Translating Research to Policy and Practice

All of PIRI’s work is focused on ensuring that research findings are translated into meaningful policy and real-world practice that improves outcomes for parents and infants.

PIRI has played a leading role in national research translation. Professor Jeannette Milgrom was a Chief Investigator on a collaborative, beyondblue-funded national research program (2002–2006) that directly informed the Australian Government’s commitment to universal screening for perinatal emotional health.

PIRI has also translated research into accessible supports by bringing the MumMoodBooster and Mum2BMoodBooster, and DadBooster programs into the public arena as freely available, evidence-based interventions for mothers and fathers during the perinatal period.

Currently, PIRI holds funding from the NSW Department of Health Translational Research Grants Scheme to evaluate the real-world implementation of perinatal e-mental health supports for women in isolated rural and regional communities.

Through NHMRC Partnership funding, PIRI is undertaking a large effectiveness cluster trial implementing its e-screening and Clinical Decision Support System (PIRIMID) across an entire metropolitan Maternal and Child Health Service. This represents a substantial translational initiative embedded within routine community services.

PIRI also leads the Perinatal Depression e-Consortium (PDeC), funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, to deliver evidence-based online perinatal depression treatment nationally through the MumSpace initiative.

These activities represent major achievements in the translation of perinatal mental health research into practice. Going forward, PIRI is committed to ensuring that all translational initiatives are accompanied by rigorous evaluation to assess their effectiveness, impact, and sustainability in real-world settings.