Keynote Speakers
Sister Morningstar - Native Way of Instinctual Birth
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Bio
Sister MorningStar is a Cherokee midwife and keeper of stories. She has dedicated a lifetime to the preservation of simple and sacred birth. She birthed her daughters at home and has helped thousands of other wimyn find feminine empowerment through instinctual birth. A story teller; a preserver of the sacred feminine, of ritual, of ceremony; a sojourner in the inner life of wimyn; a wild womyn, mother, midwife and healer; a priestess of many names. |
Native Way of Instinctual Birth by Sister Morningstar
Star May your people live in Peace with our people. May your people live well and prosper. May the Children remember the ways of the Elders. May the Elders never tire of the Visions of the Children. Instinct is the safest skill. I had my first child in 1 hour and 53 minutes. I spent my summer pregnancy in nature, our half acre garden and cooling in the creek. When my doctor told me, "I will give you a 50/50 chance to have a natural birth", I never considered that he knew what he was talking about. He didn't know my mother or grandmother. He didn't know me. He wasn't a womyn. He had no authority in my world. Instinct is Intelligence in action. Village Midwife Dona Cuca was sad and told me, "Little Star, the young ones do not want to follow in our footsteps. They don't want a chicken and some eggs for their efforts. They want money." I was down hearted with her. Then she lifted her head and declared, "And what will they do with their money, Estrellita, but buy a chicken and some eggs?" Instinct is Wisdom in action. Mother Eva Mary told me the baby came out looking "not right". Splotchy and white, not moving, not acting "like a baby". "Then what happened?" I asked. "Well, I started treating it like a baby. I kissed it all over and talked to it." "Then what happened?" I asked again, deep in HerStory with her. "Well, it started acting like a baby!" Instinct is the Old Brain in action. Bleeding and Breathing are two problem areas in birth that rarely show up in Native lineage. Maybe we can talk about why. Maybe we can discover some wisdom ways to help our non native mothers birth with a natural power. Maybe we can help with healing Instinct Injury. Maiden. Mother. Crone. The instinctual life of a womyn finds its highest need, greatest ecstacy and superior expression in the Cosmic moment of Birth. May the babies have a soft landing. May the mothers' arms be filled with victory. It is my great honor to walk your land and sit in circle with you. Thank you for welcoming me. Blessed Be. Blessed Do. Sister MorningStar |
Rhea Dempsy - Homebirth – sanctuary for birth physiology
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Bio
Birth Activist, Educator, Doula, Counsellor, Trainer, Author. Rhea’s involvement in birth is now in it’s fifth decade. After the birth of her first baby in a large teaching hospital in London the question she was left with – ‘what the fuck happened there?’ – awakened her to homebirth and the birth activism she continues today. Rhea is a passionate believer in homebirth. Two of her own daughters were born at home in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and her five delightful grandchildren are also homeborn. Rhea’s understanding of birth and birth issues has deepened over the decades through supporting over a thousand births; presenting workshops and birth education, involvement in pregnancy counselling and far too much distressing birth debriefing. Also through writing and speaking on birth issues. Rhea has presented locally, nationally and internationally. She has appeared in two award winning Australian birth films – The Face of Birth and Birth Time. She is recognized as an insightful commentator on the difficulties women, who have a yearning for normal physiological birth, face in navigating contemporary birth culture. Rhea’s first book Birth with Confidence: savvy choices for normal birth (2013), explores the issue of embracing the physiological pain of birth and the need for experienced support. While her second book, Beyond the Birth Plan: getting real about pain and power (2020) explores the deeper psychological and emotional dynamics impacting birthing potential. |
Homebirth – sanctuary for birth physiology
Contemporary birth culture is undermining birth physiology. The expansion of the medicalisation of birth, with intervention rates rising year on year, undermines birth physiology and threatens our fullest capacity for love and connection. So where can we find any hope for the full magic of birth – the full benefits of physiology – to be supported? For the full flowering of hormones for birth, bonding, caregiving, tending, befriending and expressing overwhelming love to be supported and enhanced? Where? Homebirth is the sanctuary. Recognising this truth, I want to reflect on the importance of homebirth as a champion and protector of physiology. Perhaps we can imagine homebirth as a ‘nature reserve’, or ‘conservation area’ or ‘national park’ for the protection of the endangered physiology of birth. Using the arc of the conference themes – tradition, trust, transformation – my presentation will reflect on this critical issue. Tradition: From earliest times birth traditions have protected physiology. Trust: Trust in birth process, safe birthplace, safe birth companions enhance birth physiology. Transformation: Birth physiology transforms the body and the psyche. |
Ginny Phang - Underground Birth: Holding Space Where the System Fails Us
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Bio
