What is the Infant Clinic?

The Infant Clinic is a centre of excellence and provides a clinical service to assist with the difficulties experienced by parents and infants in the first years of life.
Parenthood can be more challenging than anticipated, and at our Infant Clinic we encourage parents to nurture themselves and their babies and feel comfortable to seek professional help in times of difficulty.

Who can attend the Infant Clinic?

Any parent or family with an infant who:

  • Feels overwhelmed and unable to cope or is struggling to manage their moods (sad, depressed, anxious, panicky).
  • Is worried that their baby is not feeding well or growing as well as expected.
  • Feels that their baby is difficult to comfort or has sleeping problems.
  • Has a baby who has difficulties around separation or long and frequent temper tantrums.
  • Finds their baby unusually quiet or uninterested in them.
  • Has had a premature baby or a baby with developmental problems which place special emotional burdens on the parents.

Referrals and Fees

Referrals may be made by a health professional but self-referrals are also accepted. Many of our services
are available through Medicare on a bulk billing basis if a Mental Health Care Plan is provided by a medical practitioner (GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician). Otherwise fees for service are based on an affordable sliding fee schedule according to the annual family income. Some treatments are free of charge through our research programs. An assessment ($30) is required before beginning any program. This session focuses on discussing and choosing the best treatment option for you.
HBA pays full benefits for all members who use the Infant Clinic.

To download a referral form, click here

Ways of helping include:

Thorough assessment of the needs of the family is undertaken before treatment. This time is used to learn about the current situation and discuss the most appropriate treatment options.

Brief individual parent or parent/infant therapy is provided. Sessions may focus on maternal mood, infant management, parenting skills, or adjustment to the parenting role.

Specialist assessments of infant attachment, risk and development are provided to families and child protective agencies.

Other specialised programs are available:

  • The Getting Ahead of Postnatal Depression Group provides cognitive behavioural therapy for women with Postnatal Depression and their partners.
  • HUGS (Happiness, Understanding, Giving and Sharing) programs: BabyHUGS, PremieHUGS and CommunityHUGS playgroups are offered. Individual and group therapeutic dance sessions for mothers/fathers and babies are available through the Intuitive Mothering program. These programs address bonding and attunement in families. This encourages positive interactions, enjoyment and infant development.
  • Our Prematurity Clinic offers assistance for families following a premature birth.
  • The Toward Parenthood Program is a unique antenatal program, which prepares parents for the challenges of a new baby.
  • Close working relationships are developed with other health professionals including GPs and Maternal and Child Health Nurses to ensure individualised expert care.
  • Specifically targeted interventions for antenatal depression and anxiety are also provided, including our Beating the Blues before Birth program.


To speak to one of our friendly staff, contact us on (03) 9496 4496.