Course Information Booklet

To complete this course, you will need to successfully complete all of the following assessment activities.

• Deliver the full First Touch Program (in your local community or workplace) to a minimum of five families

• Submit your lesson plans and the parents’ evaluation of your teaching.

• Complete and submit a series of open-book take-home assignments (including multiple-choice, short-answer and long-answer questions).

Work-load

As a general guide, you should allow approx. 80-100 hours for completion of your assessment tasks. If you are an experienced student, you may require less time. If it has been a long time since you studied, or you are not confident with the material, you may need to allow yourself additional time.

Due dates

The time-frame for completion and submission of your assessment items, is four months from the date of your face-to-face training.

Marking

During the face-to-face workshop your trainer will provide extensive information about the assessment items and the marking criteria that will be used to review your assessment activities.

The criteria we use to mark assessments focus ensuring that you can demonstrate the national competency standards for delivering infant massage education to families.

We apply the principles of adult education in our marking practices. You will also be able to access academic support (via email or phone) from your trainer following the course.

Our aim is to support you to graduate, and for this reason we encourage you to communicate with your trainer regarding any aspects of the assessment you are uncertain of, before submitting your assignments.

Student practical assignment

As part of your assessment, you will be required to deliver the full First Touch Program to a minimum of five families and to submit your parent consent and evaluation forms. This will require you to find and engage five families to complete your practical assessment with.

We endeavour to assist students where we can. However, the responsibility for finding and inviting families to participate in student classes is the responsibility of the student. If you live in a small community, or you do not yet have strong networks with other postnatal or early childhood services, you may need to allow for additional time and effort to engage and invite parents to participate in your student class. We account for this challenge where needed, by allowing students an extension of up to 12 months from the date of training to submit all assessment items.

Completing practical assessment with existing clients in a service

It is common for health or welfare professionals to complete their practical assignment with parents who are clients of their service.

If you intend to do this, it is important to be aware the parents attending your practical sessions will need to complete evaluation forms, including identifying information, and you will need to submit these forms as part of your assessment. As a result, a consent form is provided, and required to be completed by parents to address privacy and confidentiality issues.

Re-submissions

If any part of your submitted assignment does not meet the pass criteria, we will provide you with detailed feedback and request that you re-submit your assessment.

If more than three re-submissions are required or your enrolment period has expired, we may require you to re-enrol in the course.

Extensions

If you are unable to complete the assessment tasks within the four-month time frame, you can request an extension of up to 12 months from your original date of training.

If your assessment items are not submitted within 12-months from the date of your face-to-face training, your enrolment will expire and you will need to re-enrol in the course.

Students with additional/ diverse learning needs

As this is an accredited training course we are required to collect sufficient evidence to demonstrate your competency against the relevant competency standards. However, we recognise that our standard assessment process for collecting this evidence may not suit all students. If you have a disability. literacy or language barrier that makes completion of these assessment tasks difficult, please discus your learning needs with your trainer in advance. We are happy to negotiate alternative methods of assessment for students with diverse learning needs.

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Qualification level:

This training course leads to a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment in Infant Massage Instruction.

Registration and licencing:

Participants who successfully complete this course will be eligible for registration with Baby in Mind, as a Certified Infant Massage Instructor.

Parchment:

A certificate will be issued to all students who successfully complete all course requirements. This certificate is issued by Baby in Mind.

This course is accredited by the Australian Skills Quality Authority. Upon successful completion of course requirements participants will also be issued with a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment that will read “10001NAT Course in Certified Infant Massage Instruction”. This Statement of Attainment is issued by The Australian Institute of Social Relations (a division of Relationships Australia, SA).

The cue-based infant massage training provided by Baby in Mind, qualifies you to teach The First Touch Program to parents.

There are many opportunities for you to use this qualification, in a variety of ways, depending on your individual circumstances.

The First Touch Program is a relationship-based intervention that takes the form of a five-session parent-baby group program.

The program fills an important gap in the availability of attachment-based, health promotion interventions that address the specific security and interaction needs of infants, as distinct from older children.

The First Touch Program pulls together key elements from attachment, health promotion, strengths-based and relationship-based theories into a coherent, simple program model that can be applied in diverse clinical, community and social settings.

The First Touch Program utilises evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies with the aim of supporting and promoting the development of healthy, secure attachment relationships between parents and infants. Activities in the First Touch Program involve a mix of infant massage, use of sensitive/ responsive touch, voice, singing, pacing, eye-gazing, movement and other interactions. These activities are structured in such a way to help parents recognise and sensitively respond to their own baby’s cues and communication, and to support optimal serve-and-return interactions.

A large number of our graduates go on to use their qualification by delivering the full, five session  First Touch Program to families. Many deliver this program in private practice, working flexible hours for themselves and offering groups open to the public.

Other graduates go on to deliver the First Touch Program in their place of employment (such as hospitals, parent groups, and community centres).