Ginny Phang-Davey is a household name in the birthing world, with over two decades of experience as a doula, birth educator, Ted X speaker and having attended over 1500 births. Her belief that work is simply love made visible extends to nurturing and guiding women, their families, and those who support them, with the knowledge and guidance to create a safe and empowered birth experience for a positive start into motherhood. Ginny is the founder of the Four Trimesters Birth Sanctuary in Singapore and the creator of the Optimal Maternal Positioning program. |
Underground Birth: Holding Space Where the System Fails Us
When the system cannot — or will not — meet the needs of birthing women, we are faced with a radical question: What does it take to hold space anyway? Between 2017 and 2022, I ran an underground birth house — a quiet act of defiance born out of necessity and a vision to one day establish a legitimate institution where this work could continue sustainably. In a context where midwifery support was unavailable, we created a sanctuary: a space where women birthed in trust, supported by doulas and a courageous OB and paediatrician, beyond institutional scrutiny and legal clarity. What made this sanctuary successful wasn’t just heart — it was structure. We developed intentional systems of preparation and care: families were required to attend antenatal education, integrate Optimal Maternal Positioning (OMP) techniques, and engage in a model of care centred on partnership and empowerment. We did not promote an anti-intervention stance — instead, we guided families to understand their options, recognise when to act proactively if natural birth faltered, and how to navigate hospital transfers with confidence and clarity. We fostered a mentoring culture among doulas, built an interdependent community of families and birthworkers, and cultivated respectful, collaborative relationships with both obstetricians and paediatricians. These foundations supported a high standard of care — and led to remarkably low cesarean rates and minimal transfers. This keynote is more than a story of resistance — it is a blueprint for transformation. While few may find themselves running an underground birth house, the core lessons are universally applicable. From cultivating meaningful medical alliances, to using movement and positioning to reduce intervention, the power lies in what we can bring into every birth space — regardless of setting. We’ll explore how to build trust-based communities, manage expectations when birth doesn’t go as planned, and increase the chances that it does. This is an invitation to bring the best of what was born in the shadows into everyday practice — wherever women choose to birth. Key themes: - Birth autonomy in legally restrictive systems - Collaborative care - Structuring safety through preparation and education - Achieving low cesarean rates through Optimal Maternal Positioning - Building interdependent communities of families and doulas - Managing expectations when birth diverges from the plan - Reclaiming birth outside institutional norms |
Speakers
Kelli Zakharoff - Supporting Midwives Under Scrutiny: Strengthening Networks in Homebirth Practice
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With over 26 years of experience in midwifery, Kelli Zakharoff is a trailblazer in the Australian maternity care landscape, beginning her career as one of the country’s first Bachelor of Midwifery (BMid) students. Her diverse and rich career has spanned private home birth practice, public and private hospital settings, as well as academic and advocacy roles. Kelli has taught within the BMid program at the University of Canberra and worked with SIDS and Kids Australia, as well as the Aboriginal Health Care Service Brisbane where she headed up the Healthy for Life Program, contributing to public health education and family support. She has also established private midwifery practices in both Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, providing woman-centred care grounded in trust, continuity, and compassion. Her groundbreaking book, Midwife Crisis: From Trust to Trauma, has opened a powerful dialogue around the often invisible trauma experienced by midwives. This work has set her on a path of discovery, advocacy, and healing—not just for herself, but for the profession as a whole. The success of the follow-on podcast, Midwife Crisis: The Podcast, has amplified these conversations, creating a platform where midwives can begin the journey of speaking openly, finding community, and seeking support. Through her writing, speaking, and storytelling, Kelli is committed to changing the narrative around trauma in midwifery and inspiring a more sustainable and supported future for the profession.
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Theme: Innovation in Homebirth Models and Support Networks – This session focuses on innovative approaches to homebirth care, discussing how midwives can build resilience through stronger professional and community networks to navigate challenges such as regulatory investigations and professional isolation.
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Jess Sullivan - Challenging routine intervention - Induction of labour in IVF pregnancies and its impact on birth choices
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Jess is a final year medical student studying her Doctor of Medicine at Flinders University, South Australia. She has a keen interest in women’s health, maternity care and mother/baby medicine, and is passionate about advocating for woman-centered, supported and empowered decision making. She is also a mother to two little ones, the second of which was birthed at home with the support of an amazing endorsed midwife – this experience has further fueled her drive to advocate for all women to have the best possible birthing experience. She believes it is only through midwifes, doctors, allied health, doulas and researchers coming together that we will invoke lasting and positive change within Australia’s birth space.
