Parenting education services in Hunter New England

Contact your local maternity service

• Check the face-to-face or online program options for your hospital
• Contact your maternity service to make your booking, the contact details for each maternity hospital are listed below.

Booking for John Hunter Hospital

• Download the online booking form (PDF 254.22KB)
• Fill it in and save it.
• Email it to HNELHD-JHHParentingEducation@health.nsw.gov.au
• Or call (02) 4016 4595.

For all other hospitals please see how to book in the hospital program availability

Wait for confirmation

• You will receive a confirmation email.
• It will include payment instructions (if needed), the date and time of your program, venue information, parking information and anything you need to bring, like food.

If no suitable program is available

• Complete a booking form.
• Email it with your preferred dates.
• The team will try to find a suitable option.

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Video transcript

Hunter New England LHD Parenting Education Service

[Program participant]
 

I won't be going to labor room because I'm unaware and I am I'm scared of what to expect. It was so emotional to me to have finally, after nine months and to hold her and it just made the world, whole world made sense to me and it was beautiful.

 

[Jane Shields: Clinical Midwife Consultant, Parenting Education]

 

For expectant parents, pregnancy is an exciting time of discovery and learning. It's a time of great anticipation when couples dream about meeting their new baby and growing their family.

 

[Program participant]
 

How did we feel when we met you for the first time? Just pure joy, incredible, no feeling like it in the world.

 

[Karen McLaughlin: Midwife, Parenting Educator]

 

It's also a time of decision - making baby names. Where will I give birth? How will I birth my baby? How do I change a nappy and when are those immunizations due again?

 

[Program participant]

Um well some of the skills we learned was how to breathe properly, not to stress when I went into labor, what to expect.

 

[Jane Shields: Clinical Midwife Consultant, Parenting Education]

 

In today's world, we have information at our fingertips, but how do we know that this information is reliable or even relevant to new parents?

 

[Program participant]
 

It really came down to the letting us know that we had choices and it gave us that choice beforehand. You know what you want when you go into birthing because when you get there, a lot of things happen really quickly and it's good to have your support person or the person who's actually in the room with you knowing what you'd like.

 

[Donna Griffis: Midwife, Parenting Educator]

 

Here at the John Hunter Hospital parenting education service we offer first-class programs for expectant parents.

 

[Program participant]

 

The main benefit for me, from the class really was it gave us an opportunity to have a conversation before and get a mutual understanding of the general process of birth, but also of how we wanted this particular birth to happen and the support that Craig could provide and being the support person and I think it made a massive difference on the day that Craig had something to do and that he was able to provide support to me, which I don't think he would have been able to do if he hadn't had such a clear understanding of what was going on.

 

[Alison Summerville: Midwife, Parenting Educator]

 

We offer early pregnancy programs, young mothers programs, culturally specific classes, classes for dads and our very popular breastfeeding classes.

 

[Program participant]

 

I'd rate it 10 out of 10. They're just really lovely people, they taught like, they prepared us a lot for the labor and they were very supportive so, that's why it's 10 out of 10.

 

[Dr Chris May: Midwife, Parenting Educator]

 

Our goal is to provide you with reliable, up-to-date information to help you make informed decisions about your care.

 

[Program participant]

 

The classes had given us some understanding of what to expect, so that when we got home we understood what we needed to do and we could grow and learn with Lillian over the next few months.

 

[Jane Shields: Clinical Midwife Consultant, Parenting Education]

 

Gathering information and knowledge at this time helps to build awareness and confidence.

 

[Program participant]

 

The main piece of advice I'd give is go and, go and do all the education you can, you want to find out things before you get there and have to have to do it for real that that's number one, yeah.

 

[Program participant]

 

Are you right for the next one? Ah, what would I say to people about doing the course? I'm probably your typical Australian bloke, I didn't think I'd get too much out of it the little tips and tricks that you do get along the way really helpful and you probably don't even realise that you're learning anything until you're in that situation and you you're pulling that information you know back into real time.

 

[Joan Hawkins: Midwife, Parenting Educator]

 

We provide an environment which is informal relaxed and conducive to learning.

 

[Program participant]

 

You need a little bit of guidance and this place is friendly, it's warm, it's welcoming and it's safe.

 

[Program participant]

 

Parenting classes really help, because they do prepare you.

 

[Donna Griffis: Midwife, Parenting Educator]

 

The beauty of group learning is it allows couples to learn from each other and of course, this social aspect, you get to meet other expectant couples and we're going to have some fun along the way. The best part

from the group would be the reunion. We got to share our birth stories and have a laugh and you know have a look at all the beautiful babies and yeah for me that was definitely the highlight.

 

[Penny Williams: Midwife, Parenting Educator]

 

And you know, we often hear about couples who meet up in our classes and they form their own social networks and then they become lifelong friends. So community can start right here with us.

 

[Program participant]
 

Our group were wonderful we have and still have a great relationship and us women meet up with our new little babies and share concerns or questions and even the exciting moments with each other.

 

[Sarah Corrigan: Aboriginal Health Worker]

 

In our classes, you are welcome to bring along whoever is going to give you the best birth experience whether that's mum, Aunt, sister, partner, best friend, it's about what's going to make it good for you.

 

[Program participant]

 

The class has helped me to be a support person by really giving me an understanding of what Peta, my partner would go through, was going to experience both before during and after labor and then also how I can be of assistance once Lillian was born.

 

[Donna Griffis: Midwife, Parenting Educator]

 

We'd love to see you at one of our programs. We've helped thousands of couples prepare for the birth of their baby and we'd love to help you.

 

[Jane Shields: Clinical Midwife Consultant, Parenting Education]

 

Parenting education programs, where knowledge promotes confidence.

 

[Program participant]

 

This class has prepared me and gave me confidence to go into that room and thank you, it's changed my life.

 

[Jane Shields: Clinical Midwife Consultant, Parenting Education]

 

To learn more about our programs, please visit our website. For bookings you can send us an email or you can call us and speak to one of our friendly staff.

Make your payment

Some programs have a fee, similar to other Australian maternity services. Concessions and health fund debates are available.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, payment support options are available. Please call the Parenting Education Service on (02) 4016 4595

Please make payment prior to program commencement date via one of the following options:

• Online: NSW Health Payment Platform
• Direct Debit:

                                BSB - 012-699

                                Account - 264711000

                                Reference – Participant name

• Phone: John Hunter Hospital Cashiers Office – (02) 4921 3585

For all programs paying online, in the portal please select from the drop down the hospital you are attending the class.