Acknowledgement Of Country

We respect First Nations peoples and their enduring connection to country – to the land, air, waterways, oceans, animals and plants – and recognise the wisdom and culture that has seen them thrive for thousands of years. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded, and, with humility and courage, wholeheartedly commit heads, hearts and hands to a path of healing, restitution and justice, embracing the wisdom of those who can guide us. We will fulfil our responsibility with honesty and integrity, we will challenge injustice, and - in all of this - we will hold ourselves accountable.

Birth trauma Peer2Peer program

Childbirth is a positive experience for many, but it can also be deeply challenging. We recognise that birth can impact both your physical and emotional wellbeing, sometimes in ways that take time to understand. You deserve support as you make sense of your experience and begin to heal.

Register your interest

What is birth trauma?

What is birth trauma?

Birth trauma is when aspects of pregnancy, labour and/or birth feel distressing or overwhelming, and continue to affect how you feel afterwards.

This can look different for everyone. For some, it may relate to physical complications. For others, it may not be about what happened medically but how the experience felt, such as feeling scared, unheard, or out of control.

Birth-related trauma can affect birthing parents, partners, and families in different ways.

Support is available:
the Peer2Peer program

The Peer2Peer program is a free, peer-led support group for birthing parents who have had a difficult or distressing birth experience.

The sessions are delivered by trained Peer Support Facilitators who bring both professional experience, in areas such as perinatal care, social work and trauma-informed practice, and their own lived experience of birth.

The child and baby friendly sessions run for two hours per week for six weeks.

The program has been developed by Birth Trauma Australia and is being delivered locally by Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West.

The group work does not replace individual care but can sit alongside any support you are already receiving.

What can I expect from a
Peer2Peer support group?

Peer2Peer groups offer a safe space to share your birthing experience, free from judgement.

The first session is a chance for you to talk about your birth experience, if that feels right for you. The group then gently explores different ways of understanding and making sense of your experience.

Each week focuses on a different theme:

Week 1 – Laying the Foundations

Week 2 – The Birth Trauma Rollercoaster

Week 3 – Exploring a Birth Debrief

Week 4 – Creating Your Collaborative Care Team

Week 5 – Friends, Family & Trauma

Week 6 – Where to from here? A Celebration!

Groups include up to 10 participants.

Our facilitators are there to listen, support and share helpful resources. While they are not psychologists, they can help you find the right individual supports if needed. 

View a recording of our community information session here.

Before participating in the program please read our privacy statement.

Getting started

You can register yourself or be referred by a health professional.

Our facilitators will follow up with you by phone to ensure the group is a good fit for your needs.

Email: birthtrauma@womenshealthbsw.org.au

Participation and Support Details

Who is the group for?

This program is for birthing parents who feel their birth experience was challenging, distressing, or difficult to process.

You may relate if you experienced:

  • Birth or pregnancy complications
  • Physical injury
  • An unexpected or emergency intervention
  • Fear for your or your baby’s safety
  • Feeling unheard, powerless, or distressed
  • A sense of lost trust
  • Re-triggering of past trauma
  • Ongoing distress, intrusive thoughts, or difficulty sleeping
  • Changes in mood, worry, or feeling on edge since birth

You don’t need a diagnosis or label to seek support.

To take part, you’ll need to:

  • Be the birthing parent
  • Be open to a follow up phone call with our trained facilitators to make sure the group feels like the right fit for you
  • Be able to attend six weekly, in-person sessions in Warrnambool or Geelong

If you are unsure, you’re very welcome to reach out for a conversation

 

Who isn’t this group suited for right now?

At this stage, the program isn’t able to support:

  • Partners or non-birthing parents
  • Parents who have experienced the loss of a baby or pregnancy
  • People who are experiencing significant mental health crisis

We understand these experiences matter deeply, and there are supports available:

Warrnambool

Dates: 22nd April, 2026.
Time: 10:00-12:00pm

(If these dates don’t suit, please enquire about registering for a waitlist)

Location: West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House

The venue is pram accessible, and the group sessions are child and toddler friendly. Change facilities are available onsite.

Geelong (Fully booked, please submit interest for future group intakes)

 

Women’s Health & Wellbeing Barwon South West (WHWBSW) is committed to respecting the privacy of all in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Personal information collected while completing Peer2Peer support program will only be used for the purposes stated at the time of collection. Your personal information will not be added to a mailing list or used for any other purpose without your consent.

The types of information that will be collected in the survey are;

  • Personal information: information or an opinion about any individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information. Examples of personal information include an email address or name.
  • Health information: information or an opinion about an individual’s physical health, mental or psychological health, their disability, or any health services provided to them or to be provided.
  • Sensitive information: information or an opinion about an individual’s racial or ethnic origin; sexual orientation or practices; physical, mental and psychological health.

WHWBSW will destroy or delete health information in accordance with the provisions of the Health Records Act 2001 (Victoria).

WHWBSW will not collect, use or disclose any unique identifier assigned to an individual by another organisation (such as email address) unless required by law to do so, and the individual’s consent has been obtained.

This site does not provide facilities to guarantee the secure transmission of information across the internet. While reasonable efforts are used to provide security, users should be aware that there are inherent risks in the transmission of information across the internet

If you need urgent medical help, please call 000

For perinatal anxiety and depression support: The PANDA National Helpline: Mon-Fri 9am-7:30pm 1300 726 306

For 24-hour crisis support: Lifeline 13 11 14

For anyone experiencing or at risk of family and domestic violence: 1800 Respect (1800 737 732)

If you’d prefer one-on-one peer support: https://birthtrauma.org.au/peer2peer-support-program/

Support for fathers and partners: https://birthtrauma.org.au/fathers-and-partners/

Support for pregnancy or infant loss: https://rednosegriefandloss.org.au/contact-us

Support for pregnancy and parenting related mental health – PANDA: 1300 726 306 https://www.panda.org.au/ 

Tell Us About Your Experience

Register your interest in the
Peer2Peer Program

At any point, you can save your progress using the ‘Save and Continue’ button
at the bottom of this form, and return to this form at a later date.