rebuild relationships with their children and other family members while in prison. But physical, mental, emotional and logistical barriers can easily get in the way, discouraging fathers from maintaining contact with their families. 

In this episode, we’re joined by Linh Nguyen, a mental health counsellor, social worker and Senior Practitioner, Family and Relationship Services at Centacare Catholic Country SA. Linh works with incarcerated individuals in the Port Augusta prison, providing services focused on depression, anxiety, anger management and behavioural change. She discusses the role shame, guilt and past trauma play in preventing incarcerated fathers from connecting with their children, and the approaches she has found helpful in overcoming these and other barriers. She shares how therapy homework tailored to improving individuals’ emotion regulation and interpersonal skills can support fathers to engage more meaningfully with their children, both during incarceration and after their release. Linh also explores how these learnings can be applied to support any father looking to strengthen or rebuild their relationships with their children. 

Please note: This episode focuses specifically on father–child relationships. Transforming Corrections to Transform Lives provides information and resources on supporting the needs of incarcerated mothers and their children, while Sisters Inside offers services and programs for criminalised women and their children.  

We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults make up a disproportionately high percentage of the national prison population. This episode does not explore the nuances of effectively working with incarcerated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers; however, our online course Rebuilding our shields: Sharing the stories of deadly dads explores ways to break down dominant stereotypes and give fathers opportunities to share their hopes for their children and their stories of strength and resilience. 

In this episode, you will learn: 

• how parental incarceration can impact children’s mental health and wellbeing [03:21]  

• what a distress exposure approach is and how it supports parent–child relationships [10:16] 

• how therapy homework translates to improvements in fathers’ relationships with their children [15:33] 

• how these insights can be applied to support non-incarcerated fathers [29:43] 

• what systemic changes are needed to improve parent–child relationships within the prison system [33:17].

Further information and resources

From Emerging Minds:

• Practice strategies for implementation (online course) 

• Engaging children: Paving the way with parents (online course) 

• The impact of parental incarceration on child behaviour and development (short article) 

• ‘Invisible’ children of imprisoned parents at risk of falling through the cracks (short article) 

• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) toolkit  

Other resources:

• Nguyen, L. (2025). Restoring fatherhood from confined settings: Emerging evidence for distress exposure homework. Peer reviewed papers from the FRSA 2025 National Conference, pp. 64–73 

• The National Information Centre on Children of Offenders (UK) 

• Shine for Kids  

References

Del Toro, J., Fine, A., & Wang, M. T. (2023). The intergenerational effects of paternal incarceration on children’s social and psychological well-being from early childhood to adolescence. Development and Psychopathology, 35(2), 558–569. DOI: 10.1017/S0954579421001693.

Flynn, C., Harrigan, S., Bartels, L., Dennison, S., Huggins, L., & Grage-Moore, S. (2023). Mapping the needs and experiences of children affected by parental imprisonment: A national survey (Version 1). Monash University. DOI: 10.26180/22921337.v1.

Herros-Fraile, A., Carcedo, R. J., Viedma, A., Ramos-Barbero, V., Fernández-Rouco, N., Gomiz-Pascual, P., & Del Val, C. (2023). Parental incarceration, development, and well-being: A developmental systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), 3143. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043143.

The post Building parent-child relationships from behind bars appeared first on Emerging Minds.

With the aim of supporting these families, we developed ‘the PERCS of parenting’, which outline five key areas parents can use to help support their children. The PERCS provide guidance on: parent-child relationship; emotions and behaviours; routines, communication and meaning-making; and support networks.  

In this episode host Alicia Ranford is joined by Emerging Minds Practice Development Officer, Jacquie Lee. Jacquie talks through each key area and how parents can use the PERCS to support their children’s mental health and wellbeing.  

In this episode you will learn: 

• Parent–child relationships [00:5:15].
• Emotions and behaviours [00:09:08].
• Routines [00:12:12].
• Communication and meaning making [00:16:15].
• Support networks [00:20:31]. 

Further information and resources:

Parent–child relationship: How positive connections support children’s wellbeing 

Emotions and behaviours: Understanding and supporting children’s feelings and responses 

Routines: Creating family routines to support children’s mental health 

Communication and meaning-making: Why good communication is key to children’s mental health 

Support networks: Building support networks for you and your child 

The post Five ways to support your children’s mental health appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In the second episode of this two-part series, we continue to speak with neonatologist Dr Natalie Duffy about lived experiences of the NICU. The conversation explores the key themes that infants and parents express about their experience of NICU – a place that is both ‘safe and scary’, with  ‘hard things’ but also powerful ‘moments of meeting’. The episode also addresses how health care and community professionals develop responsive care that engages with infants’ earliest communication cues, nurturing their mental health needs as they grow and develop at this critical stage of life.     

Listen to the first episode in this two-part series: 

The lived experience of infants in neonatal intensive care – part one

In this episode, you will learn about: 

• Infants’ experiences of the NICU as being  ‘scary and safe’ and the inherent tension between need for medical interventions that keep them safe and a foreign environment that impacts their growth and development [2:40]. 

• Infants’  emotional experience of   ‘all the hard things’  and the ‘emotional roller coaster’ of procedures and interventions [3:48].   

• The power of ‘moments of meeting’ where infants, caregivers and health professionals  engage and connect [4:34]. 

• How the Newborn Behavioural Observation Tool provides a framework to think about how infants are using behaviours and cues to communicate [4:56].

• How the Newborn Traffic Light Tool provides responsive care for infants during painful procedures and how it might be applied in other care environments or community settings [13:00]. 

Further information and resources:

Online courses 

Practice strategies suite for infants and toddlers 

Keeping the infant and toddler in mind 

Webinar recording 

What are infants telling us: From neonatal nursery care to supporting optimal infant development 

Resources and tools from other organisations 

Applying the Brazelton Approach to supporting babies undergoing painful procedures. – Brazelton Centre UK 

Newborn Traffic Light Tool – The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne 

Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) training course information – The Women’s 

Journal articles 

A study of the infant’s lived experience of neonatal intensive care 

The newborn behavioural observations system: A relationship-building intervention to support families in the neonatal intensive care unit 

The lived experiences of critically ill infants hospitalised in neonatal intensive care: A scoping review 

The post The lived experience of infants in neonatal intensive care – part two appeared first on Emerging Minds.

For all children, their environment, relationships and other supports are vital in shaping their mental health and wellbeing. Having a supportive network can significantly reduce the risk of negative mental health outcomes, like self-harm and suicidal ideation, for gender diverse children and young people. Supportive networks can stretch beyond a child’s parents, extended family, friends and school community to include supportive practitioners and services.     

In this episode, guest host Nicole Rollbusch talks to Arianne, a parent of six children between the ages of eight and 22 years. While supporting her child through coming out and transitioning, Arianne and her daughter found their social and family supports significantly challenged. Arianne took on an active role in supporting her child in her journey, and her other children in theirs, as the whole family experienced a transition. While acknowledging that each family’s experience is different, Arianne shares her family’s journey through supporting their daughter and sister, the challenge of navigating support services, and the benefits of creating strong support networks around the whole family. 

This podcast includes mentions of suicidal ideation. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.

In this episode you will learn about:

• What preteen children may experience when exploring their gender, including the impacts on their mental health and wellbeing [04:22].
• The influence of parents, extended family and community on the wellbeing of gender diverse children [08:25].
• The challenges children and families can face in accessing gender-affirming support services [17:39].  

Further information and resources: 

Supporting children and young people who identify as gender diverse (podcast episode for families).

Transcend Australia: An organisation supporting Australian families and trans, gender diverse and non-binary children and young people.

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia: An organisation supporting healthy LGBTQI+, gender diverse and bodily diverse people throughout Australia.

