We are a trusted community group advocating for empowered birth.

About Us

Welcome to Better Births Illawarra (BBI), a dynamic volunteer community organisation advocating for every woman and birthing parent to access an empowered birth free from trauma. We address antenatal and postnatal depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder through advocacy, evidence-based education programs, events, and connecting parents with each other.

Our Grassroots Beginnings

Our journey began in 2016 on Dharawal Country, Wollongong, when a group of us came together to share our birth experiences. We saw that those supported by a known midwife had better outcomes—feeling stronger mentally, physically, and emotionally. This insight sparked our vision and commitment to ensuring all women and families can access empowered birth through continuity of midwifery care, respectful maternity care, and an informed, connected and supportive community.

Identifying the Gap

We saw a stark gap in outcomes for local women, depending on the maternity care model they accessed. Those in fragmented hospital care often endured traumatic births, inconsistent advice, and a lack of informed consent. Meanwhile, women supported by a known midwife through the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) experienced fewer interventions, less trauma, and stronger mental health. With 7 in 10 women missing out on this gold standard of care, we came together—driven by compassion and urgency—to tackle this inequity and the growing impact of birth trauma.

The inequity is even more stark for First Nations families where systemic racism is embedded in maternity services and a lack of culturally grounded care available. Our ongoing partnership with groups including Waminda, ensures we adopt a decolonial approach to our strategy.

Our Collaborative Approach

Transformational change only happens in relationship. We partner with other consumer organisations, industry bodies such as the Australian College of Midwives, researchers, and maternity health professionals across Australia. We are key stakeholders in local, state and Federal advisory groups and coaltions including the NSW Maternity Services Alliance and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Friends of Maternal Health.

Our Commitment

BBI is committed to standing with our diverse community to ensure they all have access to gold standard care. We believe that by being bold in our vision and working together, we can create a future where every birth is an empowering experience.

Meet our Executive Committee