COPE: Centre of Perinatal Excellence

Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) is Australia's peak body in perinatal mental health, and a not-for-profit organisation devoted to reducing the impacts of emotional and mental health problems in the pre and postnatal periods.

COPE Founder and Executive Director, Dr Nicole Highet, is a Doctor of Psychology, the Chair of the 2023 Clinical Practice Guideline Expert Working Committee, and co-chair of the development of Australia's Clinical Practice Guidelines in 2011 and 2017.

COPE has developed national perinatal mental health screening programs (iCOPE), the Australian Clinical Practice Guideline 'Mental Health Care in the Perinatal Period', plus extensive training and development for health professionals and community leaders. COPE has also developed national education and awareness campaigns including the Ready to COPE app, and The Truth.