The post Building a support network for your gender diverse child appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In the first episode of this two-part podcast series, neonatologist Dr Natalie Duffy shines a spotlight on the key infant mental health concepts that guided her PHD research into the lived experience of infants in NICU. Natalie speaks about how reflecting and making meaning of infant cues and communication enabled a deeper understanding of their lived experience for parents and health professionals. It is Natalie’s hope that these richer understandings can inform practice and bring about change to the way neonatal care is delivered. She also hopes to provide practitioners with insight into what infants and families encounter during this unexpected start to bonding and parenting.  

In this episode, you will learn about: 

• neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities for pre-term or medically unwell infants [01:58] 

• the emotional impacts and adjustment for parents of infants in NICU [4:35]  

• families’ resilience and the power of connection and relationships for infants’ mental health and development [8:07] 

• the importance of family-centred care in NICU [11:31] 

• how infants have a voice (despite not having words) and the ways they use their behaviours, cues and states of alertness to communicate what they are thinking and feeling [18:23]  

Further information and resources:

Upcoming webinar 

What are infants telling us: From neonatal nursery care to supporting optimal infant development 

Online courses 

Practice strategies suite for infants and toddlers 

Keeping the infant and toddler in mind 

Journal articles 

A study of the infant’s lived experience of neonatal intensive care 

The newborn behavioural observations system: A relationship-building intervention to support families in the neonatal intensive care unit 

The lived experiences of critically ill infants hospitalised in neonatal intensive care: A scoping review 

The post The lived experience of infants in neonatal intensive care – part one appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode host Nadia Rossi speaks with Alesha Akintoye, a family law counsellor who works with families to navigate through their separation and divorce. Alesha shares how we can best support both our children and our own wellbeing through this difficult experience.  

In this episode you will hear:

• Alesha share helpful ways to explain separation or divorce to your children, depending on their age [00:02:01]. 
• How you and your partner can find ways to communicate in tough situations to support your children [00:11:23].
• Alesha share ways parents can support themselves through a separation or divorce [00:15:08].
• How you can navigate through co-parenting when you are struggling with the behaviours of your co-parent [00:17:23]. 
• Ways to help parents  overcome the stigma of separation and find strength in your decision to part [00:19:31].
•  How you can support someone who is going through a separation or divorce [00:29:00].  

Further information and resources

Supporting your child’s wellbeing during a separation or divorce

Talking to your child about separation and divorce

Looking after yourself during a separation or divorce

Parenting after a separation or divorce

The post Supporting children’s wellbeing during a separation or divorce appeared first on Emerging Minds.

What becomes possible when we gather and document children’s knowledge about how they have navigated difficult times? What might it be like for children to be invited to contribute their expertise to benefit others? How might you share one child’s ideas, skills and know-how with other families? 

In this podcast episode, we speak with Carolyn Markey, a child and family counsellor with Relationships Australia SA. Carolyn talks about her work gathering and documenting children’s knowledge about how they have managed through hard times, as well as their ideas about how they would like their fathers to treat them. She also explores ways their know-how and ideas can be anonymously shared to help others, particularly fathers she is also consulting with. 

In this episode you will learn about: 

• expansive understandings of children’s knowledge [01:33]

• creating space for children’s knowledge [05:32] 

• documenting children’s knowledge [12:54] 

• practices for sharing children’s knowledge with others, particularly men who are fathers [22:47]
   

Further information and resources:

Engaging children: Creative conclusions– Module two: Inviting further contributions (module within online course) 

Engaging children (learning pathway) 

The post Documenting and sharing children’s knowledge to support their mental health appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Neil shares their story and how the Sammy D Foundation works tirelessly to build confidence in children to speak up for themselves and each other, with the message that using violence can have consequences which can’t be undone.  

Neil shares his message with parents, discussing ways they can have conversations about violence with their children and how this positively affects the whole community.  

Content warning: 

This podcast includes mentions of violence leading to the death of a minor. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.  

In this episode you will hear:

• Neil share the story of his son Sam, the events that lead to his death and the work of the Sammy D Foundation  [00:02:47].
• Neil’s advice for parents on teaching children how to resolve conflict by walking away and not using violence [00:10:46].
• Neil’s message to parents who want to teach their children to defend themselves [00:22:28].  

Further information and resources:

Sammy D Foundation  

Tricky topics: Masculinity and raising boys to be good men

Understanding children’s emotions and behaviour

Bullying and child mental health

The post Talking to children and young people about the consequences of violence appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode, we are joined by Zaccariah Cox, the Manager for Social and Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health at Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS), and Erica Spry, Senior Aboriginal Research Officer at KAMS and a research fellow at the University of Western Australia. The episode explores the changing roles of Aboriginal fathers, and how curiosity and inclusion of fathers can improve perinatal support for children and mothers. The conversation is informed by what Erica and Zac heard when speaking with expecting and new fathers in rural and remote Western Australia. 

Erica and Zac speak about the importance of extended family and kinship networks for Aboriginal fathers. They discuss some of the challenges that dads experience, including consistent and clear language from practitioners and service providers, and the difficulties in supporting mothers through pregnancy in remote locations. Erica calls on practitioners to be curious about fathers’ individual needs – not based on assumptions or stereotypes but on curiosity and cultural safety – and to honour fathers’ individual hopes, roles and responsibilities in the antenatal period.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• the importance of fathers in the circle of support during the perinatal period [08:59] 

• how practitioners can apply curiosity to understand cultural roles and responsibilities and support fathers without bias [13:05] 

• how parenting provides an opportunity for fathers to reflect on their own childhood experiences and the hopes they have for their children [15:06] 

• getting to know your local community and context to support your relationships with fathers [25:28] 

• why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) should be included in the provision of care during the perinatal period [24:42] 

Further information and resources:

“When I got the news”: Aboriginal fathers in the Kimberley region yarning about their experience of the antenatal period (research article in Health Promotion Journal of Australia) 

Rebuilding our shields: Sharing the stories of deadly dads (Emerging Minds online course) 

Stories of deadly dads: How Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers keep strong (Emerging Minds resource) 

The post When I got the news: Research to support Aboriginal fathers through inclusion appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode, host Nadia Rossi welcomes back Jason Tyndale to offer advice to parents on how you can create a safe space for your child to communicate their diversity with you. Jason also shares his experience of supporting his child on their journey. 

Content warning: 

This podcast includes some adult themes. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services. 

In this episode, you will hear:

• Jason explain the difference between gender diversity and sexual diversity [00:54].
• Jason shares how he supported his child when they shared their sexual diversity [2:24].
• Jason talk about the importance of safe spaces for children and young people. He offers advice to parents for supporting your child as they identify and communicate their gender, sexual diversity or chosen pronoun [05:48]. 

Further information and resources:

Minus18

Supporting children and young people who identify as gender diverse

The post Supporting gender and sexual diversity in children and young people appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Many families report difficulty finding services that can support their gender diverse child or even negative experiences when they do engage with services. Practitioners may feel underconfident or unable to provide support if they have never completed any formal training in gender-affirming practice. However, practitioners who work with children have many existing skills in their toolkit that can aid them in providing the acceptance and responsiveness that gender diverse children and young people need.      

In this episode, host Nicole Rollbusch talks to Professor Damien Riggs about gender-affirming practice. Damien is a professor in psychology at Flinders University and the author of over 200 publications on gender, family and mental health. He is also a psychotherapist who specialises in working with transgender young people. Drawing on his experiences, Damien speaks with Nicole about how practitioners working in general health and social services can use their skills to work with children in gender-affirming ways that support their mental health and wellbeing. He also explores how practitioners can seek learning opportunities to increase their knowledge and confidence in working with gender diverse children and young people.

