Parents attend three two-hour evening or weekend sessions with their babies, along with a small number of other families. The program is co-delivered by a male and a female facilitator, who have successfully completed healthAbility’s facilitator training. The group program is often integrated into existing first-time parents’ programs, delivered by local Maternal and Child Health Services.

It builds knowledge and skills in:

• Strengthening relationship equality
• Challenging outdated and often harmful gender stereotypes about parenting
• Building relationships in which parents are equally active in, and responsible for, childcare and household responsibilities

Baby Makes 3 can be tailored to meet community needs. We recognise the many identities and experiences of Australian families and the importance of cultural safety. We work alongside families from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, families with diverse cultural and language backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ families, and those in regional areas.

Delivering the Baby Makes 3 group-based program through Maternal Child Health Services addresses health and wellbeing priorities including:

• Promoting mental wellbeing
• Preventing all forms of violence
• Promoting gender equality
• Promoting health and wellbeing of families and children

The Baby Makes 3 Facilitator Training Program equips participants with the knowledge, skills and resources to effectively co- deliver the group-based program to new parents.

Delivery mode and contact hours

The training will be delivered either online over three full days or face to face over two full days. An additional 90 minutes will be required outside of training to complete pre-reading and activities.

Learning objectives

Understand relationship equality in the context of transition to parenthood. Be familiar with the group-based program including tools, resources and activities. Demonstrate the skills and confidence to deliver the group-based program.

Changes to knowledge, attitude and skills

After completing the Baby Makes 3 Facilitator Training Program, participants will be able to:

• Describe the background, rationale and aims of the group-based program, including Maternal and Child Health as a setting for program delivery
• Describe the program target group and participant learning objectives
• Describe how gendered expectations influence attitudes and behaviours during the transition to parenthood
• Describe the link between relationship equality and the prevention of violence against women
• Plan delivery of the group-based program, including co-facilitation strategies
• Utilise group work skills to establish a safe and supportive environment, facilitate healthy discussions, and engage respectfully and confidently with participants
• Engage specialist Baby Makes 3 group work skills to model equal male and female co-facilitation, engage both men and women in non-judgemental discussion and respond to resistance and other challenges
• Provide and receive feedback about facilitation and group work skills to ensure ongoing quality improvement

Target audience

People with highly developed facilitation skills and an understanding of gender equality, or a strong commitment to developing these. This may include staff from Maternal and Child Health Services, early years services and community organisations, including those with specific cultural expertise.

Training structure

The training consists of three modules:

• Module 1: Introduction and overview
• Module 2: Unpacking Baby Makes 3
• Module 3: Roleplay activities

Module 1: background and foundations of gender equality

• Overview of Baby Makes 3
• Rationale and evidence for focus on the transition to parenthood
• Exploration of social expectations of parenting and how these can be reinforced in organisational practices and structures

Module 2: the program unpacked

• Program content
• Program manual
• Program structure
• Facilitation skills in the context of Baby Makes 3

Module 3: roleplay activities

Opportunity to facilitate the program activities through role play, including:

• The Transition to Parenthood
• Expectations on Families
• Who Does What
• What is a Healthy Relationship
• Conflict in Relationships
• Sex and Intimacy
• Communication: Active Listening
• Communication: You and I Statements
• Responding to Disclosures

For more information, email us at babymakes3@healthability.org.au

This initiative embeds gender equality principles into antenatal and maternity systems, structures and practices. It ensures that rigid, gendered expectations of parenting are not reinforced, that both birthing and non-birthing parents are equally valued, and that structures and practices are inclusive of family diversity.

The Strengthening Gender Equality in Antenatal and Maternity Services Framework (the Framework) embeds gender equality principles and healthy relationship messages into existing antenatal and maternity services. It addresses Childbirth & Parenting Education (CBPE) programs, policies, procedures, the physical environment, health information and other parent contact points. It fosters gender transformative practice within the workforce using a whole-of-setting approach and focuses on five key areas:

• Parent access points
• Physical environment
• Policies and procedures
• Workforce development
• Patient information

Training

Baby Makes 3 provides training resources to antenatal and maternity services to support review and adaptation of Childbirth and Parenting Education (CBPE) programs. It equips participants with the skills, knowledge and confidence to incorporate gender equality principles and promote equitable relationships between parents.

Target audience

• Childbirth Parenting Educators
• Midwives
• Coordinators
• Allied health professionals

Participants receive 4 CPD points for completing the training.

Time requirement

• Self-paced online learning (45 minutes)
• Online or face-to-face workshop (5.5 hours)

Pricing

• Victorian public antenatal services with a partnership agreement: free
• Private or service outside of Victoria: contact us for pricing guide

For more information or to register your interest in training, email us at babymakes3@healthability.org.au

This self-paced, online course equips participants with the skills, knowledge and confidence to promote gender equality in antenatal and maternity services. It includes interactive content, opportunities for reflection and downloadable resources.

Participants will be able to identify the gendered expectations of being a parent, and explore how antenatal and maternity services can disrupt these expectations by changing practices, systems and structures.

Target audience

• Midwives
• Nurses
• Educators
• Medical staff
• Allied health professionals
• Administrative staff

Participants receive 1 CPD point for completing the training.

