Preparing for Birth and Parenthood Sydney Conference

Friday, 14 March to Sunday 16 March 2008
The Novotel Hotel, Brighton-le-Sands

Expectant parents today are hungry for information, ideas, practical tips and emotional support as they prepare for the birth, especially of their first baby. Maternity hospitals, midwifery programs, community based education groups and many individual childbirth educators have responded to this need and offer a range of preparation programs during pregnancy. Developing programs that are dynamic, appealing, educationally sound and worthwhile is an ongoing challenge, for those starting out in this field and also for those who have been active in this area for some years.

This Conference is designed for both groups: those wanting to enter this exciting and stimulating field and those looking for new ideas, fresh approaches and support for their work. The program will include plenary sessions with key international and Australian leaders in prenatal education, plus the opportunity to attend six experiential workshop sessions of 1 1/2 hours each on topics of your choice, streamed for both beginners and experienced educators.

A welcome Happy Hour will give you a chance to touch base with colleagues and renew friendships and generous breaks throughout the program will provide further opportunities for networking and sharing.

Bookstores, video screenings, and displays will offer to chance to see and purchase the latest in teaching resources.

The Novotel Hotel at Brighton-le-Sands is right on Botany Bay, a 15 minute taxi ride from Sydney Airport. It offers convenient on-site accommodation of single, double and triple share rooms plus all the facilities expected in a quality hotel. Bus links to the city are outside and the local area contains a variety of shops, restaurants and beach-side facilities to make your "down time" from the Conference relaxed and enjoyable.