In this episode, you will learn about:  

• when families might seek support from practitioners and services [02:49] 

• the mental health challenges children under 12 may face when exploring their gender and how these are linked to their environment and support network [03:52]  

• working with parents of gender diverse children [06:01] 

• challenges that can arise when working with children and families [08:05] 

• what is gender-affirming practice and its benefits for children and their families [09:59]  

• what might prevent or interfere with practitioners working in gender-affirming ways [12:24] 

• where practitioners can start when they want to build their confidence in providing gender-affirming care [14:01]  

• the transferrable skills practitioners have that can support gender-affirming practice [15:16] 

• what practitioners can do if they would like to specialise in working with gender diverse children, young people and their families [21:51] 

• the importance of joy [26:31] 

Further information and resources: 

From Emerging Minds: 

Supporting children and young people who identify as gender diverse [podcast episode for families] 

Working with trans and gender diverse children [podcast episode for practitioners] 

Other organisations with useful resources: 

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia: An organisation supporting healthy LGBTQI+, gender diverse and bodily diverse people throughout Australia. 

Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN): An organisation highlighting networks and resources for professional development in mental health. 

Transcend Australia: An organisation supporting Australian families and trans, gender diverse and non-binary children and young people. 

Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH): The national peak body representing, supporting and connecting those working to strengthen the health, rights and wellbeing of all trans people (binary and non-binary). 

The post Supporting children and young people through gender-affirming care appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Daniel discusses some of the issues that young people are sharing with him, including ideas about masculinity. They also talk about how to raise boys to be good men and ways that the adults in young people’s lives can be there for them. 

Content warning: 

This podcast includes mentions of pornography and adult themes. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.  

In this episode you will hear:

• Thoughts about pornography that male students have shared with Daniel in his school sessions [00:34:03].
• Daniel share his thoughts on how we can support boys and raise good men [00:37:00].
• Daniel talk about how we can show young children what their strengths are and reinforce those strengths [00:45:00].
• Daniel’s advice to parents whose children have been exposed to pornography and how to support your child [00:58:00]. 

Further information and resources:
Daniel Principe 

How to stay safe online

Consent can’t wait  

Talking to children and young people about consent 

Talking to children and young people about sex and their bodies 

Fight the new drug

The post Tricky topics: Masculinity and raising boys to be good men appeared first on Emerging Minds.

For all children, their environment, supports and relationships are vital in shaping their mental health and wellbeing. Having a supportive network can significantly reduce the risk of negative mental health outcomes, like self-harm and suicidal ideation, for gender diverse children and young people. Supportive networks can stretch beyond a child’s parents, extended family, friends and school community to include supportive practitioners and services.    

In this episode, Nicole Rollbusch talks to Arianne, a parent of six children between the ages of 8 and 22. When supporting her child through coming out and transitioning, their social and family supports were significantly challenged. Arianne took on an active role in supporting her child in her journey and her other children in theirs as the whole family experienced a transition. Arianne shares her family’s experience of supporting their daughter, navigating services, and what practitioners can do to provide gender-affirming support in their practice.

In this episode you will learn about:  

• what preteen children may experience when exploring their gender, including the impacts on their mental health and wellbeing [04:22] 

• the influence of parents, extended family and community on the wellbeing of gender diverse children [08:25]  

• the challenges children and families can face in accessing gender-affirming support services [17:39]  

• how practitioners can work in gender-affirming ways – what can be helpful and where to start [21:32] 

Further information and resources:  

From Emerging Minds: 

Supporting children and young people who identify as gender diverse [podcast episode for families] 

Working with trans and gender diverse children [podcast episode for practitioners] 

Other organisations with useful resources: 

Transcend Australia: An organisation supporting Australian families and trans, gender diverse and non-binary children and young people. 

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia: An organisation supporting healthy LGBTQI+, gender diverse and bodily diverse people throughout Australia. 

Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN): An organisation highlighting networks and resources for professional development in mental health. 

Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH): The national peak body representing, supporting and connecting those working to strengthen the health, rights and wellbeing of all trans people (binary and non-binary).

The post How supportive networks enhance the mental health of gender diverse children appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Daniel talks with Alicia about the effects that watching pornography and sexualised content can have on young people. They discuss how we can encourage boys to recognise and resist distorted attitudes towards bodies, relationships and sex, and instead build healthy, respectful relationships with others and themselves.   

Content warning: This podcast includes discussion of pornography and sexualised online content, and mentions of violence. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.  

In this episode you will hear: 

• Daniel talk about the age most children and young people are accessing pornography and how this content can affect their ideas about relationships and consent [00:04:21].
• Daniel’s suggestions to parents on how you can protect your child or young person in the online space  [00:12:54].
• About ways you can start a conversation with your child or young person and support them without shame if they have accessed pornography [00:21:49].  

Further information and resources: 

Daniel Principe

How to stay safe online 

Consent can’t wait 

Talking to children and young people about consent

Talking to children and young people about sex and their bodies 

The post Tricky topics: Talking to children and young people about pornography appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Lyn and David emphasise the importance of understanding children’s underlying distress and despair while giving their self-harming behaviour a voice in therapy. They specifically highlight how a child-led approach helps prevent power imbalances and further pressurising of children. They also speak about how collaboration and recognising children’s actions can foster helpful pathways. 

Both Lyn and David were part of a broader conversation with Emerging Minds about their work with children who experience suicidal ideation, which included discussions about self-harming behaviour. For more insights from Lyn and David, check out our Understanding and responding to childhood suicidal ideation online course. 

In this episode you will learn about: 

• non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal ideation in children [01:59]

• what children want from practitioners [04:14]

• how to avoid traditional adult–child power dynamics [09:26]

• safety planning [12:50]

• acknowledging a child’s sense of agency [14:32]

Further information and resources:

Understanding and responding to childhood suicidal ideation [online course]  

Working with children affected by suicide – part one [podcast episode]  

Working with children affected by suicide – part two [podcast episode]  

Childhood suicidal ideation through a narrative therapy lens [podcast episode] 

Understanding and responding to childhood suicidal ideation [webinar recording] 

Practice papers on suicidal ideation and self-harm will be published soon. 

For families:  

How to support children who are experiencing distress [podcast episode]  

Supporting children with big feelings [podcast episode] 

The post Understanding and supporting children who self-harm: Giving them a voice appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode host Nadia Rossi talks with Jason Tyndale about his journey as a transgender parent. Jason shares how he communicated his transition to his children, family and friends, and how he navigates the ongoing stigma he and his family experience. He also talks about the unique strengths that come with being a transgender parent. 

In this episode you will hear: 

• Jason share what he would like people to know about being a transgender parent. [5:35]
• How Jason talked to his children about his transition in age-appropriate ways. [8:11]
• Jason share the stigma he has experienced as a transgender parent and how he navigates his children through it. [10:11]
• Jason offer advice to parents who are transitioning. [12:09]
• Jason share the unique strengths that come with being a transgender parent. [16:56]

The post My journey as a transgender parent appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this podcast episode, host Amanda Kemperman joins narrative therapist and social worker David Newman to explore childhood suicidal ideation through a narrative therapy lens. Offering valuable insights and approaches for support, David discusses how he negotiates conversations with young people, ensuring their hardships are shared and heard, while inviting them to explore what is underpinning their experiences. 

David was also interviewed as part of the development of Emerging Minds’ recent online course Understanding and responding to childhood suicidal ideation. 

