Parent-Infant Research Institute

Perinatal Mental Health Servicespiri.org.au

Parent-Infant Research Institute is a not-for-profit Australian research organization that develops evidence-based digital mental health programs, including MumMoodBooster, DadBooster, and PIRIMID, serving expectant and new parents and the health professionals who support them.

Company typePrivate
Founded2001
HeadquartersHeidelberg, Australia
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What Parent-Infant Research Institute does

Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) is a not-for-profit clinical research organization founded in 2001 and headquartered in Heidelberg, Melbourne, Australia. PIRI develops and disseminates evidence-based digital mental health programs targeting perinatal depression, anxiety, and broader parent-infant mental health difficulties, serving expectant and new parents (predominantly mothers, with an expanding focus on fathers) as well as the health professionals who support them.

PIRI's product portfolio includes MumMoodBooster, Mum2BMoodBooster (for pregnancy), DadBooster (recently funded as a world-first online treatment for fathers), DadSpace, Baby Steps, PIRIMID (a Clinical Decision Support System used by maternal child health nurses), and the consolidated MumSpace national platform. Underlying technical components include web-based program delivery, voice-to-text transcription via third-party provider Deepgram, and rule-based clinical decision support logic embedded in PIRIMID. Programs are delivered free of charge to end users and are built on more than two decades of randomized controlled trial research led by Professor Jeannette Milgrom and collaborators.

PIRI operates a non-commercial, grant-funded business model. Revenue is sourced primarily from Australian Government program funding (e.g., $13.6M per 2020 announcement for sector-wide digital mental health programs, $2.5M for 2025 expansion), NHMRC research grants including the STePPS Centre of Research Excellence, and individual/corporate donations. Modest commercial revenue is generated through workbook sales such as Towards Parenthood. The institute distributes through direct-to-consumer channels, embedded hospital and maternal child health nurse networks, and the integrated MumSpace aggregator platform, with growing international research collaborations in France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK.

Parent-Infant Research Institute firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Parent-Infant Research Institute
Legal name: Parent-Infant Research Institute
Website: https://piri.org.au
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2001
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: Parent-Infant Research Institute is a not-for-profit Australian research organization that develops evidence-based digital mental health programs, including MumMoodBooster, DadBooster, and PIRIMID, serving expectant and new parents and the health professionals who support them.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Parent-Infant Research Institute industry classification

Industry

Product category: Perinatal Mental Health Services
NAICS: Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)
SIC: Services-Social Services (8300)
akta.pro primary industry: Maternal Mental Health Telehealth (perinatal anxiety/depression, support programs) (HLALAHAH)
akta.pro secondary industries: Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5) (EDACAFAO), Family & Pediatric Direct-to-Consumer Virtual Care (HLALAAAI)

Keywords

Perinatal mental health
Online CBT treatment
Postnatal depression programs
Parent-infant interventions
Digital mental health

Where Parent-Infant Research Institute is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Heidelberg
HQ country: Australia
HQ region: Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

Parent-Infant Research Institute business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

Government Funding: PIRI is a not-for-profit research institute that receives funding from the Australian Government to develop and deliver digital mental health programs. Programs are supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health.
Donations: Tax-deductible donations from public to support PIRI's mission of reaching more families and strengthening early parent-infant relationships. Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible in Australia.
Research Grants: PIRI receives competitive research grants from bodies including the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to fund research programs including PremieStart.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Freemium	Pay-as-you-go	Free access to all digital programs including MumMoodBooster, Mum2BMoodBooster, DadBooster, Baby Steps, and MindMum App
Other	Pay-as-you-go	Tax-deductible donations accepted from public
One time/ perpetual license	Pay-as-you-go	Towards Parenthood available as printed workbook, interactive online program, or bundle

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Parent-Infant Research Institute product offering

Product offering

Core offering

PIRI develops and delivers evidence-based online cognitive behavioral therapy programs, mobile applications, and clinical interventions that support parent well-being and infant development from conception to age two. Its digital portfolio (MumMoodBooster, Mum2BMoodBooster, DadBooster, Baby Steps, MindMum App, eHUGS) is offered free of charge to Australian families, supplemented by clinician-facing decision support tools (PIRIMID) and mother-infant relationship programs (BabyHUGS, Community HUGS, PremieStart).

