Growing Tasmania’s perinatal mental health workforce

The Tasmanian Government is delivering on its 2025 election commitment to expand access to vital perinatal mental health services across the State.

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Bridget Archer, said the Government is supporting mental health professionals to undertake perinatal mental health training through a new partnership with Gidget Foundation Australia.

“This important partnership will boost the availability of specialist support for Tasmanian families,” Minister Archer said.

“Eight allied health professionals – including clinical psychologists, general psychologists, mental health social workers, and mental health occupational therapists – will be supported to undertake a Graduate Diploma in Perinatal Mental Health.

“As part of the program, clinicians will undergo paid integrated placements within Gidget Foundation Australia services in Tasmania where they will engage in supervised practice and professional development.”

Minister Archer said this commitment will lead to more specialised support for Tasmanian parents and babies.

“This is an important investment in Tasmania’s mental health workforce that will enable practitioners to advance their careers in perinatal mental health and provide more essential support to Tasmanian parents and bubs,” Minister Archer said.

“We are delivering for Tasmania through our partnership with Gidget Foundation Australia.”

Each year for the next four years, two mental health professionals will undertake the graduate diploma with integrated paid placements in Gidget Foundation Australia services.

“As part of these placements, trainees will be involved in providing compassionate, evidence-based services to families across Tasmania via a flexible model combining face-to-face and telehealth delivery,” Minister Archer said.

Gidget Foundation Australia Director of Workforce Strategy, Eliza Pike, said the Foundation sees the demand for perinatal mental health support rise year-on-year.

“The Gidget Foundation Australia supported 149% more clients in Tasmania in FY2025 than in FY2024,” Ms Pike said.

“It is essential we have qualified perinatal mental health clinicians to meet this growing demand to address the critical needs of the individuals impacted.

"We are deeply grateful to the Tasmanian Government for their generous commitment and support. This funding will ensure over 1,000 bulk billed appointments are being delivered to Tasmanian families over the next 4 years.”

Gidget Foundation Australia provides bulk billed, perinatal face-to-face and telehealth psychological support for expectant and new parents, and support for women and their partners who have experienced birth trauma, pregnancy related loss, or are going through assisted reproduction.

Mental health practitioners can apply for the Tasmanian Government-funded positions now, to begin the Graduate Diploma in early 2026.

More information is available at Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Training and Development Institute.