An increasing number of graduates are being approached by health and community services to deliver the full First Touch Program on a contract basis.

Some of our students are employed in specialised settings providing complex care to families with significant needs – such as NICU, mother-baby units, and mental illness treatment services. Many of our students with professional backgrounds use this training to gain an overview and a grounding in the use of high-quality cue-based infant massage education. They then go on to adapt and modify the program to the specific and complex needs of the families they support.

For example, some of the Child Health Nurses who do this training, adapt and include elements of the First Touch Program as part of parents groups. Some of our infant mental health specialist students use some approaches from the First Touch Program to support early interactions in the perinatal mental health and neonatal intensive care settings, alongside other interventions.

Not all of our graduates teach infant massage directly, but instead incorporate some ideas and elements from the First Touch program into the range of interventions they already use to help families.

For example, some of our students who are NICU Nurses use the teaching, facilitation and observation methods from the First Touch Program as part of their NIDCAP approach to supporting families in neonatal intensive care. Some of our Occupational Therapist students use the First Touch Program principles for supporting sensory-based interaction to support older children with sensory-based developmental delays.

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We provide comprehensive information about the courses costs and any additional “out of pocket” expenses during your participation in this training.

Once you graduate, you may have a range of optional costs, depending on your own goals and circumstances.

Private Practice/ Business Costs

If you are intending to use your qualification to work in private practice, you will be pleased to know that getting started with your infant massage practice will not necessarily require a massive investment.  Many services and supports you will need can be easily obtained, and you can expand on these as your practice grows.

However, you will still have a range of up front costs associated with setting up your practice, and you will need to factor in these costs when setting your program fees.

As a bare minimum you will need to purchase insurance suitable to your business needs, and to purchase supplies/ stock for your classes. Fortunately, these are not excessive costs, and many people are able to start-up their practice with a budget of less than $1,000. You will also need to consider how to begin engaging parents in your classes – there are many effective free and low-cost advertising options.

Depending on your budget and circumstances, and as your practice grows, you may choose to also consider things like:

• Setting up a website
• Designing a logo
• Other promotional and networking activities
• Software or programs that you want to use in managing your practice
• Costs of any professional services that you might want to use – such as accounting services.

Of course, these are just general ideas to consider.

Before embarking on any business venture, we encourage you to do your research and – where appropriate – seek professional advice for your individual situation.

Ongoing Registration

After graduating, the vast majority of our students elect to stay on as Professional Members of Baby in Mind.

However, there is no obligation for you to remain a member of Baby in Mind once you graduate. If you do not wish to have an ongoing affiliation with Baby in Mind you are still able to go on to teach infant massage independently, with a sound, well-recognised, accredited qualification behind you.

If you elect to take out Professional Membership with Baby in Mind you will be able to:

• continue to deliver the “First Touch Program” in your work and,
• use the Baby in Mind trademarks/ logos indicating your professional affiliation with the organisation.
• be publicly listed as a registered as a certified infant massage educator
• and, depending on your level of membership, access the range of supports available to members.

The cost of registration with Baby in Mind ranges from $130 to $175 per year, depending on the membership package that you select. If you work in private practice, you need to factor this cost into your fees. Many educators who work in paid employment have their membership costs met by their employer.

All professional members of Baby in Mind are required to undertake 20 hours (approximately 2.5 days) of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities per year. These activities can be self-directed. Most members who already have CPD requirements will find that their existing CPD activities also meet the requirements of Baby in Mind and will not need to undertake any additional activity. In addition there are a wide range of free and low-cost professional development options. This means that, regardless of your circumstances, your costs of meeting CPD requirements should be minimal.

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No deposit is required to submit your course application.

Once we receive your application, we will process your enrolment and, if approved, will send you an invoice for your fees within 2 business days.

There is a section on your course application for you to indicate if you or your employer is paying your fees. We will send the invoice to the appropriate person as you request.

Your invoice will contain details for making your payment of course fees. For security reasons we do not take payments over the phone. Payment may be made by bank deposit, internet banking, or credit card/ PayPal online. You may pay your course fees in instalments if you prefer.

The only requirement is that your course fees are paid in full two weeks prior to the course commencement date.

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Baby in Mind works with many business partners in the community who recognise the importance of supporting early infant mental health. Our business partners participate in an initiative called Impact 180, and provide financial support to provide scholarships to attend this training.

A range of scholarships are available. Most scholarships are directed toward existing health workers and volunteers who work directly with more vulnerable families. We also have some scholarships available for members of particular professional organisations, as well as women re-entering the workforce.

We welcome scholarship applications at any time. Applications are reviewed three times a year, and successful applicants notified.

See some of our scholarship programs in action

(Please note, not all of our available scholarships are listed here, as some of our donors choose to remain anonymous).

