From birth to graduation, marriage and grandchildren, motherhood can be full of ups and downs, here are some of Canberra’s experts to help mothers along the way.

According to the latest figures, there are an estimated 766 babies born each day in Australia.

While being a parent can be one of the most rewarding experiences, it can also be busy and demanding – and sometimes it’s hard to find the right advice, service or product when the need arises.

Here are some of the local services dedicated to supporting mothers through pregnancy, babies, kids and beyond.

Magic in seeing children ‘smile and flourish’

For more than 30 years, Possum Magic director Alan Cadorin has been inspiring and caring for the next generation of thinkers and innovators.

“After getting my diploma 33 years ago, I wanted to make a difference and give something back,” he says. 

“I was inspired by the way my parents raised me and wanted to take the same approach to early childhood care.”

A family-oriented service, Alan says Possum Magic’s values line up directly with his own. 

“It takes a community to raise a child,” he says. 

“And we are a family, of sorts.”

Accepting children from six months to school age, Alan says his favourite part about working in long day care is the sharing of stories and sense of connection between the organisation, the families and the children he sees each day. 

A lasting approach, Alan now welcomes the children of the children he looked after 20 or so years ago.

“Possum Magic has now seen three generations,” he says. 

According to Alan, coming in for an introduction to the environment for both children and their parents is a great way to see how the children are happily engaged, with appropriate education inspired by the individual. 

“A smile is a powerful thing,” he says. 

“And that’s why we do it. To see the children smile and flourish.” 

Possum Magic. 27 Astrolabe Street, Red Hill. Call 6295 7077 or visit possummagic.net

Embracing diversity and building brighter futures

In the art on the walls, in the foreign-language picture books and on the smiling faces of students and educators, diversity is everywhere at Anglicare at Franklin School Early Learning Service (ELS), says educational leader and early childhood teacher Riccardo Martiniello. 

Between the staff, children and their families, there are 14 different nationalities represented at the Anglicare in Franklin School.

“Recognising diversity as the strength it is, the Franklin ELS works to intentionally incorporate it across their program from day one of a child’s journey,” says Riccardo. 

“As part of our normal orientation process, we spend time learning about children and their families, noting their cultural background and languages spoken at home.

“This forms the initial planning of the child’s learning, and we incorporate key words from their language to support them with building trusting relationships with educators”.

Regularly celebrating significant cultural events, inviting community members to share their music, dance and food with the children, Riccardo says their services have welcomed special guests from the Chinese and Indonesian embassies as well as local MP Andrew Leigh.

“Dr Leigh visited on Australia Day and said to us: ‘I love the way your centre celebrates those differences and those strengths that make up modern Australia’,” says Riccardo. 

“Part of what led to a wholehearted embrace of diversity at Anglicare at Franklin School, is Anglicare’s commitment to the Sanctuary model, which is an evidenced-based method of providing trauma-informed care to participants and creating safe and supportive workplace cultures for staff.” 

Two of Sanctuary’s commitments, cultural safety and emotional intelligence, are key to the service’s daily operation by informing how differences and feelings can be positively presented.

“Celebrating a child’s culture allows them to build their sense of identity, their self-confidence and feeling of belonging within our classrooms,” says Riccardo. 

“All of which is a building block for growing emotional competence, healthy relationships and, ultimately, resilience.” 

Enrolments for Franklin School ELS are now open.

Anglicare at Franklin School Early Learning Services. 135 Oodgeroo Avenue, Franklin. Call 6142 1117 or visit anglicare.com.au

Culturally safe and accessible maternity care

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Service’s midwifery program aims to remove barriers that prevent women from accessing maternity care by providing culturally safe, non-judgemental and flexible care, says CEO Julie Tongs.

“We focus on the clinical, cultural and spiritual needs of Aboriginal clients, families and the community and the midwifery program welcomed 68 babies into the community in 2020 and 2021,” she says.

“The midwifery team offers antenatal and postnatal care, community at home support, baby health checks, breastfeeding support, immunisations, and a range of women’s health services.

