PIRI: Parent-Infant Research Institute

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PIRI: Parent-Infant Research Institute PIRI is committed to supporting parents & infants (0-24 months) to enhance parent well-being and chi

Supporting dads matters too.Paternal mental health can have a real impact on fathers, partners, babies and family relati...
16/10/2026

Supporting dads matters too.

Paternal mental health can have a real impact on fathers, partners, babies and family relationships, yet many men do not seek help through traditional services. DadBooster is a free, evidence-based online CBT program developed by PIRI specifically for fathers experiencing depression, anxiety, stress or low mood during pregnancy or after the birth of a child.

For health professionals, DadBooster offers a practical referral option that can be recommended as part of perinatal care. The six-session program is private, flexible, supported by symptom monitoring and designed to be accessible for dads who may be less likely to engage in face-to-face support.

It is also an accredited digital mental health service meeting the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards.

Learn more about DadBooster and how it can support the fathers you work with:

https://www.piri.org.au/programs/dadbooster-online-treatment/

Research in action starts with recognising how much the earliest years matter.PIRI was established in response to eviden...
14/10/2026

Research in action starts with recognising how much the earliest years matter.

PIRI was established in response to evidence showing that parental mental health, early relationships and prematurity can have lasting effects on infant development. Its work focuses on translating that evidence into practical, early interventions for mothers, fathers and babies.

For health professionals, this matters at every point of contact. Early identification of perinatal mental health difficulties, support for the parent–infant relationship, and access to evidence-based care can help improve outcomes for parents, infants and families.

PIRI brings research, clinical practice and service development together to develop and evaluate interventions that can be applied in real-world care.

Read more about why PIRI was developed and the evidence behind its work:

https://www.piri.org.au/about-piri/why-was-piri-developed/

Hey Mum! Want simple ways to build your connection with your baby and enjoy time together? The Parent-Infant Research In...
13/10/2026

Hey Mum! Want simple ways to build your connection with your baby and enjoy time together?

The Parent-Infant Research Institute is inviting eligible mums to take part in a research study of eHUGS, a free online program for mothers and their babies.

eHUGS may be especially helpful if you have received support or treatment for low mood after the birth of your baby. Through play and simple, research-based activities, the program can help you reconnect with your baby as you begin to feel a little better, or simply enjoy spending time together.

The program includes:

✓ four fun and interactive online sessions
✓ supportive text messages
✓ a phone call with an experienced coach

You may be eligible to take part if you:

✓ are a mother aged 18 years or older
✓ have a baby under 12 months
✓ have started or completed support or treatment for postnatal low mood or depression

Participation in the study includes free access to eHUGS.

To check your eligibility and get started, visit the eHUGS website and select “Join Now”:
https://piri.au/e-hugs

Please share this post to help us reach mums who may be interested.

This research has been approved by the Austin Health Human Research Ethics Committee, HREC/31097/Austin-2025.

PIRI has developed a broad suite of evidence-based programs to support parents and infants across pregnancy, early paren...
12/10/2026

PIRI has developed a broad suite of evidence-based programs to support parents and infants across pregnancy, early parenthood and the early years of life.

For health professionals, these programs provide options across a stepped-care approach, helping families access support that reflects their needs and circumstances, from early intervention and practical preparation through to structured psychological treatment and parent–infant relationship support.

Programs include MumMoodBooster, Mum2BMoodBooster, DadBooster, MindMum, Towards Parenthood, Baby Steps, HUGS programs and other interventions developed through PIRI’s research and clinical work.

Together, they address areas including antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety, adjustment to parenthood, fathers’ mental health, prematurity, and strengthening the parent–baby relationship.

Explore PIRI’s treatment programs and the different ways they can support the families you work with:

https://www.piri.org.au/piris-treatment-programs/

At PIRI, research is closely connected to the realities of clinical practice.Our work spans direct service provision, pr...
09/10/2026

At PIRI, research is closely connected to the realities of clinical practice.

Our work spans direct service provision, practitioner development, and public health and community approaches, with a shared focus on improving mental health and wellbeing for parents, infants and families.

