We are a trusted community group advocating for empowered birth.

About Us

Welcome to Better Births Illawarra (BBI), a dynamic volunteer community organisation advocating for every woman and birthing parent to access an empowered birth free from trauma. We address antenatal and postnatal depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder through advocacy, evidence-based education programs, events, and connecting parents with each other.

Our Grassroots Beginnings

Our journey began eight years ago on Dharawal Country, Wollongong where a group of us got together and shared our birth experiences. We noticed that those supported by a known midwife had better health outcomes, feeling mentally, physically, and psychologically healthier. This realisation fueled our dedication to ensuring every woman and her family access empowered birth through continuity of midwifery care models and respectful maternity care and building an informed community.

Identifying the Gap

We identified a stark gap in health outcomes for local women, largely based on the maternity care model they accessed. Those in fragmented hospital care often experienced traumatic births, inconsistent information, and lack of informed consent, while women supported by a known midwife through pregnancy, birth and postpartum in the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) had significantly better outcomes with less interventions at birth, less birth trauma and better mental health. With 7 in 10 women missing out on this gold standard care, we came together to address this inequity and the alarming rates of birth trauma.

Our Collaborative Approach

Transformational change only happens in relationship. We partner with other consumer organisations, industry bodies such as the Australian College of Midwives, researchers, on the ground midwives, and other health professionals across Australia. We are key stakeholders in local, state and Federal advisory groups and alliances including the NSW Maternity Services Alliance and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Friends of Maternal Health.

We work constructively with the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District, the NSW Minister of Health, and NSW Health to amplify the voices of parents and achieve the best outcomes for families.

Our Commitment

BBI is committed to standing with our community to ensure access to gold standard care. We believe that by being bold in our vision and working together, we can create a future where every birth is a positive and empowering experience.

 
 

Our work is conducted on what always was and always will be Aboriginal land — the Countries of the Wodi Wodi, Wandi Wandandian, Dharawal, Yuin of the Yuin Nation. Our work is committed to justice for all people including the sovereignty of First Nations people, knowledge systems and practices. In our work, we commit to reverence, healing, respect, responsibility and reciprocity with all beings, the land, sky, seas and waterways and pay our deepest respect to Elders past, present and emerging.