Corporate information

For over 20 years, Emerging Minds (previously the Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association – AICAFMHA) has been dedicated to advancing the mental health and emotional wellbeing of Australian infants, children, adolescents and their families.

Emerging Minds develops mental health policy, services, interventions, training, programs and resources in response to the needs of healthcare professionals, children and their families. These include online resources, practical books, DVDs, online and face-to-face training. We partner with family members, national and international organisations to implement evidence based practice into the Australian context.

• acting as an advocate for infants, children, adolescents and their families.
• representing a ‘united voice’ on all issues relating to infant, child and adolescent mental health.
• developing relevant and practical resources in response to the needs of children, their families and professionals.
• raising national awareness of the needs of infants and children.
• improving access to support for children and families across all ages and stages.
• disseminating research and best practice approaches through collaboration, events, conferences, workshops and newsletters.
• formulating principles of best practice based upon scientific knowledge and the lived experience of children and families in accordance with relevant national standards.
• being proactive in advising the government and non-government bodies on the mental health needs and priorities of infants, children, adolescents and their families, for policy making, planning, decision making and funding purposes.
• collaborating with other organisations that represent the mental health interests of infants, children, adolescents and their families.
• lobbying for increased funding for practice and research in the area of infant, child, adolescent and family mental health.

• Emerging Minds strives to be a leader in the field of advancing and promoting the mental health of infants, children, adolescents and their families.
• Working with infants, children, adolescents and their families requires a fundamentally different response from adult mental health.
• Mental health issues affecting infants, children, adolescents and their families are considered from individual development, family life cycle, cultural and community perspectives, and in the context of the social determinants of health.
• Strengthening the mental health and wellbeing of infants, children, adolescents and their families through collaborative partnerships with family members, national and international organisations.
• Child and adolescent mental health is pursued within a context of human rights principles (the International Convention on the Rights of the Child).
• Encouraging evidence-based practice through the development, dissemination and implementation of high quality research.
• Active partnerships in co-production are inclusive and developmentally appropriate, to ensure the participation of children, adolescents and families.