OUR STORY
Birth Trauma Australia was founded in 2016, when Liz Skinner, a midwife, registered nurse, child and family clinician, lecturer, and researcher, was interviewing affected women for her PHD thesis on ‘The Psychological Impact of Somatic Trauma’. Amy Dawes discovered Liz’s work during her journey to process her own experience after the forceps delivery she had with her first child. Amy reached out to Liz, and a friendship was formed.
Shortly after meeting Amy, Liz visited the UK and met with the UK Birth Trauma Association. It was during this trip that Liz recognised the great need for women and their families to have support in Australia. Upon her return, she made this suggestion to Amy, and so, with initial funds donated by Professor Hans Peter Dietz, the Australasian Birth Trauma Association was founded. A board was formed, and in that same year, ABTA became a registered charity.
With a rebrand, ABTA now Birth Trauma Australia or BTA is reliant upon our board, our clinical advisors, small team and incredible volunteers who donate their time and expertise to enable us to continue educating and advocating for safer births and better healing.
Birth Trauma Australia (BTA) is Australia’s peak charity dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of birth-related trauma. Founded in 2016, BTA works at the intersection of peer support, consumer advocacy, health policy, research translation, and clinician education, operating a 5,000+ member peer support community and delivering nationally accredited CPD for clinicians through its ThinkNatal™ eLearning platform. Our mission is to build a future where every birth is safe, and every person is supported to heal.
We listen to the voice of the consumer and respond to the unmet needs of birthing families. As a committed advocate for a multidisciplinary approach to maternity care, we actively collaborate with diverse health professional groups and highly value each group’s unique contribution and strong commitment to maternity care. Through these partnerships, we aim to enhance our services and provide comprehensive information support to birthing families.
We are committed to serving all those who need our services throughout Australia and encourage you to reach out if you are in need of support, would like to improve your understanding of birth-related trauma or would like to join us on our mission to reduce the instances and impact of birth-related trauma whilst supporting affected women, people families and healthcare professionals.
OUR VISION
Our vision is Safer Births and Better Healing.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to build a future where every birth is safe, and every person is supported to heal.
As the leading organisation in this space, we are committed to setting the standard for excellence in advocacy, education, and support. We are proud of our role in championing this holistic approach and aim to be recognised as the peak body, ensuring that birth trauma is not only acknowledged but effectively addressed across all levels of healthcare and policy.
OUR GOALS
Awareness
We enhance community understanding about birth-related trauma and healthcare, for the benefit of individuals, families and healthcare professionals.
Education
We educate about safer birthing and better healing from birth-related trauma, driving individual change in the behaviour of individuals, families and health professionals.
Support
We provide trusted peer-led support services for people affected by birth-related trauma.
Sustainability
This strategic pillar underpins the three other strategic goals – to enable us to build long-term organisational sustainability.
OUR VALUES
Collaborative
Working together for shared impact.
Compassionate
Caring deeply for every experience.
Curious
Committed to continuous learning.
Empathetic
Validating voices and ensuring they’re heard.
Inclusive
Supporting all families, in every form.
Respectful
Valuing every journey with dignity
Our Language
Anyone can experience birth-related trauma, including:
- people giving birth;
- fathers, partners, friends and family members witnessing loved ones giving birth; and
- other people witnessing a birth or providing care in relation to pregnancy and birth, including health professionals.
We seek to be inclusive. All are welcome to access our services and resources, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, profession or the circumstances in which they have suffered birth-related trauma.
“Birth-related trauma” includes any injury or trauma, whether physical or psychological, sustained at any time in connection with pregnancy, labour or childbirth. This definition is intended to be broad.
Women+ Positioning Statement