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Internationally, women with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) pregnancies are often advised to undergo induction of labour (IOL) before 41 weeks gestation due to concerns about perinatal risks. However, this common recommendation lacks a solid evidence base and restricts women’s ability to birth in environments where they feel most empowered, such as at home. Our research critically examines this intervention, questioning whether the routine medicalisation of IVF births is truly justified. To explore this, we first conducted a systematic review aiming to identify studies comparing IOL and expectant management in term IVF singleton pregnancies, reporting on maternal and/or perinatal outcomes from 2002 onwards. Despite screening over 11,000 papers, we found no studies directly comparing these two approaches, exposing a considerable evidence gap.
To address this gap, we are currently undertaking a retrospective cohort study within the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN), analysing perinatal and maternal outcomes of IOL versus expectant management in IVF pregnancies between 2016–2025. By prioritising evidence over assumption, this research aims to equip women undergoing fertility treatment with clear, data-driven information to support informed decision-making about their births. Birth is a deeply personal and transformative experience, and ensuring IVF-conceived pregnancies are not automatically placed on a pathway of increased intervention without clear benefits is crucial for respecting autonomy and trust in the birthing process. This research has the potential to challenge existing norms, advocating for maternity care that upholds informed choice, honours physiological birth, and reclaims the right of IVF mothers to birth where, when, and with whom they feel safest. |
Norafiah Lever - Whose Tradition? Who To Trust? How We Transform
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Norafiah was an endorsed midwife until her voluntary de-registration in 2022. She now supports women as a sister-mentor, birth mystic and sovereign birth advocate, huna massage practitioner and biodynamic cranial-sacral therapist. She is passionate about facilitating spaces for women to deeply transform, whether through the sacred portal of birth or weaving energy-magic spaces for ceremony, workshops and one-on-one mentorship and healing. She offers support that is deeply rooted in traditional values, spiritually connected and grounded in the evolving science of health and consciousness.
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I was an endorsed midwife until my voluntary de-registration in 2022. My presentation will cover how in the process of my journey through being ‘with women’, Ive come to understand that transformation is available (a birth right) to women throughout the whole motherhood journey and not just in labour. The journey is meant to be a deep transformation of the spirit, physique and psyche to say the least, and an expansion of our consciousness. It is where we transform from the material world of maiden to connecting to our inherent Creator power as mother and eventually begin the walk to the spiritual power of the Crone. It is a deeply spiritual (1) walk to transform especially traumatic experiences into wisdom that we embody in the everyday and it requires a steward for the soul’s journey to be able to facilitate and hold space for the woman. This kind of support is missing within the maternity system and even in the practices of birth workers who support women to birth at home because they don’t consider its relevance in the environment, or it’s a superficial footnote in the context of care.
I question the traditions we know, learn from, romanticize and perpetuate within this journey. For whom does it benefit and do we actually need to continue with these practices and specifically do the women want it? Need it? For example, borrowing from the title of Michel Odent’s book ‘Do we need midwives?’ especially when we consider the female biology for growing, carrying and giving birth, is a perfectly designed system and the research continually supports less or no interventions for birth to unfold safely. Finally I will uphold that ultimately we need to TRUST WOMEN, their bodies and the BABIES. We don’t even consider the babies being a sentient being and knows their journey through their mothers bodies to enter into the world. The science supports this, but it hasn’t translated in the way we support women to birth. Babies do connect with us before they even emerge – if you ‘listen’ and ‘feel’. I will speak about some of the skills or inherent abilities we all have that have been suppressed or forgotten about. I will share stories of the women whom Ive served (with some pics) and I would also like to guide everyone through a meditation at the end – connect to our baby selves and meet the Great Mother. |
Philippa Scott - Mother-Daughter Mosaics: Navigating Intergenerational Patterns in Birth
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Philippa Scott, Coordinator for Homebirth Australia, is a passionate advocate for informed choice in childbirth. As a mother of four daughters, she is deeply invested in the mother-daughter story and its transformative power. With over 20 years of experience as a doula, educator, and family coach, Philippa guides families through holistic support and advocacy. She is also an author and a dedicated voice for birthing families. Join her for a compelling exploration of homebirth and the mother-daughter journey.
