COPE Directory: Information for health professionals and service providers

To help consumers and referring health professionals identify timely, appropriately qualified professionals with experience in perinatal mental health, COPE has developed the COPE Directory.

Purpose of the COPE Directory

COPE frequently receives requests from consumers and referring professionals and agencies to assist them to identify local services where consumers can receive understanding, support and trusted professional advice for perinatal mental health and related issues.  

In response to this need, the COPE Directory has been developed to assist in the identification of services that have a special focus on emotional and mental health in pregnancy and following the birth of a baby. Ultimately this will serve to provide a referral infrastructure to underpin screening and referral practice in line with the National Guidelines.

Listed services will be staffed by professionals with a special interest, knowledge and/or expertise in pre and postnatal emotional health to provide support, treatment and/or management of emotional and mental health problems in the perinatal (ante and postnatal) periods.

What is required to be listed in the COPE Directory?

The services listed reflect COPE’s Company Membership comprising of the professional bodies in primary, maternity and mental health care.

In order to qualify for listing, individual health professionals are required to:

• Have current professional membership with their respective Colleges
• Demonstrate specific training and expertise in perinatal emotional and mental health
• Agree to the terms and conditions as outlined in COPE Directory Practitioner Terms

What types of services are listed on the COPE Directory?

Currently the Directory is focussed upon identifying services for the treatment and management of common perinatal mental health conditions.  Some services listed will assist for managing mild symptoms (such as online programs and support groups) whilst other services are likely to be required to manage more severe symptoms or conditions (including individual treatment or inpatient hospital care).

How is information structured on the COPE Directory?

The COPE Directory is designed to derive information to obtain assessment of areas of perinatal mental health expertise specifically.

The COPE Directory is structured so that consumers and health professions can undertake detailed specific searches for specific conditions.  Currently our areas of focus include high and low prevalence disorders as well as the management of risk factors and perinatal mental conditions that may result from complications.

For each condition or presenting clinical presentation, a range of services are provided including medical, psychological and social support services.

How to register your service on the COPE Directory

In order to gain information regarding your service, COPE has developed an online registration form.

Have the following documents or items on hand

To help complete the process, we suggest having the following documents or items on hand: 

• APHRA Registration number (if applicable)
• Profile picture - passport style, if registering as an Individual Practitioner
• Company logo - if registering as a Public or Private Service/Organisation, or Community Support Organisation
• Certificates/list of your qualifications (if possible)
• A list of specific work experience and training (relating to perinatal mental health)

What happens after a completed registration is submitted?

Once a registration is submitted, the COPE Clinical team will conduct a clinical review and administrative checks. Based on the information provided, the registration will either be approved or not approved, helping inform individuals and referring agencies about your service as a referral pathway for timely support and treatment.

This process typically takes up to 5 business days.

If approved, applicants will be notified via email, and the individual or organisation will appear on the COPE Directory.

If not approved, the COPE Clinical team will contact you via email to request further information or correct any errors.

Please note: COPE conducts regular audits to verify submitted details, including AHPRA registration.

Need help completing an COPE Directory Registration?

Our team is happy to provide assistance throughout the COPE Directory registration process. They can be contacted on [email protected]