Product overview

The Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) operates a comprehensive suite of evidence-based digital mental health programs for parents and infants, delivered through distinct platforms and standalone products. The core digital treatment programs include MumMoodBooster and Mum2BMoodBooster (accessed via MumSpace portal) for postnatal and antenatal depression respectively, and DadBooster (via DadSpace) for paternal perinatal mental health. PIRI also offers the MindMum mobile app (iOS/Android) and the Baby Steps and Towards Parenthood online programs. The portfolio includes clinical decision support tools (PIRIMID), mother-infant relationship interventions (BabyHUGS, Community HUGS, PremieStart), and research programs (eHUGS, Beating the Blues before Birth). All digital programs are nationally accredited under NSQDMH Standards. The architecture follows a platform-plus-portal model, with MumSpace and DadSpace serving as hub platforms that provide access to multiple programs, supplemented by the Clinician Portal for health professional oversight.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

MumSpace: Online portal providing access to evidence-based tools and programs for mothers during pregnancy and after birth
DadSpace
MumMoodBooster
Mum2BMoodBooster
DadBooster
Baby Steps
Towards Parenthood
MindMum App
eHUGS
BabyHUGS
Community HUGS
PremieStart
PIRIMID
What Were We Thinking!

Products and services

MumMoodBooster Free six-session online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for mothers experiencing depression, anxiety, or emotional difficulties after having a baby. Delivered through MumSpace with structured sessions, interactive activities, and progress tracking.
Mum2BMoodBooster Free six-session online CBT program for women experiencing depression, anxiety, or emotional difficulties during pregnancy. Tailored for the antenatal period and accessed via MumSpace.
DadBooster World-first six-session online CBT program designed specifically for fathers experiencing low mood, stress, anxiety, or depression during pregnancy or after the birth of a child. Includes optional partner support component.
MumSpace Digital hub providing access to evidence-based mental health tools for pregnant women and new mothers, including self-assessment, MumMoodBooster, Mum2BMoodBooster, Baby Steps, What Were We Thinking!, and the MindMum app.
DadSpace Dedicated online resource for fathers providing practical, evidence-based guidance for the emotional and physical changes during pregnancy and early parenting. Access point for the DadBooster program.
MindMum App Free smartphone app supporting maternal mental health and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and the postnatal period, featuring mood tracking, relaxation exercises, stress management tools, and coping strategies.
Baby Steps Free online program supporting the wellbeing of new mums and dads. Provides information on caring for newborns, parental self-care, and couple support during the transition to parenthood.
Towards Parenthood Evidence-based self-help program supporting expectant parents through the emotional, social, and psychological challenges of the transition to parenthood. Available as printed workbook or interactive online program.
eHUGS Online program helping eligible mothers reconnect with their baby after postnatal low mood or depression. Adaptation of the group-based HUGS mother-infant program, featuring voice-to-text transcription.
PIRIMID Electronic Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) assisting maternal and child health nurses to develop personalised management plans for mothers experiencing postnatal depression by integrating screening data with patient context.
BabyHUGS Mother-Infant Relationship Program Four-session intervention program designed for women and their infants following treatment for postnatal depression, helping mothers become more attuned to their infant through play, physical contact, and understanding infant cues.
Community HUGS Therapeutic Playgroup Ten-session therapeutic playgroup program enhancing the mother-baby relationship through structured sessions focusing on play, movement, anxiety management, and supportive sharing.
PremieStart Mother-Baby Interaction Program Intensive eight-session training program for mothers of preterm infants (less than 30 weeks gestational age) conducted in hospital, focusing on stress reduction and improving mother-baby interactions.

Quantifiable outcome

13,050+ women supported to improve wellbeing through MumMoodBooster
+4 more outcomes

Companies that use Parent-Infant Research Institute

Customer profile

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Parent-Infant Research Institute technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Parent-Infant Research Institute partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

