National Conference

See previous conference information.

Conference Registration

Please select the days would like to attend plus your registration type...

	Conference Dates	Registrant Type	Standard Rate $	Early Bird Rate $	Early Bird Cut-off Date
	Skinship Conference 29-30 Sept. 2012 (Saturday + Sunday)	Members & Supporters	Closed	Closed	Closed
	Skinship Conference 29-30 Sept. 2012 (Saturday + Sunday)	Public (not an IAIM member)	Closed	Closed	Closed

• 'Members & Supporters include': CIMIs, IAIM students, and registered community supporters. Prices include GST.

• If you would like to join IAIM and qualify for the discounted conference rate, please fill out our membership application form first, then return to this page and register for the conference. (If you experience any difficulties registering online, please contact us to register by email or phone.)

Skinship - Connecting Families, Communities and Cultures Through The Universal Language of Touch

The National Conference of IAIM Australia
27-30 Sept, 2012
Sea World Nara Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia


Skin-to-skin contact and touch between parents and young children is now widely considered more than just a "good thing". It is increasingly recognised as playing a critical role in the establishment of breastfeeding, neurological development and regulation, building secure attachment relationships, immune system development and cognitive development. Many researchers now also consider it an essential foundation for social skills such as empathy and compassion. Touch and Skin-to-skin is also recognised by the World Health Organisation as an essential practice in reducing neonatal mortality and morbidity in fragile and vulnerable babies.

Knowledge about how to promote touch and skin-to-skin contact immediately following birth, and also for premature babies ("kangaroo care"), is growing. However, given that touch is so widely recognised as important in many other contexts throughout the early years and in multiple situations, there are remarkably few opportunities for researchers, professionals and parents to engage in dialogue about this critical issue as it relates to family, child and social wellbeing.

This conference, hosted by IAIM Australia, seeks to fill this gap. Skinship 2012 will provide a setting for interested people to explore questions such as what is healthy touch? How (and why) does it work? And, in what ways can be it promoted, protected and restored not only in birth and neonatal nurseries, but in communities, homes, schools and beyond. The conference will also provide space for exploring other ways in which babies engage and interact with their parents, families, communities and cultures.


Call For Abstracts Now Open

Abstracts relating to the conference theme, focussing in any of the following areas are welcome:

Process:
Exploring the mechanisms, benefits or functions of touch and other forms of parent-infant communication & connection.

Practice:
Specific interventions that support, promote, protect or restore healthy touch and other forms of parent-infant communication & connection. Case studies and evaluation papers are particularly invited.


Possibility:
Policies, programs and actions to promote early parent-infant touch and connection to deal with specific social issues – e.g. Human Rights, Breastfeeding, Neonatal Mortaility, Violence Prevention, Mental Health, Environment, Natural Disaster.

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The closing date for abstracts is 15 March 2012

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Abstracts for any of the following may be submitted:

Conference Paper: An oral presentation of 20 minutes, 50 minutes or 75 minutes.

Poster: A2 size poster for display at the conference.

Workshop: A workshop to be held as part of the conference program either 75 minutes or 160 minutes in duration. Proposals for pre-conference workshops (1/2 day, full day or two days) are also invited.

Heart and Soul: Non-scholarly activities and workshops that provide opportunities for delegates to relax, unwind, connect, rejuvenate, play, explore and celebrate.

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Click here to submit your abstract online.

Abstracts must be received COB by 15 March 2012.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

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Conference Venue

To celebrate the growth of IAIM Australia, and our 18th Birthday, we are holding our 2012 Annual Conference at Sea World Nara Resort.


Four-and-a-half star accommodation at the conference venue will be offered at a special discounted rate for conference delegates and their families. Room facilities include air conditioning, broadband, tea & coffee making facilities, movies, private balconies and many other little comforts. Upgraded rooms with additional facilities such as kitchenettes, etc. are also available. Please note, the number of discounted rooms available for conference delegates is limited, so early booking is advisable.

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Download the accomodation booking form

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A list of comfortable budget accommodation close-by to the conference venue will also be made available on this website.

This will be a family-friendly conference, with plenty of activities for everyone. Conference delegates staying at the resort can participate in numerous discounted & complimentary activities:
• FREE Shark Bay Experience*
• Dolphin Discovery Tours
• FREE, unlimited use of the Water Park*
• Day-Spa and Massage
• Tropical Reef Snorkelling
• Tai Chi
• Beach Sports (Soccer, Touch, Cricket)
• A Range of Water Sports (Parasailing, Jet-skiing)
• Whale Watching
• Helicopter Rides
• Fishing Safaris
• Golf

The Sea World Nara Resort boasts a number of world-class restaurants serving award-winning cuisine. Kids clubs, activities and babysitting is also available. And of course, Sea World, Movie World and the Sea World Water Park are on the door step.

Booking and Cancellations

1. IAIM endeavours to ensure all information about the conference and program is accurate. However, changes to the program and conference events may be made. Please continue to check back at the website for the latest updates and developments.

2. Member and supporter discounts can only be provided if you are a member at the time of registering. No discounts can be applied (i.e. part refunds issued) if you become a member after you have registered for any conference event.

3. Pre-conference workshops are subject to a minimum number of registrations. If insufficient numbers of people register for a pre-conference workshop and the workshop is cancelled, your fees for that workshop will be refunded in full.

4. IAIM accepts no liability for other costs incurred in the unlikely event that your workshop is cancelled (e.g. airfares, accomodation, etc). We strongly recommend you use appropriate travel insurance if you wish to be covered for this eventuality.

5. Once payment is received, your regsitration is confirmed. Cancellation of your registration for either the conference or the pre-conference workshops will incur a cancellation fee. These fees are:
~ Cancellation more than 6 weeks before the event - 20% of registration fees paid.
~ Cancellation more than 2 weeks before the event, but less than 6 weeks - 50% of registration fees paid.
~ Cancellation less than 2 weeks before the event - 90% of registration fees paid.