Time requirement

• Self-paced online learning (45 minutes)

Pricing

• Victorian public antenatal services with a partnership agreement: free
• Private or service outside of Victoria: contact us for pricing guide

For more information or to register your interest in training, email us at babymakes3@healthability.org.au

The Baby Makes 3 Postnatal Framework (the Framework), and its companion tools and resources, have been developed to provide Maternal and Child Health Services with a practical, evidence-based approach to strengthen gender equality through practice, system and structural change, further supporting the health and wellbeing of parents and their child(ren).

The Framework embeds respectful relationship messaging into existing Maternal and Child Health Service programs through delivery of ‘Strengthening and Embedding Gender Equality through Practice, System, and Structural Change in Maternal and Child Health Services’ training, mentoring and provision of Framework, tools and resources. It takes a whole of setting approach to strengthening gender equality and addressing the gendered drivers of violence in organisational practices, systems and structures. It develops the capability of the postnatal workforce in gender transformative practice.

Focus areas

• Correspondence and information (between services and parents/families)
• Physical environment
• Workforce development
• Connection and engagement (with parents and families accessing services)
• Systems and policies

Framework implementation is guided by a five-step process – prepare, reflect, plan, do and review. Services can choose to start the cycle at the step that is best for them. Steps are flexible and can be tailored to the needs of each service.

Through the reflection and planning process, other opportunities may emerge. Different strategies can be explored and scoped to identify potential support for implementation.

For more information or to register your interest in training, email us at babymakes3@healthability.org.au

The culturally adapted model of Baby Makes 3 was gifted the name Balit Booboop Narrkwarren, “Strong Bubba and Family” by Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Elder Brooke Wandin. First Nations organisations and communities lead the co-design of Champion Training and toolbox activities used in services and programs.

While Balit Booboop Narrkwarren is based on the key messages of Baby Makes 3, it recognises and respects the culture, language and country of First Nations peoples. Local artists partner with the cultural working group to create songlines with symbols, dance and language unique to each community and the pedagogy (ways of knowing, learning and teaching) in welcoming a bubba.

Balit Booboop Narrkwarren community Champions use yarning tools with families to explore family roles, sharing the load, kinship and connection. The initiative works with Koori Maternity Services, ACCHOs, local councils and perinatal services across Australia.

We acknowledge the partnerships on Bunurong Country, Nooya Boorai Karobran Door-Ah-Bun “Our Baby Journey Together” – Gunaikurnai language; Moorditj Koolingars Moort “Strong Baby Family” - Noongar language.

For more information, email us at babymakes3@healthability.org.au

Baby Makes 3 has been adapted with local communities, bicultural educators and partners with lived cultural expertise who know their communities best.

Our culturally adapted tools, resources and training models are based on the Baby Makes 3 key messages whilst addressing aspects of universal services that may create barriers for families from different cultures. Cultural adaptations of Baby Makes 3 respond to demand from community and are co-designed with community. Our co-design approach supports us to be led by community and guided by different cultural groups to adapt our resources, tools, training and overall approach.

Cultural adaptations

• Baby Makes 3 group-based program tailored with and for families from diverse cultural and language backgrounds
• Baby Makes 3 group-based program translated into different community languages (including Arabic and Mandarin)
• Respectful relationship video series communicating key Baby Makes 3 messages in ten different languages (including simple English)
• Toolkit, resources and training package codesigned with and for bicultural facilitators to use with families from diverse cultural and language backgrounds

For more information, email us at babymakes3@healthability.org.au

Baby Makes 3 partners with university providers to build gender transformative practice within the emerging antenatal and postnatal workforce, through embedding gender equality principles in both teaching and learning.

For more information, email us at babymakes3@healthability.org.au

Congratulations Aunty Deb, Uncle Shane and Uncle Lionel, our Elders leading Balit Booboop Narrkwarren (BBN) Training on Bunurong Country, for winning a Reconciliation Victoria Maggolee Award for 2024!

Balit Booboop Narrkwarren was awarded the Local Government Professionals (LGPro) Award for Excellence for First Nations Community Partnership. The award recognised our work with First Nations partners at City of Greater Dandenong, Frankston City Council, City of Casey, Nairm Marr Djambana, Uncle Shane Charles and Aunty Deborah Mellett, leaders of the Indigenous Australians Health Promotion Programme, and the New Directions Mothers and Babies Project.

This category of the Victorian Health Promotion Awards recognises a health promotion organisation or program that was able to be flexible, innovative and successful in supporting Victorians to improve their health and quality of life.

2021 HILDA survey - All parents deserve the same opportunity to live a happy and healthy life

Building strong families

Being in Baby Makes 3

Building bonds

Yarning about Balit Booboop Narrkwarren

Baby Makes 3 - Building strong families video preview

Baby Makes 3 Evaluation Report 2015

University of Melbourne HILDA report

Improving the health and wellbeing of first-time parents and their children

Finding balance as a new family

Building strong families through culture and community

Vic Maternity Services Lead Push for Gender Equality

Applying a gender equality lens to childbirth and parenting education programs at Northern Health

National Childbirth Parent Education Association conference 2022