In this episode, you will learn about: 

• negotiating the conversation, asking for permission and accountability [03:31] 

• what children want when experiencing suicidal ideation [06:43]  

• how to talk about how hard it is [10:24] 

• knowledge, skills and values through the absent but implicit framework [24:24]
   

Further information and resources from Emerging Minds:  

Online course 

Understanding and responding to childhood suicidal ideation   

Podcast episodes 

Working with children affected by suicide – part one  

Working with children affected by suicide – part two   

Podcast episodes for families

How to support children who are experiencing distress 

Supporting children with big feelings  

Note: A practice paper and webinar recording will also be available soon. 

The post Childhood suicidal ideation through a narrative therapy lens appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Anna talks with Nadia about how we can manage expectations at family mealtimes to make them enjoyable for everyone. She shares ways we can create balanced meals and get children involved in cooking and meal preparation. Anna also offers insights into how we can manage food refusal in children.

In this episode you will learn: 

• Why mealtimes can be so difficult for some families and how we can modify our expectations based on our child’s development.  [00:01:58]
• How to manage food refusal and ‘fussy eaters’, ways to support them and yourself, and when it’s time to get extra support. [00:06:51]
• How getting children involved in meal preparation early is a great way to educate them about nutrition and build skills for preparing their own meals in the future. [00:22:13]
• How to manage constant requests for snacks and create balanced mealtimes throughout the day. [00:25:33]
• How to build a balanced lunch box for your child. [00:28:52]

Further information and resources:  

Understanding child development 

Nourish Little lives

The post Talking about family mealtimes, nutrition and food refusal in children appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode, our guests talk about their reflective practice with families and how this guides their work with the broader system of care to proactively address infants’ mental health. They outline how they collaborate to address key developmental areas in the early years. The conversation includes practice examples about the importance of being with children in their big emotions, how to approach children’s eating and sleeping challenges from a relational perspective, understanding behaviour as communication, and tips on navigating rupture and repair in relationships.  

Key learnings 

In this episode, you will learn about: 

• how reflective practice and collaborative case discussion informs child and family nursing [1:29] 

• the role early educators play in developing children’s confidence and sense of security in social interactions [5:30] 

• working in partnership with parents to address their worries about sleeping and food challenges [11:14] 

• navigating children’s big emotions and rupture in relationships [13:08] 

Further information and resources: 

Online courses 

Practice strategies for implementation: Infants and toddlers 

Keeping the infant and toddler in mind  

Practice strategies for infant and toddler assessment  

Practice strategies for formulation: Infants and toddlers  

The Family Partnerships Model: A guide for early learning educators 

Supporting children’s resilience in general practice 

Practice paper 

Supporting children and families during disasters – Emerging Minds 

The post Collaborating to meet infant mental health needs – part two appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode host Nadia Rossi welcomes back Kirsty, Schools Coordinator at Shine SA, to talk about the differences between consent and sexual consent. Kirsty shares ways parents can start these conversations with their children, how adults can model consent to their children and how it supports a child’s wellbeing to be informed about consent. 

Content warning:

This podcast includes adult themes around sex and consent. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.  

In this episode you will learn:

•  The difference between consent and sexual consent and why it is important to talk to children about both [00:00:53]
•  When you should start talking to your child about consent and how to start the conversation in age-appropriate ways. [00:05:02]
• The ways adults can model consent to their children. [00:16:42]
•  About rejection and how parents can show their children how to communicate ‘no’ and also receive ‘no’. [00:21:30]

Further information and resources

SHINE SA | Sexual Health Information Networking & Education 

Family Planning Alliance Australia 

The Commonwealth Consent Policy Framework | Department of Social Services, Australian Government 

Home | Consent.gov.au – Check your understanding 

The post Talking to children and young people about consent appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this two-part series, host Vicki Mansfield is joined by Lyndsay Healy (Director, Children’s Program, Gowrie SA), Dr Rickie Elliot (clinical psychologist) and Dr Louise Wightman (clinical nurse specialist) to explore how collaboration with families and clear communication between professions promotes infant mental health.   

When working with parents in the early years, transdisciplinary collaboration assists practitioners to understand the family’s psychosocial context and to ensure the voice of child is central. This is particularly important when planning and making decisions about the child’s mental health and wellbeing. Collaboration helps identify how the family’s informal supports and professional services can coordinate the changes needed for family’s wellbeing.  

Transdisciplinary collaboration reduces the need for parents to re-tell their stories, improves access to referrals and develops clarity around a shared vision for the child’s wellbeing.  

Clear communication between services enables the system of care to see the ‘whole child’. This facilitates the coordination of early intervention approaches; moderates risk of harm for the child; and reduces potential long-term mental health impacts for children. 

In this episode, our guests share what guides their practice with infants and families. They explore key practice points for interdisciplinary collaboration during the antenatal period and early years. They also share insights on the importance of creating a village of support for all families.  

In this episode, you will learn about: 

• how antenatal screening and collaboration supports early interventions in infant mental health [3:12] 

• how child and family health nurses can work in partnership with parents to advocate for child mental health [6:26] 

• how educators utilise a primary caregiving model to intentionally plan for meeting children’s social and emotional needs [14:55] 

• engaging in collaborative relationships that model safe and responsive parent–infant relationships [17:43] 

• the value of interdisciplinary communication and coordination to understand the ‘whole child’ [18:06]  

Further information and resources:

Online courses 

Practice strategies for implementation: Infants and toddlers 

Keeping the infant and toddler in mind  

Practice strategies for infant and toddler assessment  

Practice strategies for formulation: Infants and toddlers  

The Family Partnerships Model: A guide for early learning educators 

Supporting children’s resilience in general practice 

Practice paper 

Supporting children and families during disasters

The post Collaborating to meet infant mental health needs – part one appeared first on Emerging Minds.

South Australian-based SHINE SA provides sexual health and relationship wellbeing services including clinics, counselling, education and information. 

Content warning: 

This podcast includes adult themes about sex and consent. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.  

In this episode you will learn:

• How to show your child you are someone they can trust and speak to when they have questions about sex and their body [00:00:51]
• Appropriate ways you can respond to your child’s questions, depending on their age and stage in life  [00:04:01]
• Examples of how to start the conversation about sex with your child [00:13:56]
• How to introduce the correct terminology for body parts to your child. [00:25:17]

Further information and resources:

• SHINE SA | Sexual Health Information Networking & Education 
• Family Planning Alliance Australia 
• The Commonwealth Consent Policy Framework | Department of Social Services, Australian Government 
• Consent can’t wait 

The post Talking to children and young people about sex and their bodies appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In our previous episode, we looked at how a neurodivergent-affirming approach benefits the mental health of autistic and ADHDer children. This episode builds on these understandings by exploring ways you can apply a neuro-affirming lens to your work with children and their families.  

Host Jacquie Lee is once again joined by psychologists Jason Tran (Willow Tree Psychology and Wellbeing) and Esther Fidock (The Neuro Nurture Collective); speech therapist Kate Mulheron (Perspectives Speech Therapy); Tammie Sinclair and Jasmine Deakin (Sunny Spectrum); and Bec and Jaisen, two of Emerging Minds’ family partners and parents of autistic and ADHDer children. They explore ways to build children’s self-regulation and advocacy skills, promote acceptance of their neurodivergent identity, and uncover the ‘why’ behind their behaviour. 

In this episode, you will learn: 

• how to validate a child’s needs without being permissive of their behaviour [04:39] 

• how to build children’s self-regulation skills [15:13] 

• your role in advocating for children’s and families’ needs [19:40]  

• how to support a family that is struggling to accept their child’s diagnosis [24:21]
   

Further information and resources:  

Podcast episodes 

A neurodivergent-affirming approach to children’s mental health – Emerging Minds 

How you can support your neurodivergent child – Emerging Minds Families 

The team around the child: A mum’s story of her son’s neurodiversity – Emerging Minds 

Autism, neurodiversity and child-centred practice – Part one – Emerging Minds 

Autism, neurodiversity and child-centred practice – Part two – Emerging Minds 

Other resources 

The Diversity Wheel and Planning Tool – Positive Partnerships 

How to build a sensory self-soothing kit – Neurodivergent Insights  

Let’s talk self-advocacy for neurodivergent kids – NeuroWild  

Reframing Autism 

The post Working with families in neuro-affirming ways appeared first on Emerging Minds.

