Support for mothers, strengthening families and helping children to thrive
Villagehood Australia is a peer-led charity supporting the mental health and physical wellbeing of mothers, children and families in the early years through connection, education and community.
We exist because too many mums in Australia are struggling with the many changes and challenges early parenthood brings, but the current range of support services, programs and resources are not adequate to help them navigate this journey.
When mothers are supported in the first year of motherhood and beyond through early intervention and appropriate services, infants have the best possible start and a better chance to thrive. When parents and families are supported and have access to advice, networks and education programs, communities grow stronger. Motherhood was never meant to be done alone.
Peer support for mothers' mental health and wellbeing
From lived experience to reforming the system
Villagehood was born from lived experience, but it has grown through what mothers have told us they need through our peer led programs and building our community of parenting groups.
Too often, mothers are struggling in silence and alone without access to knowledge and coping strategies, and while there are some organisations that provide support, it is often fragmented, difficult to navigate and not designed around the lived reality of mothers.
This is why Villagehood is not just about creating connections, it is also about responding to the gaps in the systems supporting women's health and providing accessible early intervention focused on the emotional wellbeing of mothers and their families.
A growing vision and range of support services
From the beginning, Villagehood's aim has been to provide additional support and resources for Australian families navigating the first years after birth and during infancy.
Our journey has been from local to national and mother-centric to village-centric. We have moved from building connections to advocating for systemic change, while remaining grounded in the lived experience of women and their loved ones, and providing peer led support for mothers in Australia.
However, we are now building towards something bigger. Creating a model that supports the mother and the people around her, and which enables her to better navigate Australian government systems.
No matter where she lives, every mother deserves a village and greater support for her well being.
Why support for mothers matters
Supporting mothers is how we support children and give them the best possible start in life. Most children rely on a loved one to be their primary carer, and more often than not this is their mum.
If she is overwhelmed during early parenthood, feels isolated and left alone with a new baby, or does not have access to mental health support, parenting programs and resources, all the research and evidence shows that it impacts her wellbeing and relationship with her baby, as well as her child’s emotional development.
In order for infants and children to thrive, it needs to be accepted best practice that we support the people raising them. If we are seriously seeking to effectively combat perinatal depression, Australia needs to prioritise new parenthood by providing support, resources and access to well developed programs that support women make the transition to motherhood.
Villagehood Australia support during early parenthood
The goal of Villagehood Australia is not to replace services, but rather to ensure mums are able to stay connected to supports, healthcare professionals, and the wider community (including friends and family).
We walk with mothers and help reconnect them to a range of supports and resources. Our focus is on:
Connection
We help mothers to overcome feelings of anxiety, isolation and other challenges by building belonging through shared life experiences.
Learning
We help mothers to better understand themselves, their new baby, and what they can expect during the first year and beyond.
Relational support
Our support is centred on creating trusted connections designed for supporting and promoting the ongoing mental health of mothers (both experienced and first time parents), rather than one-off, crisis interventions.
Our current programs for new parents
At Villagehood Australia we provide advice and support for mums in the early years to ensure new mothers don't feel alone and isolated.
Our programs provide practical parenting tools, designed to reduce perinatal anxiety and foster a greater sense of wellbeing, as well as better overall physical and mental health so that they can build stronger bonds with their baby or infant.
Villagehood Australia's mission is to build a community where mothers feel safe, understood and supported, and where they can seek the help they need without judgement.
Our future programs
Through supporting mothers, we will also strengthen the village. While our work has always centred on mothers, we know that a mother does not exist in isolation. She needs a village to support her, but too often in Australia that village has gone missing.
Villagehood Australia is now evolving our model so that we are better able to support:
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expectant parents
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partners, dads and co-parents
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grandparents and other carers
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the wider community and networks around families
This next phase of our program delivery will be developed in partnership with parents, families and communities so that they reflect the needs and challenges faced by new and expectant parents.
Learning Circle
Our Learning Circle is a place where we share knowledge and life stories, build confidence and support families by providing opportunities for mums (and dads) to learn practical parenting skills and get guidance from health professionals about child development.
Through supporting the mental health of mothers, the Learning Circle gives all parents the knowledge and confidence they need to feel more connected with their baby or infant.
Advocacy
Villagehood Australia doesn't exist only to support mothers. Just as important is our work advocating for change.
Our work is built on the life stories that mothers share with us every day, and we use these insights to raise awareness about maternal and perinatal mental health and highlight gaps in the system. We understand the unique challenges faced by mothers and so advocate for early, community-based support in order to make a positive, long-lasting contribution to public policy and ongoing reform of the system.
Together we can make a positive impact on the lives of mothers
No-one should be alone on their motherhood journey, so whether you are a pregnant woman or new parent looking for support, a partner or family member who wants to be there for a loved one, or an organisation interested in partnering with us, you are welcome at Villagehood Australia.
Join us and be part of our mission to support mothers, strengthen families and help children thrive.