Who is the Australasian Birth Trauma Association?
The Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA) is a charitable organisation that is committed to promoting the prevention and treatment of birth-related trauma. Our vision is for safer births and better healing.
We offer support services to women, partners, and non-birthing parents who have experienced birth-related trauma and address the unmet needs of birthing families throughout Australia. Additionally, we advocate for improved support systems for individuals who have witnessed birth-related trauma in their workplaces.
By enrolling in our program, you join a community committed to creating safer birth environments, preventing trauma, and supporting those affected. Gain the skills to identify at-risk individuals, provide effective debriefing, and understand the power of trauma-informed care.
Our courses address the global challenge of underdiagnosed and undertreated birth-related trauma, offering you the knowledge and confidence to make a meaningful impact.
Featured Courses
Join ThinkNatal Education and Training Hub and experience programs designed for trauma-informed learning, and a collaborative community dedicated to positive change in perinatal care.
Meaningful Training
Feature: Join a collaborative community of health professionals, birth workers, and individuals passionate about perinatal care.
Benefit: Connect with diverse voices and perspectives, including the voices of women and families with lived experience, experts in the field, and professionals directly impacted.
Compassionate Learning
Feature: Knowledge is power, and strategies within our courses are immediately applicable in your professional practice.
Benefit: Gain authentic insights, fostering better understanding and empathetic communication in your professional environment.
Trauma-Informed
Feature: ThinkNatal is driven by the voices of those with lived experience who have personally navigated birth-related trauma alongside their partners and health professionals.
Benefit: Access actionable tools to swiftly prevent, identify, and address birth-related trauma, strengthening your capacity to deliver impactful support to individuals and families.
Why is our ThinkNatal training so important?
Birth-related trauma is a significant and ongoing issue, not just in Australia but globally. Research suggests that in Australia, between 30% and 48% of women identify their birth as traumatic. With 309,996 registered births in Australia in 2021, this equates to over 103,000 women and families potentially impacted by birth-related trauma every year.
It is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, which highlights the need for greater awareness and support in this area.
While some birth-related trauma experiences are unavoidable, many experiences are avoidable and preventable. From personal stories and academic research, we understand that various issues contribute to experiences of birth-related trauma.
There is an urgent need for enhanced awareness, support, and reform to address the distressing impact of birth-related trauma on women, birthing people, fathers, non-birthing people and health professionals.
By prioritising physical health, mental health and emotional well-being, we can pave the way for a safer, more supportive, and trauma-informed approach to maternity care.
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I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for the insightful presentation on birth trauma. As a birthing service, we found the information you shared incredibly valuable. Your ability to convey complex information in a clear, compassionate and engaging manner is truly commendable. I appreciate the way you incorporated real-life experiences, bringing the woman’s voice to this topic. Your expertise and passion for the subject were evident throughout the presentation, and I left feeling both educated and inspired. I will certainly encourage my colleagues and new parents to attend similar presentations.
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Jenny Ryan, Director of Maternity Services, The Royal Women's Hospital
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“I wanted to share a huge thank you to the Australasian Birth Trauma Association for their incredible presentation at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital-Birthing Services. The presentation provided current research, education and training. We were able to up-skill in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of birth-related trauma. It was also an opportunity for us midwives to remember to support ourselves in a safe environment free from judgement.
I look forward to continuing to work with Amy and the Australasian Birth Trauma Association.
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Karen Twohig, Clinical Midwifery Educator, Royal Price Alfred Hospital
