In 2021, the Australian Government released The National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy – a landmark occasion which, for the very first time, set out a mental health and wellbeing strategy specifically for children from birth through to 12 years of age. At the heart of this strategy are principles guiding mental health service delivery for children that is:
- Child-centred
- Needs based, and
- Where programs and services are developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive and treat children in the context of families and communities.
Psychologists in Australia have a responsibility to develop and align service delivery for children with the evolving socio-political context.
This webinar aims to support participants to transform their child psychology practice from a focus on diagnosis and pathology to a needs-based approach. Further, it will introduce play therapy as an effective child-centred, developmentally appropriate and neurobiologically sensitive intervention for children.
Grounded in the principles of The National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, this workshop will offer theoretical frameworks for needs-based case conceptualisation and intervention for children, and the broader settings in which they live, learn and play.
Learning Outcomes
- Articulate the 8 key principles of The National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2021)
- Enhance skills in conceptualising children’s therapeutic needs through a needs-based approach
- Identify changes relevant to participant’s work context that enhances child-centred and needs based service delivery for children (e.g. processes, policies, practices).
About our presenter: Katherine Olejniczak
Katherine Olejniczak is Director of Psychology and Play Therapy Australia. She is an experienced psychologist, play therapist, supervisor, trainer, consultant, mentor and leader, and a published author. She is committed to the growth of play therapy in Australia and is a respected leader in this field.
Katherine’s clinical interest areas include childhood trauma and recovery; play therapy; and interpersonal neuroscience. She has extensive experience in the provision of counselling and play therapy to children, young people and families in the areas of abuse related trauma, family violence, grief and loss, and drought and bushfire disaster recovery. She has worked extensively with children, young people and their families involved with child safety services and living in out of home care (i.e. foster care, kinship care, therapeutic residential care).
In the supervision and leadership space, Katherine is particularly passionate about supporting development of therapist’s identity; and promoting neuroscience-informed, relationship-oriented leadership practices.
Webinar timing: 7:00 – 8:00 pm AEST
Access to the recording of this webinar: A recording of this webinar will be available through the CPD Webinar Library, but for the best experience and the opportunity to ask your questions, join us live. Everyone who registers will be advised via email as soon as the recording is available. Members have unlimited access to the recording, and non-members will have access for 6 months.