The Association of Child and Family Development
Promotes awareness and understanding of the emotional life of children, adolescents and their parents.
About the Association
Promoting Awareness and Understanding Through Podcasts
The Association of Child and Family Development, established in 2003, is an incorporated not for profit organisation. The Association promotes awareness and understanding for all professionals, of the emotional life of children, adolescents and their parents, and how this affects their behaviour and future development. The Association promotes this understanding through the podcast series, Talking Child Development. The podcast series takes a broad view of the challenges to the emotional development of children in current times. Our focus encompasses the impact of racism, exclusion, forced migration, warfare and systemic injustices that hinder the optimum development of children and adolescents.
Podcast Series: Talking Child Development
The Talking Child Development Podcast unpacks important topics and conversations related to child and family development. Every episode aims to provide mental health professionals with insights into family life based on theory and experience in the field.
The podcast is hosted by Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven clinical psychologist, child psychotherapist and President of the Association, who interviews experts including pediatricians, early childhood educators, child and adolescent psychotherapists, infant parent therapists, academics and professionals concerned with the broader issues of children’s rights. From communication to attachment, the podcast dives into the ‘why’ behind relationships and behaviour.
Listen to latest podcasts
The Association of Child and Family Development
The Association of Child and Family Development
Talking Child Development Live: Events
The Association provides training webinars presented by the professionals who have contributed to the podcast series. Forthcoming webinars for 2024 and 2025 include:
Establishing the Foundations for Life: Understanding Key Transitions from Infancy to Adolescence.
Details coming soon.
Threats and Risks to Key Transitions in Child and Family Development.
Details coming soon.
Meet the Executive Management Committee
Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, President
Ruth is a child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist and Director of the Centre for Child and Family Development in Melbourne. She was formerly inaugural Chief Psychotherapist at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Originally from the UK Ruth trained at the Tavistock Clinic in London and was a pioneer in the UK in the field of parent education. She runs training programmes throughout Australia and overseas and is a prolific author and contributor to professional journals.
Dr. Kirsten Meyer
Kirsten is a South African born, UK trained drama therapist. She has worked in clinical, educational and community settings, with children and young people. Currently, she leads a team of creative arts therapists in a community-based organisation, working with children, young people and their carers who have experienced family violence.
Brydie Huggins
Brydie Huggins is a school psychologist and has worked across the developmental spectrum from kindergarten age to Year 12. She has worked within different school settings from the Department of Education and an Independent School in Melbourne to a rural Independent School, where she is currently employed.
Dr. Susan Emmett
Dr. Susan Emmett, Senior Lecturer and Program Coordinator in Early Childhood at Federation University Victoria. Susan has been involved in early childhood education and research for over 30 years.
Amanda Stone
Amanda Stone has qualifications in education, training and child psychotherapy and spent more than 30 years working in education and student welfare in the state education system. She is currently an education and training consultant with a small multi-disciplinary practice.
Emil Neven
Head of Pastoral Care and Counselling Monash Medical Centre. Emil trained in adult individual psychotherapy and group psychotherapy in Belgium and the UK, and holds an advanced diploma in education.
Georgia-May Parker
Georgia-May is a Registered Psychologist and Registered Play Therapist with experience working with children, adolescents, families and adults. She also understands the importance of supporting parents as they navigate the needs of both their child and themselves in their journey as a parent.
