The field of perinatal, infant and early childhood mental health is steadily advancing, with a growing number of evidence-based programs that are making real, tangible differences in the lives of families. There is also an increasing focus on making sure that families can access the help that they need, and a key part of that is ‘scaling up’ evidence-based programs so they are available in more places to support more people.

And yet, few of these programs are available to families in rural and remote Australia. Scaling services to reach these communities is challenging. Workforce shortages, extended travel times, lack of public transport, poor telecommunications access, limited funding, natural disasters and more conspire to limit access and benefits. When it comes to perinatal, infant and early childhood mental health services and supports, many individuals and communities miss out.

This presentation will explore current evidence, policies, and approaches to scaling perinatal, infant and early childhood mental health programs, and highlight learnings from a recent study involving: 1) a scoping review of current peer-reviewed literature; 2) in-depth interviews with national and international experts (n=25); and 3) case studies developed through site visits and interviews with practitioners and parents in Australian rural and remote communities. Real-life stories and experiences of parents and practitioners will encourage listeners to reconsider their assumptions and potential role in scaling, and to develop a vision for new ways to support the mental health of parents and children in rural and remote Australia.