This information was developed by PANDA’s Lived Experience Advisory Group, in consultation with our staff and Board.
It is designed to support parents, family, carers, service providers accessing PANDA, and the infants they care for.
These principals help guide the work of staff and volunteers at PANDA.
PANDA defines dignity of risk as respecting a person’s right to make their own choices, while giving particular consideration to the vulnerability and dependence of infants and children during the perinatal period.
PANDA believe people have the right to:
- make informed choices that align with their values.
- take reasonable risks.
- feel heard without judgement.
- reconnect with their own strengths and decision making capacity.
- know that support remains available if they change their mind
- experience the dignity that comes from autonomy, self-determination, and personal growth.
We recognise that risk is a natural part of life and essential to learning, independence, and wellbeing. Our role and duty of care is to support informed decision-making, provide clear information about potential consequences, and implement safeguards that respect a person’s rights without unnecessarily restricting their freedom.
PANDA also have a duty of care to the rights of others (infants, other children and/or partners) when supporting parents and making decisions. An infant’s mental health can be interdependent with their parent or caregiver's mental health, therefore PANDA also balance this duty of care when supporting decision-making.
When engaging with PANDA, decisions will be made collaboratively to protect and uphold the safety, wellbeing, development, rights and best interests of parent(s), infants and children through shared decision-making, open communication, consideration of unique values, preferences and circumstances, and proportionate responses to risk.
Read more about PANDA’s position on Care that Respects Choice: