Motherhood Village Ltd is a Gold Coast charity passionate about supporting local mothers, parents and families. We provide free perinatal mental health support via group peer support sessions to mothers and parents who have prior or existing perinatal mental ill health, to mothers and parents who are finding the postpartum period difficult or challenging, and to help those that may be feeling isolated or alone in their struggles.
These sessions are delivered in a safe, non-judgemental space and they enable parents to share their story, feel validated and understood, without comparison or judgement. This helps build a sense of belonging, breaking down some of the social stigmas and barriers associated with perinatal mental ill health.
All group sessions are facilitated by a COPE and PANDA accredited peer support worker who has lived experience with perinatal mental health challenges. Our sessions complement clinical care, enabling a holistic approach to recovery and wellbeing.
We aim to work together with the existing Gold Coast perinatal clinical care facilities such as the Lavender Unit GCUH, Perinatal Psychologists, General Practitioner’s and Women’s Health Clinicians, ensuring parents feel supported in the perinatal and postpartum periods, and into the early parenthood years, following the first 2000 days strategy for wellbeing.
We provide educational resources for families seeking support during the perinatal period, and enhancing community knowledge on the signs and symptoms of perinatal mental ill health.
Parenthood can be both incredibly wonderful and at the same time incredibly difficult. We believe motherhood (parenthood) is both an innate and a learnt skill, and that it really does take a village to not only raise a child, but that it also takes a village to support the parents.
We offer support for those who are new to parenthood, support to those who are having a difficult time, or who simply need help connecting and building their local support network and care providers. Motherhood Village Ltd was created to help anyone struggling with their mental health in the perinatal period, to be safe place for them to connect and find their village.
Motherhood Village Ltd is most well known for small group perinatal mental health peer support sessions. These are a safe and non judgmental space for anyone finding the perinatal period difficult. They are for the mother or parent who isn’t finding Parenthood to be what they expected, for any parent who is in need of a local village and connection, for any mother or parent facing perinatal mental health challenges or feeling alone…. These sessions are YOUR time to connect with other mothers and parents who are facing similar experiences.
If you are feeling alone in your parenthood journey, or if you need confidence in building your skills and knowledge as a parent, or if you are unsure that what you are feeling or thinking is normal - that is where we come in.
We can help. We can support you, and help you build your village.
Please come along to one of our sessions - we would love to welcome you.
xx Tracey - Founding Director & CEO
Connecting with other mothers and parents who are experiencing similar challenges in the perinatal period can be immensely beneficial for your wellness.
Our Peer Support Sessions are designed to provide you with emotional support & a non-judgemental space for you to find some comfort, connection and camaraderie.
This can alleviate feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression, which 1 in every 5 Australian Mothers, and 1 in every 10 Fathers may experience during this time.
We often struggle with feelings of inadequacy or guilt during the perinatal period, particularly if we feel we are unable to meet societal expectations of parenthood.
Supportive relationships, like those that you will find at Motherhood Village Ltd sessions, will help provide you with validation and reassurance that how you are feeling is ok, and normal. We will also acknowledge the real challenges of the perinatal period, and help afirm the incredible job you are doing.
The Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support group sessions are designed to connect YOU the mother or parent with other parents who are facing similar experiences. They are a time to share your stories, to feel validated, to feel heard and understood. It’s a comparison and judgement free space.
The hour session is all about supporting YOU the parent (not a regular mum’s and Bub’s playgroup). You are welcome to bring along your little one, and are equally welcome to come on your own. There is no restriction… If you are pregnant, or if your baby is six weeks, six months or 3 years… everyone is welcomed.
We support mothers and parents in all stages of the perinatal period. These sessions work best as a continued conversation and regular attendance is recommended. The sessions can help complement clinical perinatal care for a holistic approach to recovery and wellbeing.
WEEKLY:
Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support:
Open to anyone from conception through to five years post birth.
MONTHLY:
Medical & Health Professionals Perinatal Peer Support:
Open to Midwives, Nurses, Doctors, any Medical Professionals looking for connection and understanding of facing perinatal mental health from the unique perspective of being a medical & health professional themselves.
