Who is Homebirth Australia?

Sonja MacGregor

Sonja has been a midwife since 2001. Much of this time has been spent within a hospital environment, rotating through all aspects of midwifery care, the birth centre and undertaking preparation for childbirth & parenting classes.  She started attending regular homebirths in 2006, as well as working within a caseload midwifery model of care in the hospital.  Her philosophy is that pregnancy & birth are normal life events, & that giving birth is an integral part of a woman’s life. It is every woman’s right to choose her carers, & where & with whom she gives birth.

Renee Adair
Renee Adair is HBA's treasurer and provides endless financial and administrative support to the organisation, as well as being a rock of support for the committee itself.

Renee is the Founder and Director of the Australian Doula College and Registered Charity Doula Heart Network; she is a Mother, Doula, Childbirth and Parenting Educator, Aromatherapist and Reiki Practitioner.  Renee has supported hundreds of women and their families through pregnancy, birth and the post natal period and is passionate about sharing the role of the Doula in Australia and creating a harmonious and professional integration for Doulas, in what ever forum that may be.

Michelle Meares
Michelle Meares is HBA's media spokesperson and works on communications and advoacy.

Michelle has been actively involved in community campaigns to protect women’s rights during pregnancy and childbirth. She helped to set up the My Birth website (www.mybirth.com.au) with another Central Coast mum. The site gives women access to the statistics of their local birth services such as induction and caesarean rates.  In the 2010 Federal Election, Michelle stood as an independent candidate in the seat of Robertson, campaigning on maternity reform issues. Michelle is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws. She has run a web development business for 10 years providing services to a range of clients, including many non-profit groups. Michelle lives on the Central Coast NSW with her two children.

Chris Wrightson
Chris Wrightson is HBA's secretary and memberships coordinator

Chris is a homebirth mum of two girls and is passionate about birthing rights and natural birth.  She has over 10 years experience working in advocacy and research at The Whitlam Institute and prior to that at the Dusseldorp Skills Forum.  Her work has focused on education reform and in particular working to support programs that are for young people who
don't fit into mainstream education.  This has been via partnership projects, research and advocacy.  She has a strong interest in online communication and communities.  She has a Bachelor of Business.

Melissa McFarlane
Melissa McFarlane is HBA's Assistant Coordinator.

Melissa is the mother of Summer, Luka, Amber, and Luna Rain and lives in Ocean Grove, Victoria.  She has birthed three babies at home with a private midwife, and has attended many homebirths as a doula prior to beginning formal midwifery studies. Melissa has just finished the first year of a Bachelor of Midwifery. As a student she is attending as many homebirths as possible, and is informally apprenticed to the two privately practicing midwives in her local area.  Melissa plans to become a privately practicing homebirth midwife when she graduates.

Heather Crawford
Heather Crawford is HBA's new assistant Editor - welcome Heather!

Heather is an acupuncturist & herbalist and has been involved in the birth community and advocacy since starting out as a doula in 2007. She is passionate about women's choices and homebirth and is very excited to be going into private practice as a midwife in 2012.