The NDC Rural Scholarship Program for accreditation in Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC or 'The Possums Programs')

NDC offers health professionals innovative clinical tools and a wealth of resources for assisting parents with breastfeeding, sleep, unsettled infant behaviour and mental health challenges. The NDC Rural program provides an opportunity for registered health professionals working in rural and remote areas to apply for a scholarship that covers the cost of completing their NDC Accreditation (valued up to $1200). If you have been successful in your application for a scholarship, please use your discount code to access the program. Alternatively, refer to the below details if you would like to submit an application or find out more. We'd love you to join us!

Who is eligible? 

These scholarships are available to a variety of registered health professionals who work in the perinatal space and rural and remote Australia (Modified Monash Model categories MM3 to MM7), including (but not limited to):

• General Practitioners
• Midwives
• Obstetricians
• Paediatricians
• Registered Nurses
• Child and Family Health Nurses
• IBCLCs with a background as a registered health professional
• Psychologists
• Speech Pathologists
• Social Workers

How to apply

We are currently accepting applications for the scholarship program. Intake rounds for the remainder of the program will be held every 3 months. Closing dates for remaining rounds are as follows:

• Friday 9 December 2022
• Friday 10 March 2023
• Friday 9 June 2023

Applicants will be notified of the outcome within one week of the deadline. However, you can apply any time. Where we have capacity, your application may be reviewed earlier.

You can access the application form here. If you would like further information, please email our NDC Rural Project Manager. 

Further information about NDC Accreditation

NDC is an integrated and evidence-based approach to the care of babies and their families. It has been developed, peer reviewed, and published over the past 15 years from an integration of the research across the fields of neuroscience and medical science, lactation science, the psychology of attachment, evolutionary medicine, and applied functional contextualism. We invite you to become part of a groundbreaking, evidence-based movement for change in early life care! 

There are three steps to becoming an NDC accredited practitioner (download the flowchart here). 

1. Completion of pre-requisite Introductory Workshops: "Evidence-based care of mothers and babies" and "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health" currently available online;
2. Complete the recorded Masterclasses Online; 
3. Completion of NDC Accreditation Pathway.

Through the NDC Accreditation Pathway you'll have access to:

Content

• On completion of the education component, Live NDC Rural Network Hours, facilitated by NDC Education team to support your application of the NDC apporach in your practice.
• Live NDC Network Hours hosted weekly, facilitated by our Educators via Zoom videoconferencing. These are available for support and case discussion whenever you want to tune in (attend a minimum of 12 hours to become accredited). 
• Closed NDC Network Facebook pages for health professional peer support
• Masterclass workbook
• NDC clinical tools including videos and sets of photographs for use in your consultations
• NDC parent handouts
• Practice set-up list
• Research publications detailing the NDC evidence-base
• Powerpoints of presentations by Dr Pamela Douglas (2015 onwards)
• 12 hours of videoed presentations of evidence-update ("New Clinical Tools: Mood, Breastfeeds, Sleep and Crying- the Possums' Conference" February 2017)
• Multi-choice exam pre and post-course
• Four hours of Clinical Observations conducted by Dr Pamela Douglas via Zoom  

On completion, you'll receive

• Logo use and credentialling document: NDC Accredited Practitioner
• Promotion of your name, your website and your location on possumsonline.com
• The option of renewing your accreditation
• The option of licensing the right to set up a Possums Clinic.

CPD Points – NDC Accreditation

CPD points have been confirmed for the new triennium (24/4/2020-31/12/2022) from the RACGP, ACRRM and ACM as highlighted below.

Consolidation of Advanced Clinical Skills in the Management of Breastfeeding Problems

Consolidation of Advanced Clinical Skills in the Management of Infant Cry-Fuss and Sleep Problems