For fathers and non-birthing parents, the perinatal period can be a time of significant transition, yet support for these parents is often minimal or non-existant. This webinar will provide insights from a variety of experts on how midwives can support fathers and non-birthing parents, and also by extension the mother/baby dyad.
This free webinar will be hosted by ACM Senior Midwifery Lead, Aya Emery and feature presentations from Steven Kennedy, Alka Kothari, Rakime Elmir, Karen Wynter and Becky Telling.
Associate Professor Rakime Elmir
Presenting on Father inclusive practice: perspectives from culturally diverse fathers
A/Professor Elmir’s research is underpinned by a socio-ecological framework through an intersectionality lens focusing on, women, men, the family, culture, and belief systems. She places a strong emphasis on co-design with consumers, communities and key stakeholders to translate research to practice. She led the development of video resources to support CALD fathers in their transition to parenthood. The resources are placed on peer support groups with a reach of over 100,000 users.
Associate Professor Alka Kothari
Presenting on Co-designed Best Practice Principles for the care for fathers, non-birthing parents and families exposed to birth trauma.
Becky Eng
Presenting on Supporting non-birthing parents: LGBTQIA+ inclusive perinatal care
Becky (she/her) is a midwife with experience across clinical care, education, and health policy, with a particular focus on global perspectives, mental health and wellbeing, and inclusive care. Her clinical and educational work spans five countries, with much of her practice in continuity of care models and improving equitable access to healthcare. She holds a BSc with Hons in Midwifery, a Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing, and is currently undertaking a Masters in Primary Maternity Care. Becky is the founder of Birthing Belonging, a community-led organisation supporting LGBTQIA+ families and healthcare workers through childbirth and early parenting education, birth debriefing, and peer mentoring. Her work is grounded in evidence-based, trauma-informed practice and guided by a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and cultural humility.
Steven Kennedy
Presenting on Waking the Sleeping Giants of Maternity Care
Steven Kennedy is the founder of the Prepared Dad Foundation, a global leader in supporting men through the transition to fatherhood. After the life threatening birth of his son Steven established the foundation to provide first-time fathers with knowledge, confidence, and emotional tools so they are better able to support themselves and their families throughout the perinatal period.
Steven champions greater father involvement in maternity care, reshaping cultural narratives around masculinity and parenting, promoting teamwork between parents and heart-centred fatherhood.
Steven is also a trained Lamaze childbirth educator and a past facilitator of the Baby Makes Three and Family Foundations programs.
Dr Karen Wynter
Presenting on Barriers and opportunities for engaging fathers in health services: What does the international evidence tell us?
Dr Karen Wynter is a perinatal mental health researcher at the Department of Psychology, Deakin University. She has worked as a researcher in various disciplines including Psychology, Nursing and Midwifery, Public Health and Psychiatry. Her research focuses women’s and men’s transition to parenthood, including their mental health, relationships and experiences of engaging with health services. She is the co-convenor of the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium and Immediate Past-President of the Australasian Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health.