01WHAT'S POSSUMS/NDC?
Built from the science
Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) or the Possums programs are a uniquely holistic, evidence-based approach to infant and parent care, developed by Dr Pamela Douglas using best-practice implementation science over the last 25 years.
The research and development of the Possums programs (NDC) began in the 1990s in response to parent needs shared with Dr Pam day by day in her clinical practice as an Australian GP.
Even today, much of the advice parents receive when they have a baby or toddler doesn’t align with the evidence (even when it’s promoted as evidence-based), resulting in unnecessary stress and distress for families. Families with babies also receive worrying amounts of unnecessary diagnoses and treatments.
The NDC or Possums programs emerged from comprehensive evaluation of all available evidence, interpreted through the interdisciplinary lenses of evolutionary biology, complexity science and holistic generalist care. Dr Pam has published these findings in international journals, resulting in about 
30 peer-reviewed research publications and evaluations to date.
Possums by Dr Pam is a labour of love and is proud to be a social enterprise.
Our mission isn’t to change what’s currently working for families. Instead, we aim to empower parents to make informed decisions with genuinely evidence-backed information, because parents are the experts on their own little ones. We aim to build families’ trust in themselves, and most importantly, to grow joy in early life.
02OUR PROGRAMS
Tailored for you
Our programs translate this scientific evidence into help for parents and training for health professionals. They are the first of their kind, the culmination of three decades of work, and are continuously being updated.
For professionals
For parents
For parents
Additional mini-programs for parents are included on topics like: Being ready for when baby comes home, Baby sleep safety, Sensory motor development, When baby cries a lot in the first few months, Caring for you (perinatal mental health), and Little people + food.
