In June 2026, we hosted our sixth and final My Maternity Journey expert working group workshop. This marks an important milestone in the co-design of this new statewide maternity resource. This resource will guide Victorian women and their families through every stage of pregnancy and birth.
Over the past 6 months, more than 40 expert working group members have contributed to the co-design process through monthly in-person workshops and content review.
The workshops have covered:
- pre-conception care
- first trimester
- perinatal mental health
- second and third trimesters
- labour and birth
- postnatal care
- women's health services and sexual health hubs.
Guest speakers, interactive discussions and breakout sessions provided valuable insights into the content and design of the resource.
The insights gathered through the expert working group, alongside broader engagement with experts across Safer Care Victoria, the Department of Health and external stakeholders, have played a critical role in shaping a resource that is practical, evidence-based and grounded in real-world experiences.
This work has been strengthened through collaboration with a diverse range of organisations and consumer groups, including:
- Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS)
- Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA)
- Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE)
- Mum's Matter
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)
- Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER) Perinatal and Neonatal
- Baby Makes 3
- Women with Disabilities Victoria
- Red Nose
- Australian Birth Trauma Association
- Life's Little Treasures
- ForWhen
- Victorian Maternal and Child Health Services
- Sexual Health Hubs
- Public fertility services
- Parent Portal.
These partnerships have helped ensure that My Maternity Journey reflects the needs, preferences and lived experiences of women, families, support people and care providers across Victoria. We are grateful to everyone who has contributed their expertise, insights and experiences throughout the co-design process.
Key discussions focused on how to ensure the resource:
- reaches the right people at the right time
- is visible and easily accessible throughout the maternity care journey
- is embedded into clinical practice so that it is consistently promoted, trusted and used in real-world settings.
My Maternity Journey is on track for release by the end of the year.
