Dr Carol Newnham

Carol is a neuropsychologist and teacher committed to improving outcomes for babies born prematurely. She has extensively investigated the development of premature babies from birth to two years of age for her PhD and recently developed an evidenced-based, hospital intervention program for mothers of premmies. In three randomized controlled trials this program was found to improve outcomes for premature babies, most notably their brain development at 40 weeks of gestation. Brain plasticity is the core foundation of Carol’s work which includes publishing Premiepress, her role as expert consultant and writing for Raising Premmies (Raising Children Network), and research at The Parent-Infant Research Institute at Austin Health.  Until recently, Carol also led the team at ReadyStepGrow, a Melbourne-based charity that offers research-informed education and support programs to parents of prems.

Carol is a much sought after speaker for her expertise with prematurity and holds professional memberships with The Australian Psychological Society and World Association for Infant Mental Health.