NBO training

Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) training in Australia and New Zealand 

All Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) trainings are now running as live online workshops due to COVID-19.

March 2023 training is booked out. Bookings are now open for April/May 2023.

Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) training is offered by NBO Australia based at the Women’s, the official training centre in Australia and New Zealand for Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) developed by the Brazelton Institute, Boston.

Since 2013, more than 1,500 professionals have participated in 55 face-to-face NBO workshops around Australia and New Zealand.

Since 2020, more than 500 professionals have participated in 11 live-online workshops, from Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.

We hope to train all professionals working with parents of newborns in the use of the NBO, providing new families with the best opportunity for the well-being of the mother or parent giving birth and a healthy relationship with their new baby.

NBO training is available for a range of professionals working with families with newborn and very young infants including midwives, maternal and child health nurses, paediatricians, neonatologists, obstetricians, social workers, perinatal psychiatrists, infant mental health clinicians and family support workers.

The use of the NBO in clinical practice will provide parents with important information about their baby’s remarkable capacities and individuality. It will help parents develop a positive relationship with their newborn child.

To become an accredited NBO practitioner, health professionals need to complete 1-2 hours of pre-training study, three half-day online workshops, and write-ups of five NBO sessions (including one videoed intervention) for review by trainers.

NBO System training for professionals in 2023

Please note: the March workshop is sold out, please see below for April/May workshop availability

Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) Live online Workshop in March 2023

​Pre-workshop introduction:

60-90 mins in your own time. 

Workshop day one

Sunday 26 March 2023, 1:30-5:30pm AEDT

Workshop day two

Monday 27 March 2023, 12:30-5:30pm AEDT

Workshop day three

Tuesday 28 March 2023, 12:30-5:30pm AEDT

Optional post-workshop

TBC

Presented: Live Online via Zoom and NBO Learning Management System.


NBO Master Trainers:

A. Prof Campbell Paul, Royal Children’s Hospital & the Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville

Dr Susan Nicolson, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia 

Ms Danielle Atkins, Occupational Therapist at Hawkes Bay District Health Board, New Zealand

Registrations closed, March is sold out.

View event in Eventbrite 

Ticket Price:  $540 AUD (including GST).

Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) Live online Workshop in April/May 2023

​Pre-workshop introduction:

60-90 mins in your own time. 

Workshop day one

Sunday 30 April 2023, 1:30-5:30pm AEDT

Workshop day two

Monday 1 May 2023, 12:30-5:30pm AEDT

Workshop day three

Tuesday 2 May 2023, 12:30-5:30pm AEDT

Optional post-workshop

Monday TBC June 2023, 5:30-6:30pm AEDT

Presented: Live Online via Zoom and NBO Learning Management System.


NBO Master Trainers:

A. Prof Campbell Paul, Royal Children’s Hospital & the Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville

Dr Susan Nicolson, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia 

Ms Danielle Atkins, Occupational Therapist at Hawkes Bay District Health Board, New Zealand

Registration: 

Register on the booking website

Ticket Price:  $540 AUD (including GST).

Further information

NBO Australia at the Women’s provides NBO training at various venues around Australia and New Zealand, and also online via Zoom and the NBO Online Learning Portal.

Typically with face-to-face training, two to three members of the NBO Australia training team work with groups of 35 to 45 professionals.

For live online workshops, we will have three to four members of the NBO Australia training team present throughout each workshop to ensure a highly interactive training experience and up to 50 professionals.

After completing the NBO workshop, we hope you practise and apply the NBO system in your everyday practice, gaining confidence in its application, and a sense of how powerful this tool can be for both clinicians and families alike.

Once you feel confident:

  • Undertake and record five sessions on the NBO Recording Form with completed parent feedback questionnaires.
  • Record one video of your NBO session (with family's consent).
  • Self-reflect on your experience using the NBO in your practice.

Try and incorporate just one NBO session a week and you’ll be there in no time.

Once everything has been received, it will be reviewed by our Master Trainers, and a formal letter with feedback and Certificate of Accreditation will be provided.

For more detailed information on the steps to accreditation and submissions for review please email NBO Australia at the address on this web page.

What does the ticket price include?

Cost includes:

  • NBO Kit and postage (within Australia),
  • Access to Pre-Workshop Module with PowerPoint, Videos and optional further reading,
  • Three Partial Day Workshops (14 contact hours) of Live Online Workshop,
  • Printable handouts for each workshop day,
  • Printable NBO Forms for use during and after the workshop,
  • Post-Workshop Zoom (optional) on Monday TBC.
  • Post-Training Supervision, Record five interventions on the 'NBO Recording Form' (including one videoed intervention) for review by the faculty
Cancellations and refunds

If you book a training but do not attend no refund will be given. A refund will only be available if cancellation is made at least one week prior to the first booked session. If for any reason the scheduled training is postponed or cancelled registrants will be contacted and a refund of registration fees will be arranged. For further information please visit our webpage.

Recommended reading

Understanding Newborn Behaviour and Early Relationships - the Newborn Behavioral Observations System Handbook (soft cover) by J. Kevin Nugent, Susan O'Brien, Constance H. Keefer. ISBN:9781557668837

Attendees of the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) Training can purchase Understanding Newborn Behavior & Early Relationships from the Woodslane website to receive a 15% discount on the RRP.

Please use the code Newborn15 at the checkout to receive a 15% discount on the RRP.

Face-to-face workshops: materials and purchased books will be supplied at the commencement of Day 1 of the workshop.
Live online workshops: your NBO Kit will be posted to you 2 weeks before the workshop.

Where can I get more information?

Contact us for further information on NBO training in Australia.

Email queries: nboaustralia@thewomens.org.au