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In just three years, the not-for-profit Babes Project Cairns has helped almost 100 women who were doing it tough in pregnancy and early parenting.
The free initiative began in Melbourne in 2009 and opened in Cairns in 2019, backed by a remarkable crowdfunding effort that raised more than $68,000 in just five weeks.
The Babes Project says it empowers new mothers to face the fears and challenges of pregnancy and the first year of a baby’s life.
Founder and CEO, Helen Parker, said holistic and nurturing perinatal care can transform a woman’s experience of early motherhood.
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“For the past three years, that work has been vital in Cairns, especially as the pandemic created more isolation and anxiety for mothers in their perinatal period.
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“It’s been exciting to provide that in Cairns, and now, we’re excited to invite the Cairns community in to see our work and support it.”
Ms Parker will be one of the speakers at The Babes Project free Christmas-themed community event in Cairns on November 17.
She said teen pregnancy rates in Cairns are nearly double the Queensland average, and community agencies have called for more comprehensive support.
“Negative attitudes around having children at a young age, or without a partner, or in a range of challenging situations, are often leaving women to raise children alone and vulnerable.
“That’s a bad outcome for the mother and for the baby.
“Isolation and overwhelm for new mothers are problems right across Australian communities.
“Our program graduates are proof that local face-to-face independent support really works to get new mums through tough times.”
Main points
- The Babes Project has helped almost 100 Cairns mums
- The free initiative opened in FNQ in 2019
- It's holding a free Cairns community event on November 17
