MEJ Charity Spotlight – Birth Trauma Australia and Hands Across Canberra

Each month the MEJ team shines a light on the organisations making a real difference, in our community and beyond. This month, we’re proud to spotlight two incredible organisations: Birth Trauma Australia, and Hands Across Canberra. 

Birth Trauma Australia

This month’s first spotlight goes to Birth Trauma Australia (BTA), chosen in recognition of Birth Trauma Awareness Week in July. 

BTA is Australia’s peak charity dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of birth-related trauma. Founded in 2016, the organisation operates at the intersection of peer support, consumer advocacy, health policy, research and clinician education, including a 5,000-strong peer support community and a nationally accredited eLearning platform for healthcare professionals.

For MEJ Partner Kate Waterford, spotlighting BTA this month is timely and deeply personal to the work MEJ does every day.

“Birth Trauma Awareness Week is an important reminder that the impact of a traumatic birth experience doesn’t end when a baby is born safely,” says Kate. “For many birthing parents, the psychological and physical effects can last for months or years, and too often, those experiences are minimised or go unsupported.”

“What I admire most about Birth Trauma Australia is that they listen to the voices of the people who’ve lived this experience and respond to what those families actually need. That kind of consumer-led advocacy is so important in changing how our healthcare system approaches maternity care.”

BTA’s mission is to build a future where every birth is safe, and every person is supported to heal. If you or someone you know has been affected by birth trauma, we encourage you to reach out to BTA directly, their peer support community and resources are available to anyone who needs them.

Hands Across Canberra

Our second spotlight this month goes to Hands Across Canberra, a regular choice for the MEJ team.

Established in 2013, Hands Across Canberra is the ACT’s community foundation, raising funds, investing them to grow, and distributing grants each year to the organisations that need them most. Supporting Hands Across Canberra means supporting more than 350 local charities and community organisations, many of which are small grassroots groups that wouldn’t otherwise have access to the funding or visibility they need to do their important work.

Together with the Canberra Foundations Collaborative, Hands Across Canberra grants more than $1.5 million each year to local projects and people, including through its administration of the Chief Ministers Charitable Fund.

We spotlight charities each month, giving our team the chance to celebrate the people and organisations making Canberra a better place to live. Keep an eye out for our next spotlight on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.