This episode of the second in a two-part series on supporting the mental health of children who stutter. Host Nicole Rollbusch is joined by Rich Stephens, President of SAY:Australia (the Stuttering Association for the Young – Australia), and Mitchell, who has been involved with SAY:Australia for the past four years, originally as a participant and now as a mentor to other children and young people who stutter. 

In this episode, Rich and Mitchell talk about the helpful ways people in their lives have supported them over the years, their experiences working with SAY:Australia and their advice to children who are growing up speaking with a stutter. 

In this episode you will learn: 

• About some unhelpful and helpful ways people have supported Rich and Mitchell [0:37] 
• What SAY:Australia provides to the wellbeing of children who stutter [17:24] 
• What Rich and Mitchell want children growing up speaking with a stutter to know [28:32]

Further information and resources: 

SAY:Australia

Supporting the mental health of children who stutter – part one [podcast]

The Time it Takes – The Stuttering Association for the Young Australia

My Stammering Tap

My Stammering Child

The post Supporting the mental health of children who stutter – part two appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Therapeutic approaches that encourage children to behave in neurotypical ways can lead to shame, anxiety, depression and reduced self-worth. In contrast, a ‘neurodivergent-affirming’ approach equips children and their families with skills, tools and strategies and promotes environmental accommodations to meet their needs. This approach has been found to increase children’s self-esteem and confidence, strengthen family and social relationships, improve learning and academic outcomes, and reduce anxiety and stress

In this episode, host Jacquie Lee is joined by psychologists Jason Tran from Willow Tree Psychology and Wellbeing and Esther Fidock from Neuro Nurture Collective, speech therapist Kate Mulheron from Perspectives Speech Therapy, and Tammie Sinclair and Jasmine Deakin from Sunny Spectrum. She also speaks with Bec and Jaisen, two of Emerging Minds’ family partners and parents of autistic and ADHDer children. They explore how a neurodivergent-affirming approach supports both children’s and parents’ mental health, what this approach looks like in practice, and how it can help you to feel more confident in working with this cohort.

In this episode, you will learn: 

• how a neurodivergent-affirming approach benefits autistic and ADHDer children’s mental health [05:53]

• how different practitioners apply a neurodivergent-affirming lens in their work with children and families [11:14]

• how understandings of trauma-informed care complement a neurodivergent-affirming approach [16:21]

• how the language you use can make a big difference to an autistic or ADHDer child [17:17].

Further information and resources:

Podcast episodes

Working with families in neuro-affirming ways – Emerging Minds

How you can support your neurodivergent child – Emerging Minds Families

The team around the child: A mum’s story of her son’s neurodiversity – Emerging Minds

Autism, neurodiversity and child-centred practice – part one – Emerging Minds

Autism, neurodiversity and child-centred practice – part two – Emerging Minds

Articles

A professional’s guide to supporting autistic clients and parents – Reframing Autism

Transforming allied health: The ‘how’ of neurodiversity-affirming services – Reframing Autism

Neurodivergent affirming practice: Helping your clients accept their authentic selves – Dr Megan Neff (Neurodivergent Insights)

Websites

Reframing Autism

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2019). Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC).

Cherewick, M., & Matergia, M. (2024). Neurodiversity in practice: A conceptual model of autistic strengths and potential mechanisms of change to support positive mental health and wellbeing in autistic children and adolescents. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 8(3), 408–422. DOI: 10.1007/s41252-023-00348-z.

Hsiang, C. H. T., Campbell, L., & Tavener, M. (2024). Clinicians’ experiences and perceptions of family therapy in the context of autism. Journal of Family Therapy, 46(4), 423–441. DOI: 10.1111/1467-6427.12467.

Kroll, E., Lederman, M., Kohlmeier, J., Kumar, K., Ballard, J., Zant, I., & Fenkel, C. (2024). The positive impact of identity-affirming mental health treatment for neurodivergent individuals. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1403129. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1403129.

Sedgewick, F., Hull, L., & Ellis, H. (2021). Autism and masking: How and why people do it, and the impact it can have. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. (n.d.). Kids Health Info: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [Web page]. Accessed 7 January 2025.

Walker, N. (2014). Neurodiversity: Some basic terms & definitions [Online essay]. Neuroqueer.

The post A neurodivergent-affirming approach to children’s mental health appeared first on Emerging Minds.

This episode is the first in a two-part series on supporting the mental health of children who stutter. Host Nicole Rollbusch is joined by Rich Stephens, President of SAY:Australia (the Stuttering Association for the Young – Australia), and Mitchell, who has been involved with SAY:Australia for the past four years, originally as a participant and now as a mentor to other children and young people who stutter. 

In this episode, Rich and Mitchell talk about the activities of SAY:Australia, how common stuttering is and what it can look like, along with the impact that speaking with a stutter can have on children’s mental health and wellbeing, and how we can support them. 

In this episode you will learn: 

• about SAY:Australia and what supports and activities they provide to children who stutter [00:49] 

• how common stuttering is [04:05] 

• what stuttering looks like in children [05:32] 

• the impact speaking with a stutter in childhood can have on children’s mental health [10:30]

Further information and resources:

• SAY:Australia

• The Time it Takes – The Stuttering Association for the Young Australia

• My Stammering Tap  [Video]

• My Stammering Child  [Video]

The post Supporting the mental health of children who stutter – part one appeared first on Emerging Minds.

All children deserve to have safe environments where they can thrive. As parents and caregivers, we want our children to know they can trust us and tell us anything.

When a child’s trust is broken and their environment no longer feels safe, it can have significant consequences for the child’s development and lifelong wellbeing.

Childhood trauma, particularly relational trauma, is a difficult topic to discuss. In this episode we talk with Dan Moss, who has a long history of working in support services with children who have experienced trauma. Dan helps us understand what relational trauma is and how it can affect the mental health and wellbeing of the children in our lives.

Content warning: This episode includes themes of child abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. If listening to this conversation brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your GP, mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.

In this episode, you will learn:

• the meaning of relational trauma [01:11]
• how children respond to relational trauma [03:15]
• how parents can show their children they can trust them and the importance of children having a voice [07:24]
• how a parent can help a child cope with trauma [09:23]
• the role a child’s village or community play in supporting them when they have experienced trauma [16:12]

Further information and resources:

The impact of trauma on the child  [online course]

Traumatic events: supporting children and teenagers afterwards  [web page – Raising Children Network]

Supporting children and young people who have experienced trauma  [web page– Be You]

The post Re-release: Supporting children who have experienced trauma appeared first on Emerging Minds.

What makes The Pear different to your average café is that it hosts regular, free and community-driven events, conversations, workshops and get-togethers that connect people of all ages across the generations. 

