On 25th June we were joined by researchers and practitioners who described Australian research exploring an infant and child-led therapeutic approach delivered in situ alongside key workers supporting families identified as at risk.
Information was based on the article The impact of using an infant and child-led therapeutic approach in providing in situ consultations and transferable learnings to key workers working with families identified as at risk: A retrospective Australian study by Wendy Bunston, Maureen Long, Margarita Frederico, Samantha Ware and Ania O’Brien.
In this webinar, the research team presented a case study illustrating their child-led therapeutic approach and reflected on the implications for practitioners and services working with families. They also outlined how the model supports learning transfer to frontline workers and why child-centred, relationship-based practice matters in everyday service contexts.
Infants and young children are often the reason services become involved with families experiencing risk (e.g. family violence, child protection concerns), yet their voices are frequently overlooked in everyday practice. This research shows that centering infants and children, explicitly and practically, improves family engagement, deepens worker empathy, and strengthens practice, even when time and resources are limited.
Core practice message: You do not need to be a therapist to work therapeutically.Frontline workers can bring a powerful infant‑ and child‑led lens into everyday interactions by slowing down, observing, wondering, and keeping the child’s perspective central—with or without a specialist present.
What “infant‑ and child‑led” means in practice
An infant‑ and child‑led approach complements (rather than replaces) safety, case planning and statutory responsibilities. The approach:
You can read the brief factsheet outlining the philosophy behind the approach, written by Wendy Bunston PhD.
If you would like more information about training specific to this infant and child-led approach, download the flyer on Parkas Plus training below.
Dr Mandy CharmanSenior Program Manager – OPEN Team
Dr Mandy Charman leads the Outcomes, Practice and Evidence Network (OPEN), a sector‑led initiative strengthening evidence use, outcomes measurement and reflective learning across Victoria’s child and family services. She oversees OEN’s advisory and capability‑building work, supporting organisations to embed evaluative thinking, develop program logics, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation practice.
Dr Wendy Bunston OAMAdjunct Lecturer of Social Work & Social Policy
Dr Wendy Bunston OAM is an international author, presenter, researcher and clinician specialising in working therapeutically with infants and their families impacted by family violence. She is a social worker, family therapist, infant mental practitioner and Senior Adjunct Lecturer at La Trobe University. Wendy’s PhD on the experience of infants in Women’s Refuges won the distinguished ‘Nancy Millis’ award in 2016 and was a finalist in the 2019 Victorian Premier’s Health and Medical Research Awards. Her most current book, Supporting Vulnerable Babies and Young Children, co-edited with Sarah J Jones is published by UK publishers Jessica Kingsley Publishers. A 2025 chapter written by Wendy and her Refuge colleagues on Infant and Child Led Practice, appears in the Anthology on Children in Domestic Violence Shelters, published by (Palgrave) Springer Nature.
Emeritus Professor Margarita FredericoAdjunct Lecturer of Social Work & Social Policy
Emeritus Professor Frederico was previously Graduate Research Coordinator in Social Work and Social Policy. She is the Principal Research Consultant Berry Street Take Two Program. She is an experienced social work practitioner and teaches and researches in social work in relation to child and family wellbeing and child protection and trauma and community empowerment leadership and governance in Human Services and evaluation. She has undertaken this work in Australia and internationally. Her expertise includes process and outcome evaluations and action research applied to vulnerable populations and complex issues. This includes engaging children and vulnerable groups in research in an ethical and meaningful way. She is a Director of Odyssey House Victoria and Chair Policy and Program Board Sub-Committee; Director Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS). She supervises Higher Research Degree students in areas of leadership and human service organisations, child wellbeing and child protection and trauma.
Dr Maureen LongAssociate Professor, La Trobe University
Dr Maureen Long is a qualified social worker with extensive experience in the delivery, design, and development of programs in the child and family welfare sector particularly in the areas of family services, out of home care, and working with families and young people who have experienced trauma. Her practice background includes working for the leading Victorian Aboriginal child and family welfare organisation in policy and sector development.Dr Long has been involved in the disability sector as a board member of a local agency and a volunteer for more than 30 years. Her other governance experiences are with VANISH, a not-for-profit organisation delivering services to people impacted by past adoption practices. I recently joined the the governance board of a local community support service which provides support and material aid to highly marginalised people in the City of Banyule.
Waleska ParrinoTeam Leader – Family Preservation and Reunification Response (FPRR)
Waleska is a registered Play Therapist with over 15 years of combined experience supporting children, families, and staff across the Out‑of‑Home Care and Family Services sectors. She is deeply passionate about integrative therapeutic practice that strengthens practitioners’ skills and understanding of children’s experiences. She is committed to ensuring that children are not only viewed at the centre of the work but are empowered to share their stories, allowing the adults and systems around them to join them in healing, connection, and growth through play.
Caitlin KempsonChildren’s Practitioner, Family Violence
Caitlin is a qualified Social Worker with experience supporting families within a refuge setting. She is deeply committed to therapeutically engaging with infants, children, and young people, ensuring they are seen, heard, and valued. Caitlin brings a child-centred, trauma-informed approach to her work, while also recognising and building upon the strengths, resilience, and expertise of mothers.
Top
This event is made possible through the four peaks’ collaborative work on the Family Violence Sexual Violence Knowledge Project. Never miss an event – stay up to date by subscribing to monthly updates!
View all events
