Infant
Massage Practitioner Workshops
Mission Statement
The Purpose of FIRST
CONNECTIONS is to empower parents & enrich families by educating
practitioners to share this communication tool with parents.
Teaching Infant Massage
is a rewarding opportunity, promoting well-being and enhancing bonding between
infants and their caregivers Infant massage assists in the growth and
development of baby's body, mind and spirit.
In addition, it can
bring relief to complaints of colic, constipation, respiratory disorders and
sleeping difficulties.
With Infant Massage we use
touch, our first language, to enhance our expression of love, caring and
respect to aid in the bonding process.
YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
THIS ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION BY BECOMING AN INFANT MASSAGE INSTRUCTOR
Course Facilitator
Training will be facilitated by CLARE THORP, who has a nursing
background with experience encompassing midwifery, psychiatry & maternal
& child health. She complements this work with a qualification in
aromatherapy & infant massage as well as a diploma in health education. She
works as a MCHN in Victoria as well as running a private practice specializing
in complementary therapy & the child bearing family.
Instructor Training
Become a certified Infant Massage Instructor with First
Connections
Training
The Instructor Training involves a four-day intensive training
course in which participants are taught a massage sequence specifically
designed for infants.
In addition, the course will explore the benefits of infant
massage, enhancing the bond between parent and infant, premature and special
needs babies, and adaptations for the growing child.
The participant will be qualified as a Certified Infant Massage
Instructor with Infant Massage Australia. They are then able to teach
parents/caregivers to massage their babies either individually or in small
group settings. On completion of the training course, a written take-home exam
and practical work. Instructors are also able to conduct in-service
talks/demonstrations to related health professionals.
Course
Entry Requirements
There are no pre-requisite qualifications for entry to the course,
however we envisage that applicants are either:
- Health
care professionals
- Have a
tactile therapy based qualification
- Work
with children
- Are
interested parents
Course Content
- History
of Infant Massage
- Practical
hands on demonstrations of the massage strokes
- Sequence
of strokes for relief of colic, gas and constipation
- Appropriate
use of massage oil
- Handling
And positioning of infants for massage
- Newborn
reflexes
- Reading and
responding to infant behavioral cues and behavioral states
- Considerations
- Touch
research
- Massage
of Premature babies and other special needs babies
- Adaptations
of massage for the growing child
- Practice
teaching of infant massage
- Planning
and marketing infant massage courses
Contact details
Clare
Thorp/ First Connections
Ph: (03) 9728 8667
Email: clarethorp@bigpond.com
Web: www.firstconnections.com.au