Established in 1923, Karitane is a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity supporting families in the first 2,000 days of their child’s life.
We have a history of innovation, providing leading specialist early parenting services while driving accessibility and support for parents across NSW to ensure every child receives the best start in life.
Our commitment to supporting Australian families when and where they need us has seen our range and reach of services significantly grow, with face-to-face and virtual models of care and an extensive suite of programs to support some of the State’s most vulnerable communities.
Services Offered
Are you, or someone you know, feeling overwhelmed, worried or sad either during pregnancy or soon after the birth of a baby? If so, this could be perinatal mood disorder (PMD). PMD is very common – one in five women and one in ten men experience it as new parents. However, help is at hand, because Karitane has a great wealth of experience helping families in this situation.
A referral to Karitane’s perinatal and infant mental health service is the start of your journey to recovery. Here you will feel welcome, supported and able to share your feelings with our team. Our focus is working with your family to enhance relationships in a caring family environment. This generally involves working with one of our clinicians one on one, with your infant and also with your partner, as well as with our team.
Our team are qualified in perinatal mental health, have lots of experience and want to help families like yours. Our interventions assist parents to understand what has contributed to their low mood or anxiety or other mental health concerns and support you to adapt to your role as a parent. For example, exploring unrealistic expectations of parenthood, rigid and controlling thinking, impacts of a history of childhood trauma or grief and loss. Â As a parent-infant service all of our interventions keep the baby in mind and aim to strengthen your relationship with your child.
The following programs are provided at Karitane’s perinatal and infant mental health service (Carramar or Camden): -Individual and family supportive therapy -Sessional psychiatric services, including prescription and monitoring of medications if required -Day stay with our child and family health nurse -Parentcraft & child development information -Parent-infant therapy and groups -Music therapy groups
Fees and Payment
Karitane perinatal mental health service is a free health service to the community.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
