Village Life Education

We know that going home with a new baby, while exciting and wonderful can be daunting and parents often find themselves at home unprepared for the realities of life with their little one. Village Life is an online program that has been designed to provide some extra support and education to women and their partners as soon as possible after the birth of their baby.  

Village Life offers sessions online where you can meet with the program facilitator and other new parents in a secure virtual space. The program will cover a variety of topics and enable you to share your experiences, listen to others and ask questions.

Village Life is a facilitated, 6-week online group program aimed at supporting women and their partners in the transition to parenthood.

We know that many women go home quickly after the birth of their baby. While being at home is great, many parents do not have family support readily available and may find themselves at home unprepared for the day-to-day realities of having a new baby. Sometimes this may make you feel unsure, anxious or isolated. These feelings are quite normal but sometimes they can become something more, with approximately 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experiencing anxiety or depression after the baby is born. Research suggests accessing support and education may be beneficial in promoting a confident transition to parenthood and encouraging positive mental wellbeing.

Village Life has been designed to provide a forum to identify your needs and offer support as soon as possible after your baby is born. And being online, means you can participate from the comfort of your own home. We are looking for mums/dads to engage as soon as possible after the birth of their baby.

Village Life is offered in addition to ongoing care you may receive after the baby is born by your own midwife or doctor. You will also be able to enroll in a New Baby Course offered by Child and Youth Health, these programs often become available when you baby is about 12 weeks old.

This facilitated program addresses topics including:

• Transition to Parenthood: Birth Stories, Expectations and Realities, Cultural Influences

• Connecting to your Baby: Emerging Relationship, Responsiveness and Nurturing Confidence

• Connecting to Self: Role Adaption, Self-Compassion and Mental and Physical Wellbeing

• Connecting to others: Social Support and Staying Connected, Parenting Styles, Values-based Parenting

• Connecting to support: Postnatal Distress, Anxiety and Depression: Support Services and Referrals

• Healthy Relationships, Healthy Family: Managing Emotions and Relationships 

Please register your interest if you would like to enroll in Village Life if you are:

• First-time parents - mum and/or dad

• 18 years of age or older

• Have a baby who is less than 10 weeks old