In this episode, host Nadia Rossi talks with Annemijin, The Pear’s Neighborhood Engagement Officer, and Carol and Leonie, patrons of the café who share their wonderful story of finding real connection in an unexpected place.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Annemijin talk about how The Pear started and the ethos behind it [00:58]
• Carol and Leonie share their story of how they found The Pear and formed a lifelong connection [07:21]
• Annemijn share her advice on how café’s can connect with their community [22:58]; and
• Carol, Leonie and Annemijn share what keeps them coming back to The Pear [25:16]

Further information and resources:

Feeling connection and belonging outside our families

Learn more about The Pear

Find out about events or contact The Pear

ECH – Independent Aged Care

The post Re-release: How a neighbourhood coffee house brought a community together appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode, Miranda Bain describes her involvement in developing the Victorian Charter of Rights for parents with intellectual disability. Miranda is well-known for her work in advocacy and human rights and was nominated for the 2018 Australian of the Year award. She is a special advisor to the Office of the CEO for Courts Victoria and the Chair of the Disability Advisory Committee (DAC).  

Miranda established the DAC in 2014 in recognition that parents – particularly mothers – with intellectual disability were overrepresented in the state’s child removals. She set out to change some common assumptions about parents with intellectual disability; specifically their ability to learn new parenting skills that support the social and emotional safety and wellbeing of their infants and children.  

 In our conversation, Miranda discusses the learnings from the Hopes Parenting Program, which was developed by Tweddle Hospital in Footscray. The program pilot showed that parents with intellectual disability are capable of learning new parenting skills that support their children’s safety and development. Miranda describes the contribution of the Hopes Parenting Program to practice that supports parents with intellectual disability to learn the skills that will provide safe and nurturing environments for their children. She discusses the role every practitioner plays as a change agent in this work, and describes how we can all contribute to advocacy and systems change to improve the rights of parents with intellectual disability. 

In this episode you will learn about:  

• interventions with parents with intellectual disability that have evidenced supportive and effective practice [07:54]  

•  the Hopes Parenting Program pilot, developed in collaboration with Tweddle Hospital [10:07]  

• organisational and practitioner allies in the consultation process throughout the development of the charter [14:31]  

• use of evidence in Miranda’s journey through the development of the charter [18:51]  
• links and accessible versions of The Victorian Charter of Rights for parents with intellectual disability [25:22] 

Further information and resources:   

The Charter of Rights for parents and carers with disabilities involved with child protection in Victoria 

Child-centred and family-focused practice with children with disability  [online course] 

Child-centred and communication-focused practice with children with disability [online course] 

The post Re-release: Improving the rights of parents with intellectual disability  appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Some families are able to revel in the joy of gift-giving, transforming their homes with decorations and festive cheer. However, for many the holidays can also evoke stress, feelings of loneliness or financial pressure.  

In this episode host Alicia Ranford talks with psychologist Dr Angie Willcocks about navigating this Christmas holiday season and finding ways to make it work for you and your family. 

Content warning: This podcast includes mentions of alcohol use, anxiety and aggressive behaviour. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.  

In this episode you will learn:

• About ways to balance embracing holiday traditions and managing the stresses that can arise this time of year [03:47]
• ways you can communicate with children about expectations and pressures that can come up around Christmas time [5:57]
• strategies to establish and maintain healthy boundaries with family and friends and to look after yourself [06:55]
• ways to support those around you who have mental health difficulties and find this time of year challenging [14:08]
• how you can create new traditions to make the holidays more meaningful and personal to you and your family [19:31] 

Further information and resources: 

Connection and belonging 

Supporting children’s connections in tough times 

Connecting and caring for each other in tough times 

Songs for connection and belonging 

The post Re-release: Navigating family life this holiday season appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode, Alisa Hall describes her work as Director, Practice Development and Engagement at the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse. The National Centre was established in recognition of data showing that one in three girls and one in five boys experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18.

Much of Alisa’s work provides knowledge resources to non-specialist practitioners and organisations who increasingly meet with children and young people affected by child sexual abuse. This work follows a study from the National Centre that reinforced the need for practice confidence in identifying and responding to signs of child sexual abuse.

Alisa describes the National Centre’s key messages about child sexual abuse being everyone’s business, meaning that every professional working with children and young people has a role to play in supporting them where sexual abuse has occurred. The hope is that this helps to overcome the forces of secrecy that prevent so many disclosures. Alisa is informed by the key tenets of transparency, safety and trust in providing support for children and young people, and is dedicated to providing resources that develop confidence in these practices.

In this episode you will learn about:   

• how the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse was formed and why it exists [1:54]
• the National Centre’s community attitude study, which reported on confidence of professionals and community members to identify and respond to children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse [5:28]
• the insidious nature of grooming on children and young people and how perpetrators use this to manipulate children and young people [15:15]
• victim and survivor experiences of sexual abuse and how we can listen to them to develop stronger responses in the future [22:36]
• the potential for new knowledges and practices that can come through the learnings from the Australian Childhood Maltreatment Study [27:28]
• future directions in policy and practice in working with children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse [30:39]

Further information and resources: 

Supporting children who disclose trauma – Emerging Minds online course

Preventing self-blame after disclosures of child sexual abuse

Supporting children who have been sexually abused – Emerging Minds

The post Working towards a future without childhood sexual abuse appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode host Nadia Rossi talks with Isabella Hassall, Young Carer Coordinator at Carer Gateway for the Benevolent Society.  

Isabella talks about the often hidden nature of carer roles in our community. She also discusses the challenges of being a young carer, how the adults in their life can support them and what opportunities they can access.

In this episode you will learn:

• Isabella describes what a young carer is and how they differ from an adult carer [1:48]
• Isabella shares advice on how to start a conversation with a young carer and ways to offer them support [2:38]
• Isabella talks about the supports that are available to young carers and how they can access them [4:48]
• Isabella shares advice for adults who know a young carer. [20:18]

Further information and resources: 

Connecting and caring for each other in tough times 

Unmasking stigma: Effects on families 

Managing family health and money struggles at the same time 

Benevolent Society Carer Gateway 

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The post Young carers and how to support them appeared first on Emerging Minds.

With much research and focus on poor outcomes for children in care, it can feel as though these effects are inevitable. However, there are many opportunities for practitioners who have contact with children in out-of-home care to shift these outcomes, even in the face of a complex system like child protection. Understanding how identity, participation and self-worth are impacted for children in care and considering ways to support these elements can help support children with the things they need for their social, emotional and mental wellbeing while in care.  

In this episode, Nicole Rollbusch speaks with Melanie Renwick. Melanie shares her experience of living in foster and residential care as a child and some of the things that practitioners can do to support the mental health of children living in out-of-home care. Today, Melanie works for the Satellite Foundation as a family liaison and is mum to four children. She is passionate about ensuring the voices of lived and living experience are heard to help empower families and improve services.

In this episode, you will learn about:  

• the impact that living in out-of-home care can have on children’s mental health [02:49] 

• the importance of talking to children about why they are in out-of-home care [06:23]  

• the role of identity, self-worth and participation in the wellbeing of children in care [10:39]  

• why it’s important to look beyond behaviour to support children in out-of-home care [23:44] 

• how lived experience partners can make a positive impact on children in care and help support practitioners’ understanding of the mental health of children in out-of-home care [27:44]
   

Further information and resources:  

• Walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care [online course] 

• Supporting the mental health of children in out-of-home care [online course] 

• Looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children in out-of-home care [podcast] 

• A storybook approach to supporting children in care [podcast] 

• Out-of-home care: Talking about mental illness with children in your care [fact sheet] 

• Recognising and strengthening the stories of children in care [paper] 

• Engaging with parents who have children in out of home care: Key considerations [paper] 

• Child participation in child protection system decisions [paper] 

• Child-centred approaches to supporting children in out-of-home care [webinar] 

• Working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care through a culturally safe framework [webinar] 

The post Prioritising the wellbeing of children in care: A lived experience perspective appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode host Alicia talks with Emma, the General Manager, Mental Health Services at Wesley Mission Queensland, and Chloe, a young person with lived experience. Together they have researched the experiences of distress that young people have at an early age. Emma and Chloe help us to understand the signs of suicidal ideation that we can look out for and what we can do to support children who might be experiencing distressing thoughts.

