Dr Jess Hayward

Jess is an adult psychiatrist and fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Jess completed her psychiatric training in early 2026 in Victoria before relocating to Launceston with her family. Jess has worked in a tertiary health service of Melbourne for over 10 years, and has experience across a number of specialty areas of psychiatry including post-traumatic stress disorder, brain injury, eating disorders and perinatal mental health. In addition, Jess has completed her Masters of Psychiatry through the University of Melbourne (2019) and is a Circle of Security Parenting Program Facilitator (2026).

Through her training and her own transition to parenthood, Jess has developed a special interest and passion for perinatal mental health. She recognises that every perinatal journey is different. It is often a time of incredible joy, but is also often a time marked by challenge, loss and change. It is a time of increased vulnerability to mental health difficulties for parents, which can have impacts not only for the individual, but their partners, for infants and broader family systems.

Jess offers evidence-based mental health care and support from the pre-conception period, through pregnancy and the postpartum. Common perinatal conditions Jess can help manage and treat include anxiety, depression, birth related stress, birth related trauma, mood disorders, adjustment difficulties and emotion regulation difficulties. Jess also offers support in managing pre-existing mental health conditions through the perinatal period. Further, she provides support in decision-making around medications for mental health treatment in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Jess brings an approach to assessment and treatment that is founded in collaboration. Jess works in partnership with patients to understand their unique needs, values and goals and to build management plans which reflect these.

Beyond perinatal mental health, Jess offers mental health support and management for a range of general mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, trauma related disorders and personality disorder. Jess incorporates an understanding of the role of hormones in women’s mental health throughout the lifespan in her approach to care.

Please note; Jess does not offer assessments for ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder and does not prescribe stimulant medications. Jess does not do assessments or write reports for third parties such as employers, insurance companies or courts.