Village Art Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support:
Relaxed peer support art sessions for those looking for connection or who do not feel ready to attend the mental health peer support groups.
Open to anyone from conception through to five years post birth.
Specialist Peer Support Sessions for Dads, Birth Partners, Grief and Loss Support, Pregnancy after Loss Support, LGBTQIA+ Parent Support, IVF & Fertility Support, Expat and Multicultural Family Support and more.
Village Building Sessions - A more relaxed meet and greet for new mothers and parents to get to know others in our local community.
Village Perinatal Yoga & Movement - Gentle peer support perinatal yoga session, relaxed setting. Little ones welcome.
Tracey is a mother of three children aged 4, 6 and 8, with lived experience of postpartum mental ill health. Post recovery she was encouraged to go into mental health peer support work by her perinatal psychologist at the time. Over the last few years Tracey has been volunteering with the Gidget Foundation and raising awareness in the field of perinatal mental health, sharing her story and participating in research forums. Leaning on her background as a professional Accountant and Auditor, Tracey established Motherhood Village to help provide a safe space for Gold Coast mothers to connect with other mothers having similar experiences. Using her own postpartum mental health lived experience, combined with accredited training from COPE and PANDA, Tracey now uses this lived experience to facilitate mental health peer support groups and help other women facing perinatal mental health and challenges in the perinatal period.
Lisa graduated with an MBBS from Griffith University in 2010. Since then, she has worked in various capacities clinically within the GCHHS as an Intern, Resident and Paediatric Registrar, as well as within the Gold Coast Community as a General Practitioner Registrar. Over the past eight years, her substantive role has been in senior academic management, as the Phase 3 Lead for Griffith Medical students. Most recently, she commenced as an Assistant Professor at Bond University Medical Program, working to ensure the next generation of medical practitioners continue to provide a culture of safe, effective patient-centred care. Lisa is also a mother of three, who navigated a rocky first pregnancy, with the premature delivery of her first born, compounded by limited local support, with her family living interstate. The perinatal period for her highlighted the need for a village to support the multitude of challenges that go hand in hand with motherhood.
Teall is a Clinical Psychologist and Board Approved Clinical Supervisor with a special interest in Perinatal Psychology. Teall has over a decade of experience working with people from all ages and stages in both the public and private mental health sector. Through having her own children, Teall developed a passion for birth, infants and Matresnce – the journey of becoming a mother. She believes that the transition to parenthood is a hard one – a time of significant change and adjustment. She appreciates the many challenges women and families can face and is passionate about supporting parents through a season of transition.
We would love to hear from you.
For all Direct Referrals please include your practice name, patient name, patient email and which peer support group you are requesting referral into.
For all Sponsorship, Partnership or Membership business enquiries please contact tracey@motherhoodvillage.com.au directly.
We welcome all feedback and suggestions.
We are a small team and every donation helps us continue our work in supporting our local mothers and parents.. We are so very grateful for your support.
(We are proud to be an ACNC Registered Health Promotion Charity with Tax Deductible DGR 1 Status)
https://www.mycause.com.au/p/353415/motherhood-village-bridging-the-gap-in-perinatal-care
You can also donate directly using the bank details below.
Name: Motherhood Village Ltd
BSB: 013265
ACC: 6593 32345
For client queries and bookings:
Instagram: @motherhood_village_au
Phone: 0427144337
Gold Coast, QLD
ACN 678 127 798
ABN 816 781 27798
PLEASE NOTE:
We are a peer support only service. If you require clinical medical care, please contact your trusted GP or care provider. If you or somebody you know needs support, please reach out to:
Gidget Foundation Australia (Perinatal Mental Health) Call: 1300 851 758
Need urgent help? The PANDA National Helpline is available (Perinatal Mental Health) 1300 726 306
Mon-Fri 9.00am to 7.30pm Saturdays 9:00am to 4:00pm
Lifeline 13 11 14 Helpline is open 24 hours/day
13YARN Talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Support Line 24hours/day. 13 92 76
If you need urgent medical help please call 000