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This session explores how the intricate mosaic of mother-daughter relationships shapes the homebirth experience. As women journey through pregnancy and birth, they often encounter fragments of their maternal relationships—some supportive, others challenging—that form a complex pattern influencing their birthing choices and experiences. Birth workers regularly find themselves woven into these generational mosaics, sometimes becoming entangled in family dynamics without realising it.
We'll examine how homebirth and continuity of care creates a unique space where tradition meets transformation, where trust between generations is tested and rebuilt, and where birth professionals must carefully place themselves within the family mosaic. Participants will gain insights into recognising these patterns and developing strategies to support women's intergenerational healing while maintaining their own clear position within the birth space. By understanding the mother-daughter mosaic, birth workers can better honour the traditions that strengthen while helping transform patterns that no longer serve, creating more integrated and empowering birth experiences. |
Dee Wilkinson - Birth & Birthing - Now vs Then
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I am deeply passionate about supporting families in bringing their babies into the world in the most soul aligned and gentle way possible. I have over 3 decades in the wellness industry and 16yrs as a Birthworker attending countless births as an expert in body balancing, movement and birth support. My expertise is built on an extensive foundation across multiple disciplines, including Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga, Pregnancy Massage, Birthing from Within, Spinning Babies, Body Ready Method, Birth Story Medicine, Internal Pelvic Release, Sacred Birthing, and various energetic healing modalities. By integrating these many varied modalities into my soul aligned birth work I intuit imbalance in mum and how this flows on to baby, to find solutions to work towards having a body, mind and soul that is ready for birth. My mentoring bridges the gap between ancient wisdom, practical tools, and deep energetic healing. My belief is rooted in the deep knowing that birth is not just a physiological event but a soul journey for yourself and more importantly for your baby!
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What my presentation will cover…
I have over 3 decades in the wellness industry and 16yrs as a birthworker attending 100 of births as an expert in body balancing, movement and birth support. My expertise is built on an extensive foundation across multiple disciplines, including Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga, Pregnancy Massage, Birthing from Within, Spinning Babies, Body Ready Method, Birth Story Medicine, Internal Pelvic Release, Sacred Birthing, and energetic healing modalities. Additionally, my mentorship in Birth Story Medicine and Art Therapy allows me to integrate your experiences with deep emotional healing. |
Mike Poulsen - The Neurological Foundations of Pregnancy and Birth: How Early Nervous System Regulation Shapes a Lifetime of Health
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Dr. Mike is the Principal Chiropractor and founder of Coast Family Chiropractic, Adelaide’s fastest-growing paediatric and family studio, where he has a special focus on neurologically focused care for children, particularly those with ASD, ADHD, and emotional regulation challenges. With over seven years of experience and advanced training in neurodevelopment, Dr. Mike is passionate about bridging traditional birth practices with cutting-edge neuroscience. At this event, he will speak on the vital role of nervous system regulation at birth and how early sensory-motor experiences shape a child’s ability to self-regulate, adapt, and thrive—offering fresh, practical insights for birth professionals and families alike.
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Birth is one of the most profound transitions a human will experience, shaping not only the parent-infant bond but also the foundational neurological patterns that influence long-term health. Mike, Principal Chiropractor at Coast Family Chiropractic, specialises in neurologically focused paediatric care, particularly supporting neurodivergent children with ASD, ADHD, and emotional or behavioural regulation challenges. Our practice is built on the understanding that a child's nervous system begins adapting from throughout pregnancy and birth, influenced by physiological stress, medical interventions, and early sensory-motor experiences. In this presentation, I will explore the critical role of nervous system regulation during pregnancy and birth, shedding light on how these key moments shape a child’s ability to self-regulate, develop resilience, and thrive in their environment.
Drawing from both traditional birth wisdom and modern neuroscience, Mike will bridge the gap between holistic birth practices and cutting-edge neurodevelopmental science. He will discuss how optimising a child’s early sensory-motor environment can support healthy nervous system development, emotional adaptability, and overall well-being. With insights from clinical practice and his experience from his daughters breech birth at home, this talk will provide families and birth professionals with actionable strategies to foster trust in birth and support newborns in their transition to the world. By understanding and respecting the neurological impact of pregnancy and birth, we can create more connected, confident, and empowered birth experiences—ensuring every child has the best possible start to life. |
Marijke Eastaugh - From Bleeper to Insta, a living transformation
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I have been a Midwife since 1987 providing continuity of care for mainly homebirth women. I have seen the craft and science of my work over many years inspire and empower not only women and their families but also midwives. I live in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, I have two homeborn children who are now adults. I'm also passionate about breastfeeding and love my work as an IBCLC. Becoming Endorsed in 2010 was a pivotal moment that kept me going as a Midwife.