Austin HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIRI is affiliated with Austin Health in Heidelberg, Melbourne. PIRI is embedded within Austin Health's healthcare system, enabling clinical research translation and access to patient populations for research studies.
University of MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIRI is affiliated with the University of Melbourne. Professor Jeannette Milgrom holds appointment as Professor of Psychology, Psychological Sciences at University of Melbourne. Academic collaboration for research and training.
Perinatal Depression e-Consortium (PDeC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIRI leads the Perinatal Depression e-Consortium (PDeC) which developed MumSpace platform. Consortium develops and coordinates digital perinatal mental health programs nationally.
Queensland University of TechnologysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with PIRI to develop Baby Steps program, combining expertise in psychology and parenting research.
Oregon Research InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed MumMoodBooster program alongside PIRI researchers, contributing to international research collaboration in digital mental health interventions.
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)secondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFor MumMoodBooster participants who opt into coaching calls, some information is shared with PANDA specialists who provide support. PANDA handles information in accordance with their privacy policies.
University Hospital Center of Toulouse (France)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration to evaluate PIRI's successful HUGS mother-infant intervention program, expanding research reach to France.
Perinatal Mental Health Week PartnersminorGTM or Marketing Partner67 national organisations collaborating annually during Perinatal Mental Health Week to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen support for new and expectant parents.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Parent-Infant Research Institute competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

Beyond Blue: Australia's largest mental health organization. Beyond Blue funds perinatal-related programs (including past funding for PIRI's Baby Steps) and operates at scale across all mental health conditions, making it a broad incumbent with overlapping but wider scope.
Maven Clinic: Global commercial digital maternal and family health platform serving employers and health plans. Comparable product category (perinatal mental health programs) but operates as a well-capitalized for-profit, representing the commercial-scale peer PIRI is benchmarked against internationally.
Black Dog Institute: Australian medical research institute focused on mental health. Comparable as a university/hospital-affiliated research institute translating evidence into digital mental health programs; broader in scope than PIRI but similar operating model.

Emerging players

Mahmee: US-based maternal-infant health platform combining digital tools with in-person support. Directly comparable perinatal and parent-infant relationship support category, though serving US market and operating as a venture-backed entity.
Smiling Mind: Australian digital mental health platform offering evidence-based mindfulness and wellbeing programs. Overlaps with PIRI in the consumer-facing Australian digital mental health category, particularly for younger demographics.
This Way Up: UNSW-affiliated Australian digital mental health platform delivering clinician-referred online CBT programs. Directly comparable digital CBT delivery model for various conditions including perinatal, and a competitor for the same Australian clinician referral pathway.

Direct peers

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): Australia's primary perinatal mental health support organization. Directly comparable mission in perinatal anxiety and depression support; PIRI already partners with PANDA for coaching calls in MumMoodBooster, indicating operational overlap in serving the same Australian population.
Postpartum Support International: US-based non-profit dedicated to perinatal mental health awareness, support, and training. Closest international analogue in mission, scope, and evidence-based approach, serving as a peer reference for how PIRI's model could be exported.
Gidget Foundation Australia: Australian non-profit providing specialist perinatal mental health services including the Start Talking program. Competes for the same Australian government funding pool and serves overlapping clinicians and families with similar perinatal mental health offerings.
COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence): Australian non-profit focused on perinatal mental health, including the popular 'Ready to COPE' guide for new parents. Comparable Australian mission in perinatal mental health awareness and resource delivery, with overlapping clinician and consumer audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Parent-Infant Research Institute compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance5 records

Parent-Infant Research Institute financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Parent-Infant Research Institute leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Parent-Infant Research Institute funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Parent-Infant Research Institute M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Parent-Infant Research Institute

What does Parent-Infant Research Institute do?

Is Parent-Infant Research Institute a public or private company?

Parent-Infant Research Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Parent-Infant Research Institute founded?

Parent-Infant Research Institute was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Parent-Infant Research Institute based?

Parent-Infant Research Institute is headquartered in Heidelberg, Australia, in the Oceania region.

How does Parent-Infant Research Institute make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and research Grants.

Who are Parent-Infant Research Institute's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Beyond Blue, Maven Clinic and Black Dog Institute. Emerging players are Mahmee, Smiling Mind and This Way Up. Direct peers are PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia), Postpartum Support International, Gidget Foundation Australia and COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence).

Does Parent-Infant Research Institute have an API?

No public API is recorded for Parent-Infant Research Institute.

What industry is Parent-Infant Research Institute in?

Parent-Infant Research Institute's product category is Perinatal Mental Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLALAHAH, Maternal Mental Health Telehealth (perinatal anxiety/depression, support programs), with a secondary code of EDACAFAO, Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5). Its NAICS code is 624190 and its SIC code is 8300.