Module 1: Kimberley Mum’s Mood Scale

Ensuring the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers during pregnancy and postpartum is crucial, not just for them but also for their children, families, and communities. 

The Kimberley Mum's Mood Scale (KMMS) was developed in Western Australia (WA) between 2012 and 2014 to address concerns about the effectiveness of existing perinatal mental health screening practices for Aboriginal women in the Kimberley region. Through extensive consultation with Aboriginal women, health professionals from both Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and WA Health, the KMMS was created as a two-part tool. It emphasises the importance of building trust, allowing time for conversations, completing assessments collaboratively, and taking a strengths-based approach to follow-up care. 

The KMMS isn't just a screening tool; it represents an approach to perinatal care that recognises the holistic wellbeing of the mother, including her social, emotional, and mental health alongside her physical health and that of her baby. 

The module you’re about to complete was created by Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) in 2019, and is used with their permission. If you’d like more information about KAMS, you can visit their website here. 

The goal of this online module is to equip midwives, child health nurses, and Aboriginal Health Practitioners with the skills needed to identify and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who may be at risk of mental health issues during pregnancy or early motherhood. It gives detailed guidance on conducting routine psychosocial assessments using the Kimberley Mum’s Mood Scale, which involves screening for depression or anxiety symptoms and evaluating psychosocial risk and protective factors through conversations. 

The module also covers how to follow up and refer individuals appropriately and underscores the importance of providing psychosocial care. Additionally, the module includes downloadable forms for use during the KMMS screening process. 

Learning objectives

• To provide the learner with an overview and understanding of the Kimberley Mum’s Mood Scale (KMMS).
• To improve confidence and skill of staff supporting First Nation families in terms of the practical implementation of the Kimberley Mum’s Mood Scale (KMMS). 

IMPORTANT: Accessing the module

The 'Start module' button will open a new window and take you to the Emerging Minds website. If this is your first time on their site, you’ll need to create a login before accessing the module. 

Please download the PDF instructions to guide you in setting up your Emerging Minds login, opening the module and printing your results.

Once you've completed the module and saved a copy of your results, close that browser window and then select the 'Return to course profile page' button below.

Technical requirements

This module uses audio, so you will need to use a computer or device that can support this.

You’ll need a reliable internet connection. It is recommended to use the latest version of your browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. 

Progress tracking

Your progress will be automatically tracked on the Emerging Minds website.  

Troubleshooting tips

If videos are not playing, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser.

Learning activities and assessment

The module has several built-in questions to check your understanding as you progress. It also includes some video-based case studies to watch with follow-up questions for you to answer. 

At the end of the course, you'll need to complete a short quiz and score a minimum of 80% to pass.