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My presentation encompasses 38 years of work as a midwife doing homebirths in South Australia.
I will outline the historical changes that I have witnessed during this time. From landline phones and beepers to computers and the mobile phone. The changes in education for midwives and the oh! so slow changes in acknowledgement of our work by government as it pertains to midwives. I invite the audience to understand this herstory so that looking backwards informs how we are here and now. This teaches us that there are ways forward, for retaining or improving what we do and how we serve in the future. How do we transform to meet the needs of the birthing community? Amongst this is the thread of getting together, face to face, and how the now called SAPPM (South Australian Privately Practising Midwives ) evolved as a group, to support Midwives who then support women, to trust birth, with the choice of continuity of care in any setting. I have a wall hanging that depicts my journey with photos and words, currently it stops at 2017 but If you are willing to have me present, I would continue it to 2025. This could be hung somewhere for people to enjoy. |
Prudence Todd - Reclaiming Our Womanhood: How Pelvic Health & Soul Care Shape Birth & Postpartum
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Prudence Todd is an inspirational speaker and Woman Guide dedicated to empowering women in their journey through pelvic health and soul care. With a background as a holistic pelvic wellness practitioner, former midwife, Pilates instructor, and energy healer, she brings a unique and compassionate approach to her work. Her passion lies in supporting women to deepen their connection with their bodies, embracing all stages of life—from young womanhood to birth and beyond. Through her workshops, online and in person healing sessions, Prudence combines her expertise and empathy to inspire women to nurture their well-being, honor their experiences, and thrive in their personal and professional lives. Prudence guides women to understand the deep importance of honour and reverence for their unique womanhood journey, and in doing so helps them access a deep portal of medicine and wisdom for their own healing. Her message to the work is YOUR WOMANHOOD MATTERS!
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The way we experience birth and postpartum is deeply influenced by our relationship with our bodies, yet modern maternity care often overlooks the wisdom held in a woman’s pelvis, heart, and soul.
As a former Midwife, mother of four babes born at home, Pilates instructor, Holistic Pelvic Wellness Practitioner and International Speaker, I have witnessed first-hand how reconnecting with the body transforms the birth experience. Our pelvic bowl is more than an anatomical structure—it is the centre of our power, intuition, creativity and resilience. When we nurture pelvic health through movement, breath, and embodied awareness, we create the conditions for a more easeful pregnancy, a smoother birth, and a nourished postpartum experience. Just as importantly, tending to our soul, prepares us not only for childbirth but for the lifelong journey of mothering. For birth support workers, embodying these practices is just as vital as teaching them. When doulas, midwives, and birth educators integrate pelvic wellness and soul care into their own lives, they become living examples of the deep trust, strength, and connection they wish to instil in the women they serve. By holding this wisdom in their own bodies, they create a ripple effect—enabling women and families in their communities to birth from a place of empowerment and sovereignty rather than fear. In this presentation, we will explore: The power of pelvic healing – How our pelvis holds our experiences and how to release stored tension, trauma, and imprints that impact birth and postpartum.
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Dr Roslyn Donnellan-Fernandez - Extreme Continuity - Longitudinal Care and Perspective
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Roz is a community midwife and current postgraduate Director of Primary Maternity Care Programs at Griffith University. She has experience in teaching and curriculum development at three Australian universities and managed practice implementation of midwifery-led models of care, including homebirth, in both public and private sector settings. Active engagement with strategic, policy and funding initiatives for scale-up of midwifery models as a primary, public health strategy that enable access and equity for under-served groups is long-standing as is commitment to intergenerational transmission of physiological birth practices and knowledge. Her teaching, research and practice are informed by critical emancipatory social theory, principles of life-long learning, advocacy, spirituality, and political and professional engagement that facilitate transformation of people, structures, and communities toward social justice, health equity, and gender equality.
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Against the backdrop of Roslyn and XX’s client-provider relationship spanning 15 years and three homebirths (including XXX's arrival), this co-presented session invites clinicians and consumers to explore the transformative potential of long-term midwifery relationships in homebirth care to families and midwives alike. This session will explore how existing continuity of midwifery care models, both in private and public homebirth settings, may be aspirationally designed to support true continuity across multiple births and life stages, shifting from the prioritisation of continuity within single pregnancy episodes to long-term relationships across multiple pregnancies so that this may occur more by systemic design than circumstance.
