PAEDIATRIC MENTAL HELP FOR CHILDREN OF DEFENCE PERSONNEL, VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS Psychosocial research translated into teaching resources
Filmed in Armidale, New South Wales | November 2024
Dr Marg Rogers is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at University of New England (UNE) in Armidale, New South Wales. She is a prominent figure in early childhood education New South Wales, and is also a Post Doctoral Fellow at the Manna Institute, a mental health research organisation within the regional university network across Australia, that is building place based research capacity to improve the mental health of regional, rural and remote Australia.
Dr Rogers has taught across all areas of education: early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary. She researches marginalised voices within families and education, especially in regional, rural and remote communities.
Many Australian Defence Force (ADF) members reside in rural, regional, and remote (RRR) communities, creating significant challenges for their families regarding mental health service access. With 30% of current ADF members living in these areas, families often endure waiting lists for specialised care, which is typically located in metropolitan settings. As a result, children in these families frequently witness trauma, leading to potential mental health issues.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Dr Rogers on her research focusing on paediatric mental health, specifically developing early intervention psychosocial resources for children from veterans, defence families, and first responders.
Dr. Rogers emphasises the need for increased support and resources for these families, advocating for flexible, accessible care that moves with them, including telehealth options. Her work includes developing printed and digital storybooks based on children’s narratives to help families cope with issues like moral injury.
The impact of her work, has also garnered interest overseas, in collaborative efforts with Canadian and UK institutions who are further enhancing these resources for affected families in their own countries.
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Contrasting Population Needs and Alternative Funding Models
Dr Jaspreet Saini is a GP with a decade of experience, practicing in West Pennant Hills and Rooty Hill, New South Wales. He began his medical journey at Monash University, followed by internships and residency at Blacktown Hospital, in Western Sydney. Instead of confining himself to a single specialty, he pursued general practice to explore various facets of medicine.
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Warning signs of substance abuse and addiction
Tara Hurster, is the CEO of The TARA Clinic and a psychologist who started working within the area of addiction in 2010. The TARA clinic, short for Therapeutic Addiction Recovery Assistance, recently started offering online programs to overcome and recover from addiction.
Tara spoke with Australian Health Journal about the early warning signs of anxiety and stress in health staff and executives, including irritability, changes in sleep patterns and diet leading to more serious mental health decline. These behaviours and symptoms increase the risk of substance abuse that could take the form of excessive smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use, porn, sex and gambling.
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The desire for primary care nurses to do more, be recognised and valued for the work they do
Denise Lyons is a highly experienced nurse with over 40 years in the profession, including more than 25 years dedicated to primary care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the United States in 1985 and, in 2012, became an endorsed Nurse Practitioner in Australia. Currently, she serves as a primary care Nurse Practitioner in General Practice in Newcastle, where she is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care that improves the health and wellbeing of her community.
