Gidget Foundation

Gidget Foundation Australia provides support for perinatal depression and anxiety by:

• Providing support services for families suffering emotional distress during pregnancy and early parenting
• Providing education and awareness programs for health professionals and the community

What does Gidget Foundation do:

• Gidget House offers 10 free clinical psychological sessions for expectant and new parents in person at 13 locations
• Start Talking Telehealth 10 free clinical psychological sessions for expectant and new parents via video call
• Gidget Emotional Wellbeing Screening Program pre admission midwife support for pregnant women at selected hospitals
• Gidget Emotional Wellbeing Workplace Program tailored programs for employees and management to promote engagement and develop strategies for mentally healthy workplaces
• Gidget Village group treatment program
• Gidget Virtual Village Facebook peer support group
• Education, Research & Online Tools for the community and health professionals as well as professional medical contribution to media and professional publications
• Development and distribution of resources to assist parents

Gidget Foundation Australia provides up to ten (10) free telehealth psychological counselling services per calendar year for expectant and new parents who have a diagnosis of, or are at risk of developing, a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder and who:

• are pregnant; or

• have a baby up to 12 months old.
• Support is also provided to people who have experienced a pregnancy-related loss, such as stillbirth, miscarriage or termination, within the last 12 months. Partners are able to access these specialised services as well.

To be able to access the Gidget Foundation Australia
services, you will need:

• A referral and a mental health care plan from your GP

• A stable internet connection/mobile internet access from the location that you will be at when you participate in the video
  call (or access to a telephone for audio only consultations)

• Your own mobile device, laptop or desktop computer with a camera, microphone and speakers (a fully charged computer is preferable but not essential), or access to a telephone for audio only consultations. It is preferable that you participate in the video call from a quiet, private space.

For those people living in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, to access the free services of Gidget House Clayton, clients need to ask for a referral and a mental healthcare plan from their GP, which will give them up to 10 free bulk-billed appointments. It is recommended they make an advance appointment with Gidget House to give themselves time to get this paperwork from their doctor. All appointments and inquiries must be made directly to Gidget Foundation Australia.

This is a free service