In this episode you will learn:

• what prompted Wesley Mission Queensland’s research into younger children who experience negative thoughts [4:15] 
• about Chloe’s story and how she tried to communicate what she was feeling to the adults in her life [10:40]
• about Wesley Mission Queensland’s ‘Listen. Just Listen.’ campaign [14:45]
• about signs parents can look out for that their child may be experiencing a higher level of emotional distress [23:43]
• ways parents can connect with their children and show they are listening [32:46]

Content warning:

This podcast includes themes of suicidal ideation. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.

Lifeline

Kids Help Line

Further information and resources:

Listen. Just listen. campaign – Wesley Mission Queensland

Getting through tough times

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The post How to support children who are experiencing distress appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this two-episode series (listen to part one), we speak with Ben Shannahan, a narrative family therapist with Anglicare’s CYPRESS service in Western Australia, about working therapeutically with children, young people and their families when they have been impacted by the suicide of a loved one.

In this episode you will learn: 

• some ideas surrounding suicide that can be potentially unhelpful for children and families navigating the loss of a loved one [02:00]

• how to make space for children’s wisdom and creativity [05:00]

• how to help children find ways of living with the grief [14:19]

Further information and resources:

Working with children affected by suicide – part one – Emerging Minds Podcast

Engaging children (online learning pathway) – Emerging Minds

Below are some books and resources that the CYPRESS team have found useful in their postvention work with children, young people and families. Not all are suicide-specific but are related to helping families makes sense of experiences of grief:

• Tell me what happened – Suicide Support Services  
• Rafi’s Red Racing Car: Explaining suicide and grief to young people by Louise Moir
• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
• One Wave at a Time: A story about grief and healing by Holly Thompson
• Let’s Talk about It: A guide for talking to children after a suicide of a loved one by Laura Camerona
• When a Friend Dies: A book for teens about grieving and healing by Marilyn Gootman
• Why?: A story for kids who have lost a parent to suicide by Melissa Allen Health and Frances Ives
• After a Parent’s Suicide: Helping children heal by Margo Requarth
• Grief is an Elephant by Tamara Ellis Smith and Nancy Whitesides

The post Working with children affected by suicide – part two appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode host Alicia Ranford talks with social worker, parent educator, author, founder of Connected Parenting and mother to four boys, Gen Muir. Gen shares ways parents can support their children when they experience big feelings, especially if they don’t yet have the words to tell us what they need. Gen also offers support for parents who may find this stage of child development difficult and ways they can look after themselves.

In this episode you will learn:

• what the term ‘big feelings’ means when it comes to children [3:30]
• what children may be trying communicate when they express these big feelings [12:00]
• about different strategies parents can use to support children at different ages and stages in their life [21:14]
• what parents can do if their child needs further support [27:14] 

Further information and resources:

Connected Parenting 

Supporting your child’s emotions 

In focus: Understanding children’s emotions and behaviour 

Emotions and behaviours: Understanding and supporting children’s feelings and responses 

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The post Supporting children with big feelings appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this two-episode series, we speak with Ben Shannahan, a narrative family therapist with Anglicare’s CYPRESS service in Western Australia, about working therapeutically with children, young people and their families when they are impacted by the suicide of a loved one. 

In this episode you will learn about how to: 

• respond to the concerns of parents and caregivers about children impacted by suicide [01:38]

• support children and young people to ‘make sense’ of the suicide [05:38]  

• understand and honour the relationship between the child and the person who has died [11:36]

• begin the consultation with the child and family [16:40]
   

Further information and resources:

Working with children affected by suicide – part two – Emerging Minds Podcast

Engaging children (online learning pathway) – Emerging Minds

Below are some books and resources that the CYPRESS team have found useful in their postvention work with children, young people and families. Not all are suicide-specific but are related to helping families makes sense of experiences of grief:

• Tell me what happened – Suicide Support Services  
• Rafi’s Red Racing Car: Explaining suicide and grief to young people by Louise Moir
• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
• One Wave at a Time: A story about grief and healing by Holly Thompson
• Let’s Talk about It: A guide for talking to children after a suicide of a loved one by Laura Camerona
• When a Friend Dies: A book for teens about grieving and healing by Marilyn Gootman
• Why?: A story for kids who have lost a parent to suicide by Melissa Allen Health and Frances Ives
• After a Parent’s Suicide: Helping children heal by Margo Requarth
• Grief is an Elephant by Tamara Ellis Smith and Nancy Whitesides

The post Working with children affected by suicide – part one appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode host Nadia Rossi talks with Willow, who was 20 years old when her family experienced severe storms in the Dandenong Ranges in 2021. Willow shares her perspectives as a young person experiencing such a major event, her ongoing recovery process and the impacts the disaster had on her and her family. Willow also offers some advice on how adults can help support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people who experience disasters.

Content warning: This episode discusses experiences of severe storm events. If listening to it brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.

In this episode you will hear:

• Willow share what went through her mind immediately after the disaster and what is needed for young people in the short and long term after a major event [8:45] 
• Willow share what parents, communities and councils can do to support young people after disasters [17:18] 
• Willow offers advice to first responders who encounter a child or young person immediately after a disaster [19:05]
• Willow shares advice to children and young people who have experienced disasters and to the parents supporting them [21:52] 

Further information and resources:

Keep up-to-date with news relating to all the ups and downs of family life, as well as our latest podcast and video releases, by following us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcast channels, and our Families newsletter. 

The post Families who have experienced disasters (part four): How to support children and young people after a disaster appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this two-episode series (listen to part one), we speak with Joanne Donne, a practice manager with Relationships Australia South Australia, about their single session consultation service. 

In this second episode, Joanne continues to describe the single session family consultation process, including supporting the family to take further action in responding to the problem, and the role of therapeutic letters, reflecting teams, and follow-up contact with the family. Joanne also offers reflections on what this approach offers staff teams. 

In this episode, you will learn: 

• how to invite the family to take further action to respond to the problem [01:53]

• how to conduct the follow-up phone call [10:43] 

• about the feedback given by families and staff engaging in single session consultations [12:53]

• about the use of single session consultations when responding to trauma [19:39

Further information and resources

Single session family consultations with Joanne Donne – part one (podcast)

La Trobe University Single Session Thinking

Engaging Children online learning pathway 

The post Single session family consultations – part two appeared first on Emerging Minds.

They discuss what it can be like for children and parents to be separated from each other by the child protection system. They share the ways these families can experience and respond to shame and stigma, as well as some misconceptions about the families they support. Sam and Kathy also offer insights into the reunification process and how they support the families they work with.

Content warning: This podcast includes themes of child protection and child removal. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.

In this episode, you will learn:

• about the families Sam and Kathy work with and the kinds of stigma they face [5:48]
• what ‘reunification’ means in a child protection context [13:43]
• the ways families Sam and Kathy work with have responded to shame and stigma [27:14]
• how Sam and Kathy have seen children respond to the shame and stigma they have experienced [29:48]

Further information and resources:

Standing up to shame and stigma by responding directly on our own or with help [fact sheet] 

Staying connected with your children while navigating child protection [podcast episode]

Centacare’s Unify family reunification services
*for similar services in your state search for “family reunification services” in your web browser  [fact sheet]

Learning how to parent when you weren’t parented well yourself [podcast episode]

Keep up-to-date with news relating to all the ups and downs of family life, as well as our latest podcast and video releases, by following us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcast channels, and our Families newsletter. 

