In a resounding call for change and empowerment, Better Births Illawarra – the advocacy group co-founded by Sharon Settecasse, Giselle Coromandel and Alyssa Booth – is rallying the Illawarra community to stand in solidarity with brave women sharing their birth trauma experiences at this week's NSW parliamentary inquiry public hearing in Wollongong.
The Select Committee on birth trauma in NSW is holding its first two public hearings this week – today, 4 September at NSW Parliament in Sydney and on Thursday, September 7, at the Sage Hotel in Wollongong. The public hearings are a significant step towards shedding light on birth trauma and advocating for improvements in maternal care.
Better Births Illawarra is gearing up to make their presence felt at the public hearing.
The group will gather outside the Sage Hotel at 9:30am, holding signs and symbols of support. This display aims to draw attention to the need for positive changes in birthing experiences across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, with a focus on midwifery-led care as a pathway to safer and more fulfilling births.
Sharon Settecasse, a co-founder of Better Births Illawarra, is one of the leaders spearheading the movement to support these women in their journey to share their often deeply personal and challenging experiences. The group is advocating for a collective stance, urging local residents to join them in expressing solidarity and empathy for the women who will be speaking at the public hearing.
Better Births Illawarra will take the floor as an organisation at 12pm, allowing them to articulate their vision for improved maternal care. By collectively speaking out, they hope to amplify their message and effect change within the healthcare system.
The NSW parliamentary inquiry on birth trauma has had an overwhelming response, with more than 4000 submissions from women across the state who have courageously shared their stories of traumatic births. This unprecedented influx of firsthand accounts underscores the importance of addressing birth trauma and reimagining maternal care practices to prioritise the wellbeing of both mothers and infants.
One reason Better Births Illawarra began is the high intervention rates, including C-sections, inductions, and episiotomies, observed during births at Wollongong Hospital. Learn more about their mission here.
