Strengthening Early Years Practice
Specialist Consultancy in Infant Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Early Intervention Childhood Service Development
Alma-Jane O’Donnell is a specialist consultant in infant mental health, trauma-informed early childhood practice, child and family service design, and workforce development.
She brings more than 35 years’ experience across early learning, child protection, family support, health and research. She has supported more than 1,000 early childhood centres nationally, working with children with complex needs across diverse communities. A published author, she combines clinical expertise, strategic leadership, and practical implementation experience to support organisations working with vulnerable infants, children, and families.
Her work is grounded in relational health, attachment, trauma, early intervention and the systems that shape outcomes for children from birth to five. She has led the design and implementation of multidisciplinary child and family services, practice guides, home visiting frameworks, triage response, professional learning and early years initiatives, nationally and internationally.
Alma-Jane works with early education providers,
government and not-for-profit organisations,
multidisciplinary teams and sector leaders to
strengthen practice, design responsive services and build workforce confidence.
PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS:
- Europe’s largest early intervention random control trail (RCT) Preparing For Life – Support Nurture Thrive – leadership role, design of intervention.
- Program designer , implementation and Published paper: Improving infant mental health outcomes in early learning settings for children who have experienced trauma – Perspectives
- Associate member: Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Psychodrama Association AANZPA
- Member: Australian Infant Mental Health Association
Consultancy Services
Targeted Support Early Childhood Education and Care Services
Targeted training packages and consultation are available for ECEC services supporting high numbers of children/families with complex needs.
Early Intervention and Prevention Program Design
Program design support for children and families, including home visiting, school readiness, perinatal support, parenting education and evidence-informed early years initiatives.
Training and Workforce Development
Workshops, webinars, supervision, course lectures and capability-building programs for educators, students, practitioners, managers and multidisciplinary teams.
Reflective Supervision
Specialist reflective supervision for professionals supporting children and families or organisations, in early childhood services, child & family support services, and child protection services. Enhancing practice and leadership capacity.
“Trauma-informed practice is the foundation of a resilient future for every child.”
Contact
Connect with Alma-Jane on LinkedIn
Or reach out using the supplied form.