A message from our CEO and Founder, Amy Dawes OAM
To the Birth Trauma Australia community… our heart and our reason for being.
This 10-year milestone marks a decade of courage, connection, and determination to make change.
It’s a moment to pause and recognise every person who has trusted us with their story. Every parent who has carried the weight of a day that we assume will be the happiest of their lives. It’s for every family who has searched for understanding, support and a way forward… and every person who has helped us build a future where birth-related trauma is acknowledged and taken seriously.
But behind every milestone is a person.
A story.
A family.
A birth that changed everything.
An experience that left a lasting impact.
Those stories have shaped our work and continue to remind us why it matters.
To every parent who has shared their experience with us, thank you for trusting us with something so deeply personal. To the healthcare professionals, researchers, advocates, organisations and workplaces who have stood alongside us, thank you for helping create meaningful change. And to every donor, volunteer, supporter and community member who has believed in this work, thank you.
This milestone belongs to all of you.
As we reflect on where we have come from, I am incredibly proud of the awareness we have built and the conversations we have started. But I am equally aware of how much more there is to do.
As we look to the next decade, our commitment remains as strong as ever: to listen to the experiences of parents, to support those impacted by birth-related trauma, to advocate for better care and outcomes, and to work towards a future where every person feels safe, heard and supported before, during and after birth.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
10 YEARS 10 STORIES
Clayton Schmidt
Read Story
Hannah Jacobson
Read Story
April Hagan
Read Story
Emma and Alicia
Read Story
Marija Zivic
Read Story
Christine Pistone
Read Story
Rachel Haywood
Read Story
Sam Smith
Read Story
Dr Priya Rao
Read Story
Dr Val Slavin
Read Story
33%
OF WOMEN+ DESCRIBE THEIR BIRTH AS TRAUMATIC
100K
WOMEN+ SUPPORTED BY BIRTH TRAUMA AUSTRALIA ANNUALLY
17.5b$
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM BIRTH TRAUMA ANNUALLY
1.5M
WEBSITE VISITORS ACCESSING BIRTH TRAUMA RESOURCES
OUR HISTORY
From raising awareness and amplifying lived experiences, to advocating for better support, education and care, every step over the past decade has helped bring birth-related trauma out of the shadows and into the conversation.
As we celebrate 10 years of making a difference, we’re reflecting on some of the key moments, milestones and achievements that have shaped our work and helped drive meaningful change.
Co-Founder Amy Dawes’ Advocacy is Grounded in Lived Experience
Following a forceps birth that left her with permanent pelvic floor damage, she found herself searching for information and support and finding nothing.
In 2016, she built what she couldn’t find.
First media article:
Launched the organisation’s first website and the Peer2Peer Social Support Group. This group has now grown to more than 5,500 members.
The private, peer-moderated Facebook support group is for Women+ who have experienced birth-related trauma to connect with people who just ‘get it’.
The impacts of birth-related trauma can be lonely and isolating; we want you to know that you are not alone. We have a judgement-free community that you can easily connect with.
Knowing where to start when seeking support can be challenging; the group can be a good place to start your journey back to wellness.
- Our birth trauma support leaflets are available in hundreds of clinics nationwide, including hospitals, physiotherapists and perinatal mental health clinics.
Trained our first peer support mentors. - Launched the Peer2Peer Chat Online Support Program.
- Recruited and trained 15 peer mentors and provided 520 hours of support to affected families within the first financial year.
“What I needed was a safe space to share my experience and move forward. I can be that place for someone.” — Kylie
- Amy presents on the work of Birth Trauma Australia in the UK.
- Launched the first Birth Trauma Awareness Week in Australia #YourStoryMatters
- Hundreds of people purchased our t-shirts.
- Birth Trauma – Breaking the silence – reaching the Rotary Hawthorn; President Ian Bentley commented:
“After listening to the personal experiences of young mothers, it would be hard to argue that there is not a need in our community to provide more support for women through the process of pregnancy and birth and especially to those who carry physical or psychological damage into life after the birth of their children.
The antenatal, clinical and postnatal issues are complex, and there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. There is, however, room for improvement in many areas and it is important that we do what we can to encourage those trying to make a difference, whether it is minimising birth trauma or maximising support if it is sustained.”
- Amy was involved with the National Strategic Approach to Improving Maternity Care Consultations, including the implementation of a consult specifically for women impacted by a traumatic birth.
- Trained Peer Mentors in VIC, NSW and QLD.
- During Birth Trauma Awareness Week, we were featured on The Project, ABC News, ABC Radio and other media outlets
- Delivered our inaugural Conference in Brisbane: ‘Uniting Professionals in Birth Trauma Care’. We co-hosted this event with the Centre for Perinatal Psychology.
“I found every speaker’s content interesting, relevant and informative.”
Kate, Clinical Midwife Liaison
“It was one of the best conferences I have been to….and I’ve been to quite a few over the years!! The selection of speakers was also very comprehensive.”
Helen, Project Nurse Manager
“I have been to MANY conferences in my career, and this conference definitely exceeded my expectations. Well done. I’ve left inspired, touched and motivated to make change.”
