title: BUILDING A WORKFORCE COMPETENCY-BASED TRAINING PROGRAM IN INFANT/EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH.
abstract: This article describes findings from a project conducted in Western Australia (Mental Health Commission WA, 2015) that investigated the education and training needs of the Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health (I/ECMH) workforce. We examined international training programs and models of delivery in infant mental health, including a review of the current training available in Australia. Data collected from over 60 interviews were analyzed, and a staged delivery model for I/ECMH training and supervision that aligned with the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (2014) Competency Guidelines was recommended. These findings led to the purchase of the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (2014) for use in Western Australia. In a very short time, use of the Michigan Competency Framework by the Australian Association for Infant Mental Health West Australian Branch Incorporated has begun to change the training and education opportunities for upskilling the infant and early childhood workforce in Western Australia. It has resulted in a map to guide and develop training in the I/ECMH field for individual practitioners and professionals as well as for workplaces that will ultimately benefit Western Australian infants, young children, and their families during the perinatal period and in the early years.
authors.affiliation: Edith Cowan University, Joondalup.
authors.forename: Lynn E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Priddis
authors.affiliation: Edith Cowan University, Perth.
authors.forename: Rochelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matacz
authors.affiliation: Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weatherston
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D038622:Internationality; D008603:Mental Health / Q000193:education*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D014904:Western Australia
keywords: Ausbildung; Bildung; Mitarbeiter; early childhood; educación; education; entrenamiento; force de travail; formation; frühe Kindheit; fuerza laboral; infant mental health; petite enfance; salud mental infantil; santé mentale du nourrisson; seelische Gesundheit von Säuglingen; temprana niñez; training; workforce; éducation; 乳幼児精神保健; 労働力; 勞動員工; 培訓; 幼兒心理健康; 幼兒期; 教育; 早期児童期; 訓練