Presenters, representing mother, daughter and midwife perspectives, will share real-world insights into how deep, trusting relationships forged over time can enhance safety, confidence, and satisfaction in homebirth. Attendees will engage in a collaborative exploration of how homebirth models could evolve to better support long-term care, sparking ideas for advocacy, professional practice, and business model innovation. |
Siobhan Calleja - Weaving the Ayurvedic tradition into pregnancy, birth, and postpartum
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Siobhan is a Birthworker, Homebirth Doula and Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula, providing mother-centred care informed by traditional Ayurvedic practise. She has been trained in traditional midwifery and birthkeeping with her dear teachers Daniela Ekman, Daniela Salinas, and Naoli Vinaver. Servicing the Adelaide Hills and surrounds, Siobhan provides a space of gentleness, nurture, and care, allowing the mother to savour the sweetness of the fleeting, ever-changing, yet deeply beautiful moments that the journey of motherhood brings.
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When woven into birth, the Ayurvedic tradition offers a depth of beauty and nurturance, rooted in trust in the transformative nature of birth. Ayurveda understands that just as a mother’s heart knows how to beat, and her lungs to breathe, she knows how to birth and mother her baby. This teaching encourages us to practise deep trust in birth and motherhood, holding the mother at the centre of her pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. The Ayurvedic tradition teaches that we must first support the mother to trust in her own knowing and ability, followed by offering practises to further deepen this trust.
Accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation, this session will involve the following…
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Chloe Hill & Kathleen Costello - Rooted in tradition, rewriting the map: the urgent need to transform midwifery education
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Kathleen Costello and Chloe Hill met as student midwives at university, where they bonded over their shared passion and goal of becoming homebirth midwives. Kathleen is now in her final year of study, soon to be a qualified midwife, and Chloe is a new graduate midwife currently working at a tertiary hospital. Together, they are committed to amplifying the voices of student midwives and playing an active role in transforming the future of midwifery education, with a particular focus on fostering the next generation of homebirth midwives.
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Chloe and Kathleen met as student midwives at university. Now, with one of us in our final year of study and the other a new graduate midwife, we have been reflecting on the fact that the very reason we started midwifery- to be skilled and competent homebirth midwives- seems an impossible goal. This isn’t just about 5000 hours; this is about the fundamental philosophical misalignment between midwifery education and midwifery itself. We believe current midwifery education in Australia does not prepare students for homebirth. Instead, we encounter negative attitudes towards homebirth in both university and hospital settings, reinforcing a model of care that marginalises an integral aspect of midwifery practice. As a result, those of us who wish to pursue homebirth are left without adequate education, mentorship, or pathways to do so.
This presentation seeks to start a much-needed conversation about the need to transform midwifery education. How can we create a system that supports students who want to provide care in homebirth settings? How do we foster trust in physiological birth and reclaim the tradition of midwife-led homebirth as a vital part of midwifery education? Drawing from our own experiences and those of fellow students, we will highlight the urgent need to reimagine midwifery training—one that values all birth settings and truly prepares midwives for the full scope of their profession. Because in the end, this is not just about midwives—it’s about ensuring that women have real choices in birth. |
Hannah Pickford, Shari Lyon, Elizabeth Walker - Bridging the Gap: Tradition, Trust, and Transformation Through the Power of Voice
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Fertile Birth & Beyond is dedicated to empowering women and their partners through the transformative journey of conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum (including loss). Rooted in the principles of empowerment, education, choice, and holistic support, our mission is to bridge the gap between tradition and transformation in maternity care. With expertise spanning midwifery, birth education, neuroscience, hypnotherapy, and women’s empowerment, we provide a unique and integrative approach that honours both medical advancements and the innate wisdom of the body. Our individual work has shaped national programs, redefined birth education, and guided thousands of women to reclaim autonomy and trust in their bodies. From pioneering Australia’s stillbirth pathway programme and integrating aromatherapy into maternity care to revolutionising hypnobirthing education and leading transformational retreats, Fertile Birth & Beyond stands at the forefront of modern maternal advocacy. At the 37th Homebirth Australia Conference, we are proud to present "Bridging the Gap: Tradition, Trust, and Transformation Through the Power of Voice." This session explores the profound impact of communication in maternity care; how the spoken and unspoken voice can foster trust, enhance outcomes, and empower both women and healthcare professionals. Through research backed insights, physiological wisdom, and holistic practices, we’ll uncover how voice shapes The Fertile, Birth and Beyond experience and how true transformation begins with the way we listen, speak, and advocate. This session explores how reclaiming vocal expression and activating effective communication can rebuild trust and create transformative birth experiences.