Lyz, Women’s Health Physiotherapist
- Delivered our first Peer2Peer Meets Pilot at Peach Tree Wellness.
Peer2Peer Meets is a trauma-informed, peer-led program that provides women+ who have experienced birth-related trauma with the opportunity to understand and explore their trauma in a supported way and, importantly, to help them develop their own plan for moving forward on their trauma journey. - Took Peer2Peer Meets online to VIC during COVID thanks to Parentzone.
“I am so grateful this type of program is available and at no cost. I feel there is a lot of value in the P2P support group, and I wish it were easily accessible and available within the first few weeks or months postpartum. This will allow future mothers (and partners) to feel like they are not alone and may even prevent and ease anxiety, depression, a sense of isolation and unnecessary prolonged physical injuries by seeking help early post-birth.”
“I feel I am now able to view my experience in a different way that has helped me decide that I can have a second child without my past experience holding me back. Thank you to everyone involved who facilitates the support groups.”
“The P2P Meets Program was really essential in my recovery from birth trauma. Before the program, I felt isolated in my experience; this was compounded by the COVID lockdown in Melbourne. The program offered a safe space to share and be heard, and it also provided useful tools to understand our trauma and heal from it. The program offered the information and support I needed to pursue a birth debrief with the hospital and also encouraged me to write down my birth story, which was really healing for me personally. I would recommend the program to any woman who feels she has experienced birth trauma”
(Peer2Peer Meets Participants 2020)
- A small team of experts, including Dr Oliver Daly, Urogynae; Robyn Brennen, midwife; Dr Angela James, Pelvic physio; and Amy Dawes, gathered for a weekend away in the Blue Mountains to write the content for our antenatal education series in response to too many women asking, “Why didn’t anyone tell me?’.
- Following that, ThinkNatal™ Education was born – a series of antenatal educational resources aimed at providing support and information on a variety of topics that are often excluded or underrepresented in existing birth preparation programs.
- Dr Vijay Roach (RANZCOG President) and Terri Barrett (ACM President) co-launched the first module on Perineal Tears.
- In collaboration with Western Sydney MRC, we ran a focus group to identify barriers that culturally and linguistically diverse communities face when seeking support in pregnancy and early motherhood. We are incredibly grateful to the women who bravely shared their experiences with us.
- Launched our Change.org petition calling for Medicare-subsidised access to pelvic physiotherapy for birthing women – gained 43,000 signatures supporting our cause.
- Launched our new ThinkNatal™ Education resources on The Pelvic Floor – What it is & what it does and The Pelvic Floor in Pregnancy, funded by the Queensland Government.
- Hosted an Online Birth Trauma Summit with two streams (one for consumers, one for health professionals), 6 days, 24 speakers – over 1,000 people registered.
- Amy won Westfield Local Hero in Brisbane; funds supported the delivery of our Peer2Peer Meets program.
- Delivered training and education workshops remotely across the nation
- Ran our first billboard campaign with thanks to Lendlease.
- Facilitated Peer2Peer Meets on the Gold Coast thanks to Gold Coast City Council.
- SBS Insight Episode ‘Giving Birth Better’, featuring CEO Amy Dawes, Board Member Dr Oliver Daly, Clinical Advisor Dr Angela James, and BTA community members, was one of the program’s most successful episodes of 2021, ranking third among the year’s most-watched and most-streamed episodes according to SBS viewer data.
- BTA proudly became an official Consumer Partner with the Pelvic Floor Research Program at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research.
- Delivered 22 education sessions about birth-related trauma across the country to key stakeholder groups, including hospitals in NSW, VIC and QLD, RANZCOG, Pelvic Pain Symposium, Australian Sonographer Association, CQU, and UQ, reaching thousands of clinicians nationwide.
- Launched our next ThinkNatal™ Education resource: Into the Know -Informed Birthing & Assisted Vaginal Births.
- 801 Women completed our survey on Birth Injuries, which led to our ‘Birth Injuries – a silent epidemic’ report in collaboration with Birth Trauma Association UK and Make Birth Better.
- Third year speaking at the Annual Malpractice Conference.
- Ran our first Walk n Support event during Birth Trauma Awareness Week; supporters took part across the country.
- Launched our new ThinkNatal™ Education resources on Recovering From A Caesarean Birth and Recovering After A Vaginal Birth funded by the Queensland Government.
- Delivered Peer2Peer Meets in Canberra
- Took the conversation to Parliament with Amy and Gabby meeting the then Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney.
- NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry
Submitted to the NSW Inquiry into Birth Trauma and Amy and Board Chair Amanda Turnill
Provided evidence as expert witnesses - Amy Dawes became Amy Dawes OAM, receiving an Order of Australia Medal for services to Women’s Health, particularly birth-related trauma.
- We had our biggest Birth Trauma Awareness Week to date, with a prominent feature on ABC’s 7.30 Report
- Birth Trauma Australia became formally involved in LEAPP (Living Evidence for Australian Pregnancy and Postnatal Care). Amy represents BTA on the national Steering Committee, helping ensure the lived experience of birth trauma informs Australia’s pregnancy and postnatal care recommendations.