The post Responding to shame and stigma in child protection and reunification appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this two-episode series (listen to part two), we speak with Joanne Donne, a practice manager with Relationships Australia South Australia, about their single session consultation service. In this first episode, Joanne outlines some of the key elements of single session thinking, and how Relationships Australia South Australia has brought these ideas into their own context when working with children and families.  

In this episode, you will learn: 

• what single session thinking is [01:23]

• how to invite families to consider a single session family consultation [05:50]  

• what happens prior to the consultation [08:04]

• how to begin the consultation and reach agreement about the problem [14:45]

Further information and resources:

Single session family consultations – part two

La Trobe University Single Session Thinking 

Engaging children online learning pathway 

The post Single session family consultations – part one appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Zali and Alicia discuss some of the things families, educators and practitioners can do to help create safer body image environments for children and young people.

Content warning: This podcast includes themes of disordered eating and body image. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.

In this episode, you will learn:

• about the term ‘body image’ and its meaning [04:36]
• what parents can be doing early on to talk about our bodies in a positive way and how to communicate this messaging to the adult people in your children’s lives [08:48]
• what resources are available to parents through The Embrace Collective. [19:51]

Further information and resources:

Body Image Resources

The Embrace Hub

The Embrace Collective

Eating disorders and body image helpline – Butterfly Foundation, Australia

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The post How to talk about body image with children and young people appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Nancy shares personal experiences to highlight the detrimental effects of assumptions and cultural biases, emphasising the necessity for practitioners to ask questions and genuinely engage with the individuals they serve. The conversation underscores the importance of recognising and respecting unique cultural identities and practices, rather than making assumptions based on external appearances. 

Julie encourages listeners to approach these conversations with courage and curiosity, practicing cultural humility and being open to understanding the lived experiences of others. The episode closes with advice for parents and practitioners alike: parents should instil values of cultural pride and self-expression in their children, while practitioners are urged to foster genuine human connections, free of assumptions and biases. 

This episode is a compelling call to action for listeners to engage in meaningful dialogue, challenge their own preconceptions, and embrace the rich diversity of cultural identities within their communities.

In this episode, you will learn:

• about the impact of language and terminology on the empowerment and identity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, particularly the term ‘global majority’ [03:30]
• how to engage in conversations about cultural identity courage, curiosity and cultural humility, fostering genuine connections and understanding [13:59]
• the significance of parents instilling cultural pride and self-expression in their children, preparing them to navigate their identities confidently. [27:50] 

Further information and resources: 

We also recommend exploring the following Emerging Minds resources: 

• Positive partnerships: Working alongside Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing fact sheet 

• Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children toolkit

• Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children: A framework for understanding (online course) 

The post Global majority and language empowerment appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Global majority is a collective term for non-white people, as well as people and groups who don’t experience white privilege. These people make up around 85% of the world’s population. This term works to challenge traditional ideas of power as something only white people can hold and helps provide a sense of empowerment and belonging to those who are often excluded based on appearance, particularly skin colour.

Nancy shares personal experiences to highlight the damaging effects of assumptions and cultural biases, making clear the importance of practitioners asking questions of, and genuinely engaging with, the individuals they serve. The conversation shows how important it is to recognise and respect unique cultural identities and practices, rather than making assumptions based on external appearances. 

Julie encourages listeners to approach conversations around language and identity with courage and curiosity, using cultural humility and being open to understanding the lived experiences of others.

Content warning: This podcast includes themes of racism. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.

In this episode, you will learn:

• about the impact of language and terminology on the empowerment and identity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, particularly the term ‘global majority’ [03:44]
• how to engage in conversations about cultural identity courage, curiosity and cultural humility, fostering genuine connections and understanding [14:13]
• the significance of parents instilling cultural pride and self-expression in their children, preparing them to navigate their identities confidently. [28:04]

Further information and resources:

Global majority definition

CALD (Culturally and linguistically diverse) definition

Who are people of the global majority and why it matters (article)

Struggling with money and racism at the same time (fact sheet)

Families responding to racism (fact sheet)

Striving to be an ally to families experiencing racism (fact sheet)

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The post Global majority: what it means and how we can use language to empower appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Zali and Alicia discuss how families, educators and practitioners can help create safer body image environments for children and young people. 

Content warning: This podcast includes themes of disordered eating and body image. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.

In this episode, you will learn:

• what research tells us about children and body image and how the depiction of their body image changes over time [05:36]
• some advice for discussing body image with the families and children in your care [24:19]
• about what’s important for educators and practitioners to understand regarding the research on what we know about children, young people and body image [25:57]
• about some changes in the Australian Curriculum regarding food, nutrition and body image. [28:10]

Further information and resources:

Body image resources

The Embrace Hub

The Embrace Collective

Keep up-to-date with news relating to all the ups and downs of family life, as well as our latest podcast and video releases, by following Emerging Minds Families on Facebook and Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcast channels, and our Families newsletter. 

The post Creating safe body image environments for children appeared first on Emerging Minds.

In this episode host Nadia talks with Tegan and Shelly from the Finding Your Voice Choir, a community choir of women with lived experience of family and domestic violence. Together they share how the choir supports and empowers its members and helps them to form lifelong connections.

Content warning: This podcast discusses family and domestic violence. If listening to this podcast brings up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.  

In this episode, you will hear:

• Shelly and Tegan share the story of Finding Your Voice choir and how they came to join the choir [01:26]
• Shelly and Tegan share the positive impact joining the choir has had on their own lives, as well as other members of the choir [05:12]
• Shelly and Tegan share how the choir members empower each other and work together to make the choir their own [11:09]
• Shelly shares some advice to our listens who want to start their own community choir  [13:51]
• Tegan and Shelly share advice to anyone listening who may be going through difficult times and want to try something new [16:08]

Further information and resources:

Light of a woman – as sung by members of Finding Your Voice Choir

Lyrics to Light of a Woman

Feeling connection and belonging outside our families

How to find connection and belonging in tough times podcast episode

The Butterfly Garden: How a community built a garden and found connection podcast episode

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The post Finding connection in a community choir appeared first on Emerging Minds.

Alan’s books describe his approach to individual and group therapy with men who are hurting those they care about. He believes that when men hurt others, they are acting in accordance with the violence that is condoned at societal, institutional and political levels, rather than in contradiction to it. Accordingly, Alan is interested in the ethical intentions of safety and respect of individual men or fathers, rather than working from a position of judgement or condemnation.

In conversation with Dan Moss, Alan describes a case study of work with Tom, a father who had been violent towards his son. He describes the man’s shame in recognising the effects of his behaviour on his son. Alan describes this case study as a parallel political journey of practitioners and the fathers who they meet with. A parallel journey invites practitioners to attune to fathers’ effective experience in forming connection and to co-regulation. In this way, practitioners can avoid practices that are dogmatic or confrontational. Invitational practice refuses judgement through a passionate interest in otherness and views this interest as the antithesis of violence or coercion.

In this episode, you will learn about:  

• a case example of Alan’s work with a father who had used violence towards his partner and son [1:49]
• an example of a father’s shame after noticing the effects of violence on his son [4:04]
• repositioning shame as an ethical marker of a father’s journey in being able to ‘see’ his son [6:57]
• the development of Alan’s invitational practice and the political theories that have contributed [15:34]
• the parallel political journeys of practitioners and the fathers who come to meet with them and the practices that support engagement and connection [19:02]
• considering a passionate interest in otherness as the antithesis of violence in ways that refuses practitioner judgment [24:33]

Related Emerging Minds resources

Invitational and ethical practice with fathers who use violence (part one)

Online family and domestic violence courses for practitioners

Domestic violence and children: Conversation guide

Child-focused practice in social work: Beginning the naming journey when family and domestic violence is present

The post Invitational and ethical practice with fathers who use violence (part two) appeared first on Emerging Minds.