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Throughout history, women have gathered in circles, passing down birth wisdom through storytelling, chanting, and embodied connection. The tradition of vocalising/voice activation in birth—whether through song, toning, or guided breathwork—has long been linked to easeful labour, as the connection between the voice and the body, particularly the vulva, is well documented. In modern homebirth, midwifery and medical-based maternity care, communication has become fragmented, leading to mistrust and disconnect between mothers, birthworkers, midwives, and medical professionals. This session explores how reclaiming vocal expression and activating effective communication can rebuild trust and create transformative birth experiences. Drawing on historical practices and up-to-date research Elizabeth, Shari and Hannah will take you on a journey to explore the impact of voice on preconception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum outcomes and introduce guided vocal tools and voice activation exercises that empower women and birthworkers to reclaim their voices and make informed choices and great decisions.
Through interactive exercises, participants will experience firsthand how sound, breath, and words shape the birth space, influencing both physiological responses and emotional resilience. We will address the evolving roles of the "med-wife", "mid-wife”, and birth support workers highlighting how effective, open communication fosters trust and collaboration in homebirth settings. By integrating ancient wisdom with modern insights, this session offers a pathway to restoring the sacred connection between women, their birth workers, and the wider maternity care system. This immersive experience is designed for midwives, birth workers, and families seeking to enhance their practice and deepen their understanding of birth as a rite of passage. Together, we will honour the past, build trust in the present, and lay the foundation for a future where every woman feels heard, supported, and empowered in her journey. |
Katherine Eden-Lech - Speaking the unspeakable and the missing ‘T’ : Exploring Trauma-Informed Spaceholding as the Key to True Transformation in Homebirth and Beyond
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I am an integrative therapist, therapeutic social worker, doula, kinesiologist, and trauma-informed spaceholder with a background in psychology, midwifery, counselling, and event facilitation. For over 15 years, I have been deeply involved in the Adelaide birth community, co-founding the Adelaide Birth Network and the Doula Network of SA, both of which have grown into thriving hubs of connection, with ABN reaching thousands of consumers and professionals alike. Throughout my career, I have facilitated countless community gatherings, local meetups, retreats, and peer supervision circles for doulas, birthworkers, and spaceholders. My passion lies in trauma-informed, neuroaffirming, and embodied spaceholding, with a strong emphasis on integrity, ethical practice, and the significance of rites of passage. As birth trauma statistics continue to rise, I believe we have the power to shift these patterns. My work supports spaceholders in cultivating ethical, heart-led, and attuned practices that foster inner safety and transformation. Drawing from somatic, nervous system, and shadow work approaches, I explore how unresolved trauma influences our culture, starting with birth, spaceholding, and community dynamics. Through education, mentorship, and advocacy, I am committed to rebuilding trust, deepening safety, and honouring tradition and transformation in birth and beyond. While I no longer attend births, I firmly believe that the way we hold birth shapes culture, ripples through communities, and impacts generations to come.
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Birthwork is deeply rooted in tradition, trust, and transformation, yet one critical "T" is often overlooked: Trauma. Birth trauma is rife, yet what is actually being done and spoken about to change it? Plus, the unspoken trauma within birth communities and for birth professionals—left unacknowledged and unintegrated—ripples into birth spaces, influences decision-making, policies, and ultimately, birth outcomes. In Adelaide, the birth community has been profoundly impacted by past fractures, grief, and collective fear. While our community has rebuilt itself in many ways, unresolved wounds still affect the way we serve women and their families. Transformation happens both positively and negatively in the birth space, this presentation explores how normalising trauma-informed, neuroaffirming spaceholding and embodying the change we wish to see will serve to reduce, prevent and heal trauma in order to foster positive transformation in birth.
