Fees

The current fees for the First Touch Program and cue-based infant massage training are listed below.

The fee is made up of two parts: the course fees and your student registration.

ENROL NOW

Baby in Mind is a national not-for-profit charity and as such our focus is on ensuring that our training is as accessible as we can make it. For this reason, we set our course fees to you at the lowest possible price.

The full cost of providing this training is consistent with other accredited and vocational training courses in Australia. However, our organisation does not receive any government funding to subsidise these course fees. Instead, we are able to reduce the final costs of providing this training to students through our fundraising and sponsorship activities. As a result, our course fees are significantly discounted, keeping them as affordable as possible for everyone from the outset.

There is no ‘mark-up’ or profit built into the fees that you pay.

In addition, you may be able to apply for a scholarship or additional fee support to reduce your costs further:

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 scholarships for some students to attend this training.

A range of scholarships are available and cover either part, or all, of the course fees.

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.

As this course is nationally recognised, you may be eligible for further financial assistance from a range of other sources:

(1) If you are on a low income, already in receipt of Centrelink benefits, or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker, you may be eligible for an additional Centrelink supplement to undertake accredited training. As a first step, you should contact your Centrelink office to see if you are eligible.

(2) If you are the spouse (married or de-facto) of someone serving the Defence Services, you may be eligible for a part or full scholarship from Defence Community Organisation under the PEEP Scheme. If this applies to you, talk with your local office about what financial assistance you may be eligible for.

(3) Some of our students receive fee support from employment or return-to-work schemes.

Essential additional costs:

We try to include as much as we possibly can in your course fees. However, there are some additional costs you will need to factor in to your budget.

(1) Teaching doll: $20 – $30
When delivering the First Touch Program to parents, you will use a teaching doll. We never, ever undermine the parent and baby relationship, or their safety, by demonstrating activities on other people’s babies. Therefore a suitable teaching doll is essential equipment for our parent educators.

A suitable teaching doll can typically be purchased for $20-$30 at Kmart, Big W, Target or similar. In fact, good-quality dolls suitable for infant massage teaching can often be picked up from op-shops for as little as $3 – $5.

Your doll is the only required equipment we don’t provide you with as part of your course package simply because we cannot provide these dolls to you at the same price as the large department stores. Therefore, it saves you more money to purchase your own. We don’t see any reason to charge you $70 (or more) for something you can buy for around $25 (or less)!

(2) Student prac. costs

Following the four-day training course, your assessment will include undertaking a student practical, involving delivery of the First Touch Program to five families. Within your course fees, we include the essential resources you will need to complete this part of your assessment: including your parent handouts and baby massage oils to provide to parents.

However, depending on your circumstances, you may need to factor in additional costs to complete your practical assessment. This may include costs of providing tea & coffee to parents, any printing you might need and, in some cases, hire of a venue (though most students are able to source a venue for free).

(3) Other incidental costs:
Please also consider that you may have other incidental costs associated with your training. These are typically the same sorts of costs associated with undertaking any sort of study: for example, paper and printing, and childcare costs you need in order to complete your studies, petrol, etc.

Optional additional costs:

Additional costs you may need to consider are:

~ Costs of airfares, travel, accommodation etc. to attend the face-to-face training if you live out-of-area.

~ Any additional resources you wish to purchase – e.g. books, materials to set up your teaching kit, etc.