For health professionals, the PIRI Blog brings together research findings, clinical insights and practical information about perinatal mental health care, including evidence-based interventions, digital mental health programs, referral pathways and emerging research.

It’s a useful way to keep up with PIRI’s latest work and explore evidence that can help inform practice.

Explore the PIRI Blog:
https://www.piri.org.au/piri-blog/

For health professionals working with expectant and new parents, having clear, practical resources available can make it...
08/10/2026

For health professionals working with expectant and new parents, having clear, practical resources available can make it easier to start conversations about mental health and connect families with appropriate support.

PIRI’s Download Portal brings together a growing collection of free perinatal mental health resources that can be downloaded, printed, displayed or shared with patients and colleagues.

Resources include information about MumSpace, MumMoodBooster, Mum2BMoodBooster, DadSpace and DadBooster, along with clinician guides, referral pathways, digital mental health resources and materials covering PIRI’s broader programs and research.

Whether you are looking for something to provide during a consultation, display in your service, or use to understand PIRI’s digital treatment and referral options, the portal is a useful place to start.

Explore and download the resources here:
https://www.piri.org.au/resources-for-health-professionals/download-portal/

For health professionals supporting women during pregnancy and early parenthood, timely access to evidence-based mental ...
07/10/2026

For health professionals supporting women during pregnancy and early parenthood, timely access to evidence-based mental health treatment can make an important difference.

PIRI’s Mum2BMoodBooster and MumMoodBooster are free, evidence-based online CBT programs designed specifically for women experiencing depression, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed during the perinatal period.

The programs provide structured psychological treatment that women can access from home, either independently or alongside their existing clinical care. Health professionals can simply recommend the programs, or use the optional Clinician Portal for supported referral, screening summaries, progress monitoring and structured reports.

Both programs are accredited to the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards and are free for Australian women through MumSpace.

Learn more about the programs, evidence base and referral options for health professionals:

https://www.piri.org.au/programs/mummoodbooster-online-treatment/

https://www.piri.org.au/programs/mum2bmoodbooster-online-treatment-program/

The Parent-Infant Research Institute is recruiting mothers and their babies for a research study of eHUGS, a free online...
07/10/2026

The Parent-Infant Research Institute is recruiting mothers and their babies for a research study of eHUGS, a free online program supporting connection and shared enjoyment following postnatal low mood or depression.

Health professionals, community organisations, parent groups and individuals can also support recruitment by downloading and sharing our eHUGS study postcard with families, colleagues and community networks.

Read more about the study on the PIRI website:
https://www.piri.org.au/programs/e-hugs-research-study/

**Supporting someone experiencing depression or anxiety during pregnancy or after the birth of a baby?**Mum2BMoodBooster...
05/10/2026

**Supporting someone experiencing depression or anxiety during pregnancy or after the birth of a baby?**

Mum2BMoodBooster and MumMoodBooster are free, evidence-based online CBT treatment programs developed specifically for perinatal depression and anxiety.

Developed and evaluated by the Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI), the programs provide six structured CBT sessions that can be completed online, at the participant’s own pace. They can be used alongside existing care or provide an accessible treatment option when face-to-face services are difficult to access.

For health professionals, there are two ways to connect patients with the programs:

➡️ Recommend Mum2BMoodBooster during pregnancy or MumMoodBooster after birth, with participants able to register and begin immediately.

➡️ Use the optional MumMoodBooster Clinician Portal to make a supported referral, view screening and assessment results, monitor symptom progression and program engagement, and receive safety notifications to support continuity of care.

The programs are free to people in Australia, nationally accredited and funded by the Australian Government.

If you work with expectant or new parents, these programs can provide another evidence-based treatment option within the care and support you already provide.

Find out more about the programs and clinician referral options:
https://www.mumspace.com.au/online-treatments/

30/09/2026

Want simple ways to build your connection with your baby and enjoy time together?
Join the eHUGS research study. A free online program for eligible mums and their babies.
Interested in finding out more? Visit https://piri.au/ehugs-study

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300 Waterdale Road
Heidelberg, VIC
3081

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