Drawing on over 15 years of experience in Adelaide’s birth community—as a psychology graduate, midwifery student, doula, and social worker, as well as being the co-founder of Adelaide Birth Network and Doula Network of SA—I will examine how historical fractures have shaped birthwork in South Australia and offer insights for other states to learn from our experiences. This session will explore the intersections of trauma-informed care, ethical spaceholding, and birth as a rite of passage, integrating research about generational trauma, attachment wounds that occur via trauma, and the impacts of unintegrated shadows. We will unpack unconscious roles and patterns based on the Karpmann Triangle and explore somatic and nervous system approaches that protect birthworkers from vicarious trauma and moral injury. The 4000+ submissions to the NSW birth trauma inquiry underscore an urgent need for a fundamental shift in how birth is held, supported, and witnessed. We cannot simply wait for institutions to change—we must each take responsibility for the roles we play. Birth trauma is not only a systemic issue within the medical model; it is also deeply impacted by a failure in spaceholding, a breakdown of trust, and a disruption of one of the most sacred rites of passage. When birthkeepers lack trauma-informed training, self-awareness, and the ability to regulate their own biases, fears, and agendas, the birth space can become yet another site of harm—rather than one of empowerment and transformation. The way we hold space directly influences whether birth becomes an experience of healing or an experience of harm. As individuals and as a collective, birthkeepers hold immense power to either hinder or facilitate trauma prevention and, ultimately, shape the potential for positive transformation in birth and beyond Trauma-informed, neuroaffirming spaceholding is not a trend and it is not just about ‘best practice’ in theory; it is a crucial framework that must be embodied and revisited consistently within the individual person. And holding space from this place of deep self awareness and radical responsibility can determine whether birth is an experience of empowerment, or one of harm, of which the effects continue well beyond subsequent generations, and out into the collective. As birthworkers, we are not just witnesses—we are a form of intervention and despite the role of the institutions we play an active role in how birth is held and how things can change if we acknowledge our part. If we do not engage in deep self-awareness, nervous system regulation, and trauma integration for ourselves, we risk unconsciously bringing (and projecting) our own unprocessed shadows into the birth space (the birth community and beyond). By taking radical responsibility for our inner landscape, we can contribute to and cultivate birth spaces grounded in true trust, safety, and transformation and we can change birth as we know it from the inside out. Tradition, trust, and transformation first begin within, and must make space for understanding and speaking about the uncomfortable hidden T– trauma. |
Holly High - Pregnancy, birth and parenting in Laos
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I am an anthropologist, do fieldwork in Laos and use ethnographic methods and anthropological analysis to understand human experience. I was trained at Australian National University, and have held postdoctoral positions at Yale, Cambridge, Sydney, and Geelong. I have written about anthropological approaches to debt, power and desire; psychoanalytic theory and anthropology; Lao policy (including cultural, poverty, health and agricultural policies) in relation to lived experience in that country; everyday politics; and religion in Laos. Currently, I am investigating transformations in pregnancy, birth and early childhood in Laos.
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Comparing births across cultures, times and places is a key means of gaining critical distance from our own familiar assumptions and learning from others. This presentation reports findings from a four-year anthropological study of pregnancy, birth and parenting in Laos. Laos has strong traditions of birth. These vary across ethnicities and regions, but congregate on certain themes, including that of trust in the physiological process of birth. Birthing women hear repeated cultural messaging that birth is painful but manageable, and that medical care will most likely not be needed. Most women in Laos continue to birth at home, even as birth is undergoing a steady transformation to more medicalised models. Laos and Australia share striking similarities, especially in the challenge of supporting births in regional and remote areas. In other ways, the two are polar opposites, with Australia one of the most prosperous nations in the world and Laos one of the poorest, Australia a settler colonial context and Laos an example of a successful anti-colonial struggle.
The aim of this presentation is to open a discussion between researchers, homebirth professionals and families in Australia on the value, pitfalls and intent of cross-cultural comparison, with the Lao materials as a case study. |
Lisa Chalmers - From Ripple to Revolution
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Lisa Chalmers is the founder of Simply Birth and the woman who proudly introduced inflatable birth pools to Australia in 2006. Originally from the UK and now 22 years in Western Australia, she is a mum of four with deep roots in birth support.
Lisa co-founded Doula UK, then went on to establish Australian Doulas in 2003 — a Perth-based training and advocacy organisation, where she trained many doulas before stepping into frontline youth work. Known for speaking up - even when it lands her in trouble, which it does - ALL THE TIME - Lisa brings a straight-talking approach to continually improving how all women are supported through pregnancy and birth. |
From Ripple to Revolution is a short, documentary-style project capturing the story of waterbirth in Western Australia across five decades. Despite waterbirth being available since the early 1980s, much of the history, the pioneers, the politics, the breakthroughs and the setbacks has never been recorded.
This project, created in collaboration with midwife Cath Cook, brings those stories forward through interviews with mothers and midwives from each decade, including the women involved in the first waterbirths in WA. It explores how waterbirth spread through grassroots advocacy, ( no internet back then !) how early women navigated resistance, and how aesthetics, technology, and professional attitudes have evolved, from dug out holes in the ground to a luxurious choice of purpose-designed birthing pools. This film takes you from the 80's through to current day. The aim is simple: to honour the women and midwives who fought to make waterbirth a safe and accessible choice in homes, hospitals and birth centres, before their stories disappear. |