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When we can transfer your enrolment

If you are unable to attend the course, you can request to transfer to an alternative course. Requests for transfers can only be approved when your request is made, in writing, via the appropriate form, submitted at least six weeks before your course commences.

Requests to transfer to another course received less than six weeks before your course commences cannot be accommodated – except in genuine and serious circumstances(*) that could not have been foreseen. We will provide a transfer for you in these circumstances when you:

• advise us in writing of your inability to attend the course and the reasons for this before your course commences; and
• provide valid supporting documentary evidence from a third-party (e.g. a doctor, social worker, case worker) verifying your inability to attend, within 7 days of your course commencement date.

If approved, a course transfer fee of $100 will apply. All course transfers must be to a course within 13 months of your original training date, and are subject to availability of places.

What if I get sick or am unable to complete the course, once it has started?

During the four-day training course:

All four days of the face-to-face workshop must be attended in order to complete your assessment and receive your qualification. If you or a dependent become unwell during the training, and you cannot complete all four days, we will offer you a place on an alternative course to make up your missed days. You must provide valid documentary evidence, and must attend your make-up days within 12 months.

If you do not make-up your missed course days within this 12 month period, you will forfeit your enrolment.

After the four-day training course:

Please see information about our extensions on assessments.

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We know that sometimes, for a variety of reasons, some students enrolling in our course are unable to continue with their enrolment or complete their training. This can be due to circumstances beyond your control – such as illness or other unexpected situation – or because you change your mind.

For this reason we offer a range of options for you, at various stages throughout your student journey.

Before you enrol

Before you enrol in this course, we encourage all students to read the course information to ensure this course will meet your needs. In particular, we think that the information about the assessment and workload requirements, opportunities after graduation, and course suitability will help you make an informed choice.

After enrolling, you have a cooling-off period

If your application form is submitted prior to 5pm (AEST) at least 6 weeks before your course commences, you have a cooling-off period of 72 hours from the time you submit your application, to withdraw and cancel your enrolment without becoming liable for the full course fees.

If you withdraw your application during the cooling-off period, you will not be liable for the full course fees. Any fees paid by you to Baby in Mind will be refunded. A $60 administration fee will still be charged.

We cannot offer a cooling-off period if you enrol in your course less than 6 weeks before your course commences. And you become liable for your fees on submission of your enrolment form.

We will give you a refund in some situations:

We will issue you with a refund money you have paid to us if:

• The course is postponed or cancelled by Baby in Mind ; or
• Your application for enrolment is not approved; or
• You withdraw your application during the cooling-off period (less a $60 administration fee); or
• You withdraw from the course under the terms and conditions of our Money-Back guarantee (less student registration and material costs).

When we don’t issue refunds

Except when the cooling-off period or money-back guarantee applies, we do not issue refunds if you cancel, change your mind or do not attend or complete the course for any reason. This policy is strictly upheld.

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Do we have a money-back guarantee policy?

Yes. Yes we do.

And here’s why:

If you have an interest in working with parents and babies, we’re confident we can offer you a course that will add depth and value to your work. If we’re so confident of this, you might be asking why need to have a money-back option?

Well…here’s the bottom line:

We want all of our students to feel like doing this course was one the best decisions you ever made. And at the same time, we also know that we can’t be everything to everyone all the time (that would just be silly, right?).

Our student feedback shows that by any measure (and certainly compared to the industry average) our course satisfaction rates are very high. You can check out our student transparency figures for yourself: the vast majority of our students have a high-level satisfaction with this course.

But just because most of our students love this course, it doesn’t mean you are “in the wrong” if you are one of the small number of students who doesn’t love it. Our experience is that it usually just means that this course is not right for you.

And we want all  of our students to be happy. We don’t think that any student in any course, any where, should have to risk money to do a course that isn’t useful or interesting to them on some level. We all know there’s nothing worse than paying for something, only to discover it’s not quite what you wanted.

What you may not know is that this sort of situation (although rare) leaves us feeling pretty miserable too. We thrive on knowing that all our students feel like they have got their money’s worth.

So, for this reason, (along with a whole bunch of other info to help you decide if this course is right for you, and an extensive range of student supports to help you resolve any issues), we also have a money-back guarantee policy

Here’s how our money-back policy works:

We will give your course fees back if:

• By lunch-time on the first day of your training you inform the trainer that you wish to withdraw from the course, and complete the course withdrawal form at the same time, and

• You have paid your course and membership/ student fees in full prior to commencement of your training, and

• You have attended and participated in the first morning of the course (9am – through to lunch time) – we don’t offer a money-back option if you are a “no show”, and

• Your course notes are returned to the trainer, in class, at the time you notify them of your withdrawal(*).

How much money we can refund:

If you withdraw from the course, in accordance with the terms and conditions above, we will refund your course fees in full.

Here’s some more information to help understand more about how our course and admin/ membership fees are worked out.