“Our midwives work closely with ACT hospitals, and assist in ensuring continuity of care between Winnunga Nimmityjah AHCS and hospital services”.

Ms Tongs says Winnunga also has a comprehensive child immunisation program they encourage patients to access.

“This also allows us to follow up on our patients’ progress with postpartum recovery, and to assist them with any needs in relation to caring for their infants,” says Ms Tongs.

“It is vitally important for high-risk clients to have access to Aboriginal-specific, culturally appropriate midwifery services, as many choose not to access mainstream services without support.”

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, 63 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah. Call 6284 6222 or visit winnunga.org.au

Northside service offers quality early childhood care

Established in 1976, Northside Community Services have been meeting the community’s needs for almost 50 years. 

Within Harrison, its early childhood centre caters to children as young as six weeks to school age. 

“Our team is comprised of experienced and qualified early childhood teachers and educators dedicated to forming respectful and reciprocal relationships with children,” says centre manager, Abbegaile Guanzon. 

“We believe that every child is unique and understand the importance of respecting, supporting and valuing time spent with children to help them flourish as individuals.” 

Participating in government-funded initiatives such as the 3-Year-Old Initiative Program and the Preschool Program, Abbegaile says early childhood education can change lives. 

“These programs ensure accessible, play-based learning environments that nurture literacy, numeracy, social skills, self-regulation and resilience,” she says. 

“Through our play-based programs, skilled educators and community-centered approach, we are committed to enriching the lives of children and their families.

“We highly value the quality time spent with children, prioritising our active engagement in every child’s learning and development.

“We work closely to create a strong sense of being, belonging and becoming for children and their families throughout the whole centre.” 

Northside Early Childhood Centre. 24 Wimmera Street, Harrison. Call 6171 8050 or visit northside.asn.au

 

The importance of getting screened for diabetes

About one in seven pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes, which is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, says Diabetes Australia general manager, NSW & ACT Health Service Operations, Natalie Smith.

“Unfortunately, some pregnancy hormones reduce how well insulin works,” she says.

“So it’s important that women understand that gestational diabetes can happen to anyone, it really isn’t your fault.

“It is usually diagnosed around 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, but can happen earlier. 

According to Natalie, for most women, gestational diabetes will go away after a baby is born, which is why it is important to receive follow-up testing from a GP or care team.

“We also know ladies who have experienced gestational diabetes are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life, so regular screening through your GP is essential,” she says.

“We know that a diagnosis will raise a lot of questions about what it means for you, your baby and your long-term health. 

“Visit the Diabetes Australia website for further information.”

Diabetes Australia. Call 1800 177055, or visit diabetesaustralia.com.au

Giving kids a headstart on their schooling

Kidstart Southside Education and Activity Centre understands that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial for development, says owner Kristen O’Connor.

“Kidstart offers classes for children from five months to five years of age to develop them socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually,” she says.

Operating since 1996 and located in Wanniassa, Kristen says Kidstart offers three distinct and age-appropriate programs to ignite a love of learning.

The first program is for children under the age of three, to attend with an adult, and introduces them to music, stories and stimulating equipment.

The second program is a “Pre-Preschool” program for three and four-year-olds to attend by themselves before starting preschool.

“It has been amazing to see 22 years’ worth kids and their families growing, loving, enjoying and benefiting from the program,” says Kristen.

The third program is Preschool PLUS. It’s designed for children to be involved alongside Preschool. The program is centred on phonics based literacy. 

“We use interactive computer sessions to expose the children to the letter sounds, letter identification and letter formation,” says Kristen.

“We are passionate about developing a love of learning in each and every child.

“By allowing them to thrive in an educational setting and experience the joy in exploring and achieving, we hope learning will be a lifelong passion for all our Kidstart kids.”

Kidstart Southside Education and Activity Centre, 65 Sternberg Crescent, Wanniassa. For enrolment enquiries visit kidstart.com.au