Clinical Development Institute
RAISING THE BAR FOR CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT
About the Clinical Development Institute
The Clinical Development Institute was established to deliver high-quality, evidence-based training for professionals supporting families in the early years. With a strong foundation in infant mental health, sleep science, and developmental care, our mission is to equip practitioners with clinically relevant, up-to-date, and ethically grounded education they can trust. Our work is centred on one simple idea: when clinicians are well-informed, families are better supported.
Emily R., Registered Nurse Practitioner
"To say this course has changed me would be an understatement. As an RN, I have a passion for learning about biologically normal sleep and development, and for supporting families. Thank you for this program; it has truly been more than I expected!"
Program Overview
About the PSAD Certification
The Pediatric Sleep and Development (PSAD) Certification is the flagship training program offered through the Clinical Development Institute. It brings together the latest in neuroscience, sleep architecture, attachment theory, sensory development, infant feeding, and infant mental health—all within a clinically applicable, trauma-aware, family-centred framework.
Designed to complement and enhance existing clinical practice, PSAD offers a flexible, fully online learning experience, with 60 hours of CPD-accredited education that practitioners can complete at their own pace.
Led By Louise Herbert
Clinical Leadership
The Clinical Development Institute is founded and led by Louise Herbert, a Pediatric Sleep and Development Specialist, Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (P-IMH) Specialist, and Lactation Consultant.
Louise certified in Sleep Science through the University of Western Australia, earned her infant feeding credentials via the Interstate Post-Graduate Medical Board, and certified in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health at Warwick Medical School. She is also a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
A mother of two, Louise brings both lived experience and clinical expertise to her work. She is supported by a team of expert guest contributors whose specialist knowledge in areas such as perinatal trauma, neurodevelopment, lactation, and infant mental health enriches the CDI curriculum with diverse, clinically grounded insight.
Louise is also the founder of Mother Nourish Nurture, an internationally recognised platform for infant sleep and development support, trusted by over 400,000 families and professionals. The Clinical Development Institute builds upon this foundation—offering a specialised, clinic-facing pathway for professional education, training, and certification.
Professional Accreditation
Accreditation and Professional Standards
We are proud to offer internationally recognised, CPD-accredited training that meets the standards required by health, education, and therapeutic bodies worldwide.
The Clinical Development Institute is guided by the values and principles upheld by leading professional bodies, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Australian Association for Infant Mental Health.
Our curriculum aligns with current best practice in infant development and early childhood care, with a strong emphasis on ethical, evidence-based application.
Our Vision
We believe that when clinicians are supported with up-to-date, evidence-informed training, the ripple effect on families—and on community wellbeing—is profound. The Clinical Development Institute was created to raise the bar for early childhood education in clinical settings, offering training that is both scientifically rigorous and deeply respectful of family life.
Who We Work With
Our students include health professionals, early years educators, allied health professionals, perinatal mental health specialists, and more. If your work involves supporting families with babies or young children, PSAD was built with you in mind.
Emily K., Clinical Researcher
"This program was comprehensive, well organized, and very relevant. As a researcher, I wanted to know what the evidence-based way was to support sleep, and throughout this certification I have learned more than I could have ever imagined about the gift we have as parents to deeply know and love our babies when awake, asleep, and everything in between."
Ready To Learn More?
If you’d like to explore whether the PSAD Certification is right for you or your team, we invite you to book a call with our Clinical Development Specialist.