Australia
Master Trainers
Dr Susan Nicolson
Assoc. Prof. Campbell Paul
Trainers
Ms Danielle Atkins
Ms Sue Power
NBO Australia Location
The Royal Women's Hospital
Centre for Women’s Mental Health
Grattan St & Flemington Rd
Parkville VIC 3052 AUSTRALIA
We would love to share with you our introductory video “What is the NBO?”
NBO Research in Australia
Recent publications
Kim Simkin-Tran, Bronwyn Harman, Susan Nicolson. Mentalisation amongst Maternal and Child Health Nurses using the Newborn Behavioural Observations with infant-mother dyads: A qualitative study. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, Feb, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.01.018
Michelle Schilling, Maternal and Child Health nurse, recently published the following reflective piece on using the NBO in her work: “When mother reports panic and sadness, how might we therapeutically support mother and baby? A reflective case study using the NBO” https://www.cafhna.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2-15-1-AJCFHN-June-2018-Schilling-et-al.pdf
Current Research
The UNA Study - (Understanding your Newborn and Adapting to parenthood) randomised trial investigated the effectiveness of the NBO in reducing depression and anxiety and enhancing the mother-infant relationship in a population of new mothers identified with depression or anxiety symptoms in pregnancy. There are positive findings for the intervention which we will publish and present at WAIMH 17th World Congress in Brisbane in 2021.
Baby-AICES - We are excited the NBO will be used in a new trial. Telethon Kids Institute in Perth and La Trobe University in Melbourne will test whether a pre-emptive intervention for autism commenced during the newborn period improves the quality of interactions between parents and their new baby. Research Therapist Michelle Renton at Telethon Kids tells us the intervention aims to optimise social and communication development in babies with a family history of autism. We are supporting the clinicians who will provide the NBO intervention as they become accredited NBO practitioners, to ensure NBO fidelity in the project.
NBO in the Australian Community
Aboriginal Led Services
During the past few years Aboriginal Family Workers at Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) in Mildura have learned how to use the NBO. MDAS has explored cultural safety and training needs among staff, developed local videos and reflective supervision materials to support their work, and has now embedded the NBO in their Early Years Program as “Baby’s First Yarn”
This project will be presented by Psychologist, Kathy Crouch, who works with the Mallee District Aboriginal Services and Dr Susan Nicolson at WAIMH Congress in 2021.
Maternal, Child and Family Health practice
The NBO has been popular among nurses who work in the community, many of whom have had to fund their own training. However, that’s beginning to change. Some whole teams have been funded to train in the NBO at an organisation level, which brings its own momentum to embedding the NBO in practice and to the baby being ‘heard’ in reflective case discussions.
General Practice
A small but growing number of GPs in Australia and New Zealand use the NBO in consults with parents and babies 0-3m. Some are GP obstetricians, lactation consultants or shared maternity care providers with hospitals. They have told us how effective the NBO is, for example to engage fathers or to support successful breast-feeding, but we are keen to learn more about using the NBO in general practice setting and to conduct research in this area.
NBO at Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) in Mildura.
NBO with Maternal, Child and Family Health Nurse during a home visit.
NBO with newborn and first time mother before discharge from hospital.
Building the Team of NBO Trainers
Danielle Atkins works closely with NBO Australia to provide training in Australia and her home country New Zealand. She is outstanding. With Dani’s involvement, we aim to offer one workshop in New Zealand per year.
In 2019 our two master trainers supervised the NBO Workshop, at Ububele Psychotherapy & Educational Trust in Johannesburg. There are now two NBO trainers in Africa, Katharine Frost and Nicki Dawson.
In Australia, three accredited NBO practitioners are working towards becoming NBO trainers. Susan and Campbell have provided support sessions to advance their skills.
NBO Workshop at Johannesburg,
South Africa in 2019.
NBO Workshop at Nelson,
New Zealand in 2019.
Katharine Frost, Susan Nicolson,
Campbell Paul and Nicki Dawson.
NBO Australia Training for Professionals
All Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) trainings in Australia and New Zealand are now
presented as Live Online via Zoom and NBO Australia’s Learning Management System.
Newborn Behavioural Observations system (NBO) Live ONLINE Training - 5-7 JUNE 2022
Bookings Via: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/newborn-behavioural-observations-nbo-online-training-june-2022-tickets-224368320687
If you would information about our workshops please email us at nboaustralia@thewomens.org.au
or visit https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-professionals/clinical-education-training/nbo-australia/nbo-training/