Tweddle Child and Family Health Service will soon be welcoming a furry team member as part of the residential program. A specially trained and registered therapy dog ‘Rusty the Cavoodle’ will be coming in weekly to spend time with families. Rusty and his mum Samantha are from Delta Therapy Dogs, a heart-warming program that brings the joys of animal companionship an estimated 20,000 Australians in hospitals and care facilities every week. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is an evidence based approach which supports babies, toddlers and adults who may be experiencing disruption in the infant-parent relationship. Interacting with a therapy dog allows participants to explore the development of skills such as tone of voice, tolerance and trust.

As part of Infant Mental Health Awareness Week June 10-16 2019 (IMHAW) Tweddle will be hosting a special event and a screening of RESILIENCE: THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS & THE SCIENCE OF HOPE at the Sun Theatre in Yarraville on Thursday 13th June. The film chronicles the birth of a new movement among paediatricians, therapists, educators and communities, who are using cutting-edge brain science to disrupt cycles of violence, addiction and disease. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this award winning documentary. Numbers are strictly limited.