- BTA’s advocacy extended internationally. Amy was invited to give evidence and testify to the UK All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Birth Trauma, sharing Australian consumer experience and expertise to inform the inquiry’s recommendations for safer, more compassionate maternity and postnatal care.
- Amy also travelled to the UK to be in Parliament for the May 2024 launch of the UK Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Birth Trauma and to witness the inquiry’s findings being formally presented.
- Expanded our hospital education to help establish birth reflection services to improve care pathways.
- Amy gave evidence to the Tasmanian House of Assembly Select Committee on Reproductive, Maternal and Paediatric Health Services.
- We started our ‘Train the Facilitator’ Pilot at Tamworth Community Health, taking our 6-week in-person support program to more parents.
- We expanded the ThinkNatal™ Education into ThinkNatal™ Education & Training and launched CPD- accredited eLearning modules for health professionals
- Mentioned in Parliament
- In early 2025, the Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA) rebranded as Birth Trauma Australia, reflecting the organisation’s broader role in education, advocacy, research and support.
- Keynote at the Inaugural Global Midwifery Update (GMU) conference
- Delivered presentations including the RANZCOG ASM, CAPEA and the Queensland Infant and Perinatal Mental Health Conference, and trained hospitals in QLD, VIC and NSW.
- Collaborated with RANZCOG to deliver the Birth Trauma Education Project Pilot
- Supported the delivery of 49 Peer2Peer Meets sessions across Brisbane in partnership with Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness.
- The Royal Women’s Hospital’s Maternity Services Education Program brought together 55 maternity educators from more than 30 Victorian health services. Amy’s three-hour workshop on Antenatal Education Framework helped maternity professionals better prepare women for birth through informed consent, communication, and shared decision-making. The workshop focused on practical, trauma-informed approaches to improving women’s experiences and reducing the risk of birth-related trauma.
“Amy Dawes- really made me realise how birth trauma can affect anyone no matter their experience”
“Amy was so passionate and inspiring and emphasised what a difference we can make to women and families – very eye-opening and she was very engaging.”
“Such a big topic that really expanded and deepened my understanding of Birth Trauma. I also really appreciated Hannah sharing her story. Such courage.”
- Published a World-First Economic Impact report on the ‘Cost of Birth Trauma in Australia’ with thanks to Nous Group.
- Launched the ThinkNatal™ Pelvic Physio Support Service thanks to Women’s Mental Health Australia.
- The RANZCOG Birth Trauma Roundtable, supported by Birth Trauma Australia, brought together clinicians, researchers, policymakers and people with lived experience to discuss the causes and long-term impacts of birth trauma. It focused on improving prevention, informed consent, postnatal care, pelvic-floor injury support, trauma-informed care and access to appropriate physical and psychological treatment.
Birth Trauma Awareness Week
Birth Trauma Australia established Birth Trauma Awareness Week in 2018, reaching millions of consumers and health professionals since.
Birth Trauma Awareness Week
Led annually by the team at Birth Trauma Australia, Birth Trauma Awareness Week is a national movement aimed at raising awareness of the devastating impacts of birth-related trauma.
Each year, Birth Trauma Awareness Week addresses a unique theme, sparking vital conversations, reducing stigma, and fostering a deeper understanding of birth-related trauma across the country.
By amplifying the voices of parents and health professionals, sharing trauma-informed resources, and advocating for systemic change in perinatal healthcare, this essential national campaign drives progress toward safer, more compassionate maternity care.
The themes since launching in 2018:
2018 Break the Silence – Take out the Self Doubt
2019 Start the Conversation – Birth Preparation
2020 Walk n Talk Event
2021 Better Healing #Start the Conversation
2022 Birth Injuries #saferbirthsbetterhealing
2023 PTSD – Big Step Challenge
2024 Informed Consent
2025 This is Birth
2026 The Cost of Birth Trauma
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
Hysterical: a midwife told Sam to take Panadol for her pain as her baby went into distress
A world-first New South Wales birth trauma inquiry released at the end of May made 43 recommendations for the state government. These include implementing trauma-informed care, reviewing laws around informed consent and improving mental health support and postpartum services.
Delays in childbirth injury diagnosis are impacting women's mental health, survey finds
A long bike ride to the park is Kristy Keefe’s idea of a perfect day with her sons.
She relishes every precious moment, having missed out on too many years ago when a traumatic birth led to a mental health collapse.
Two in five women who experience birth trauma also develop PTSD, new report finds
As Australia marks Birth Trauma Awareness Week, new research is shining a light on the significant mental health impacts that can follow traumatic birth experiences, with two in five women who experience physical birth trauma also developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Birth Trauma Awareness Week 2026 on ABC News Breakfast
It’s Birth Trauma Awareness Week, highlighting an issue that effects familes and around one in three Australian women. We hear one mother’s story and chat to Birth Trauma Australia about what’s being done to improve care and support #ABCNewsBreakfast
