Have your say: Improve maternity services in the Illawarra

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 real change in the care women and birthing parents receive. RSVPs essential

📅 Date: Wednesday, January 31st
🕤 Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Location: Shellharbour Civic Centre

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

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

What to Expect:

• An update on what is currently happening in the Illawarra to improve maternity services.
• Small group discussions led by friendly facilitators.
• A supportive space to share your thoughts on what could be different, 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:

• Parents, future parents, or anyone with lived experience of maternity care.
• Mothers, fathers, birthing parents, or non-birthing parents.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
• Culturally and linguistically diverse community members.
• Homebirth and hospital birthing families.
• Professionals supporting women and birthing parents (e.g., doulas, psychologists, physiotherapists).

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Can children come? Babes in arms are welcome. Small children must be supervised, and there’s space for prams.
• Breastfeeding-friendly? Absolutely! Feed or pump comfortably, with private spaces available if needed.
• 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? Deliciousmorning tea from Blak Cede Gunyah Cafe, tea, and coffee will be provided.
• Will there be an event in the Shoalhaven? Yes there will be in March. We will keep you posted on Better Births Illawarra socials.

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 Better Births Illawarra and Waminda South Coast Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Cooperation and the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District.