Have your say: Improve maternity services in the Illawarra Shoalhaven

You are invited to a community consultation to Have Your Say: Improve birth and maternity services in the Illawarra.
This is your chance to influence change in the care women and birthing parents receive. RSVPs essential, free entry, 3 hour workshop.

📅 Date: Tuesday, 25th March
🕤 Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Location: Nowra Showground

Do you care about improving maternity care in your local area? Whether you’re pregnant, birthed your babies one year ago or 10 years ago, support women in pregnancy, birth and postpartum—or want to help shape better services—we want to hear from you!

Join our community consultation where you’ll be supported by facilitators to share your experiences, ideas, and suggestions to improve maternity services in the Illawarra Shoalhaven. Hosted by Waminda South Coast Women's Health and Wellbeing Cooperative and Better Births Illawarra, in partnership with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District - this will be action focused to create ways to improve and change current maternity services.  

What to Expect:

• An update on what is currently happening in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven to improve maternity services.
• Small group discussions led by friendly facilitators.
• A supportive space to share your thoughts on what could be better, or new to support women in pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
• Your input will directly help the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District design maternity services that meet the needs of our community.

Who Should Attend?
Everyone is welcome, including:

• Pregnant women and pregnant people
• Mothers, birthing parents, and 
• Fathers and non-birthing parents.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
• Homebirth and hospital birthing parents
• Culturally and linguistically diverse community members.
• Professionals supporting women and birthing parents (e.g., doulas, psychologists, physiotherapists).

**Please note, there will be an afternoon session for hospital employed midwives, doctors and other ISHLD maternity healthcare workers.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Can children come? Babes in arms are welcome. Small children must be supervised so please bring a grandparent, friend etc, there’s plenty of space for prams.
• Breastfeeding-friendly? Absolutely! Feed or pump comfortably, with a space set aside 
• What if I don't know exactly what needs to improve? That is fine, friendly facilitators will help participants in any way you need.
• What to bring? Just your ideas and suggestions!
• Food? We will provide morning tea

Your voice matters! Help shape maternity care that truly meets the needs of women and birthing parents now and into the future.

👉 Reserve your spot now and join the conversation!

Hosted by Waminda South Coast Women's Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Cooperation and Better Births Illawarra and the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District.