Day One Friday 14 March 2008 2.00 pm    Registration and refreshments 3.00 pm    Opening and welcome Andrea Robertson 3.15 pm    PLENARY SESSION "Childbirth Educators: inclusive or exclusive?" Mary Nolan 3.45 pm    "When sexual abuse survivors give birth" Penny Simkin 4.15 pm    WORKSHOPS A1:   'I can do this!' the second stage of labour Julie Clarke A2:  Teaching birth basics: making birth easier Andrea Robertson A3:  Linking sexuality and birth Allison Hilbig A4:  Teaching birth basics: drugs and interventions Alesa Koziol A5:  Action teaching Judy Cottrell 6.00 pm    Happy Hour Catch up with your friends over a glass of wine! Day Two Saturday 15 March 2008 8.30 am    Refreshments 9.00 am    Starting the day ... Andrea Robertson 9.15 am    PLENARY SESSION "The art of childbirth education" Lorna Davies 9.45 am    "Realising the potential of expectant and new fathers" Paul Pritchard 10.15 am    Refreshments 10.45 am    WORKSHOPS B1:  Linking sexuality and birth Allison Hilbig B2:  Making connection with early parenting Deb Galloway B3:  Inside the mind of the expectant father Paul Pritchard B4:  Putting the "Wow!" factor into your program Mary Nolan B5:  Working prenatally with survivors of sexual abuse Penny Simkin 12.15 am    Lunch 1.15 pm    WORKSHOP C1:  Teaching birth basics: making birth easier Andrea Robertson C2:  Making connections with early parenting Deb Galloway C3:  Inside the mind of the expectant father Paul Pritchard C4:  Creativity and self-expression in prenatal programs Lorna Davies C5:  Getting started as an educator Julie Clarke 3.00 pm    Refreshments 3.30 pm    WORKSHOPS D1:  From fear to excitement about birth - changing mindsets Lina Clerke D2:  Teaching birth basics: drugs and interventions Alesa Koziol D3:  Managing diversity in educational programs Mary Nolan D4:  Confronting the issue of pain in labour Penny Simkin D5:  Beating educator burnout Andrea Robertson 5.00 pm    Close Day Three Sunday 16 March 2008 9.00 am    Starting the day ... Andrea Robertson 9.10 am    PLENARY SESSION "When a baby dies" Hannah Dahlen 9.45 am    Refreshments 10.15 am    WORKSHOPS E1:  From fear to excitement about birth - changing mindsets Lina Clerke E2:  'I can do this!' the second stage of labour Julie Clarke E3:  Putting the "Wow!" factor into your program Mary Nolan E4:  Creativity and self-expression in prenatal programs Lorna Davies E5:  Working prenatally with survivors of sexual abuse Penny Simkin 11.45 am    Lunch 1.15 pm    WORKSHOP F1:  Getting started as an educator Julie Clarke F2:  Action teaching Judy Cottrell F3:  Managing diversity in educational programs Mary Nolan F4:  Confronting the issue of pain in labour Penny Simkin F5:  Beating educator burnout Andrea Robertson 2.45 pm    PLENARY SESSION Conference wrap up Andrea Robertson 3.15 pm    Close Register now to avoid missing out!				Julie Clarke Julie has 20 years of experience as an independent childbirth educator, offering a variety of popular programs for pregnant couples. She presents programs for the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney, has been a faculty member of the Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education and lives in Sydney with her husband and two sons. Lina Clerke Lina has been a childbirth educator for over 20 years and is now a midwife. Her passion for natural birth has culminated in the production of the "Fotosets" a magnificent collection of photos that can be used to educate, inspire and encourage pregnant women and their caregivers. Judy Cottrell Judy is a Kiwi midwife and midwifery educator at the National Womens' Hospital, Auckland. She has worked in independent practice where she developed her interest in physiological birth. After years of workshopping, tweaking and honing her skills in teaching about birth, she finds role play allows the power of birth to speak and teach for itself. Lorna Davies Lorna is a UK qualified midwife and childbirth educator who has worked in midwifery education for the last thirteen years. She has been widely published and edited The Art and Soul of Midwifery. She is working as a Senior Lecturer in Midwifery at Christchurch Polytechnic and Institute of Technology and carries a small midwifery caseload. She is also a co-director of the well known midwifery website www.withwoman.co.uk. Hannah Dahlen Hannah is currently working as a Research Assistant at the Centre for Midwifery and Child and Family Health, UTS, Sydney, having taken a year’s leave from her role as the Clinical Midwifery Consultant for Sydney South Western Area Health Service. She serves on many midwifery Committees, and is Secretary of the NSW Midwives Association. Deb Galloway Deb is the area parenting education co-ordinator for the Hunter New England Area Health Service, where she plans, implements and evaluates a diverse range of programs for parents. She also initiates, facilitates and evaluates a range of educator training courses, including two courses offered online through the University of Newcastle. Allison Hilbig Allison is the Eastern Health Physiotherapy Clinical Coordinator and a senior lecturer in Women's Health Physiotherapy at La Trobe University. She completed the Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education, and after several years teaching prenatal classes in one of Melbourne’s largest maternity hospitals, now runs independent classes with Careforce Lifekeys in Melbourne’s outer east. Allison is married to David and they have four children. Alesa Koziol Alesa is a Clinical Midwifery Educator in a private Maternity hospital in Melbourne. Her interest in group presentation methods that are user friendly and easily understood has developed over the years as a midwife facilitator in childbirth education, a faculty member of the Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education. Mary Nolan Mary has worked for the UK National Childbirth Trust since 1985. She has prepared more than a thousand couples for the birth of their babies, and has trained many childbirth educators. Her first book appeared in 1996, and she has written extensively for both a lay and a professional audience. In 2007, she was appointed as Professor of Perinatal Education at the University of Worcester where she holds a research brief. Mary has three daughters. Paul Pritchard Paul is the National Training and Development Manager of Good Beginnings Australia. Paul’s work has focused on implementing innovative programs in universal services for parents of babies and young children and with children who are victims of severe abuse and neglect. Paul has developed a special interest in promoting the important role fathers play in the lives of Australian children. Andrea Robertson Andrea has been a childbirth education consultant for over 30 years. She has published six books including the best selling Preparing for Birth: Mothers and Fathers and The Midwife Companion: the art of support during birth. As Director of Birth International, she presents many workshops around the world for midwives, educators and allied health professionals, from her base in Sydney, Australia. Penny Simkin Penny is a physical therapist who has specialized in childbirth education and labour support since 1968. She has prepared over 9,000 women, couples, and siblings for childbirth and assisted hundreds of parents through childbirth as a doula. Penny is the author of many books on birth for both parents and professionals. She lives in Seattle, Washington where her practice consists of childbirth education, birth counseling, and labor support.
Birth International is an Australian Registered Training Organisation and has been the leader in the field of childbirth education in Australia for over 22 years. As an independent, private consultancy, Birth International offers training, support and resources to midwives, childbirth educators and allied health professionals in the maternity care field across the world. Each workshop will be presented as an interactive, experiential session that enables you to try ways of facilitating various topics and issues in a prenatal program. Presenters have been asked to include tips for teaching and practical exercises in their programs. Some workshops have been specifically designed for educators new to the field and these are coloured green Sessions designed for experienced educators seeking fresh ideas, new approaches and more advanced techniques are coloured orange Those sessions of general interest to both groups are in black. Please consider which workshops will best meet your needs when making your choice. Most workshop topics will be scheduled twice. Through your participation in these workshops, it is expected that you will be able to: Putting the "Wow!" factor into your program - Mary Nolan Describe simple strategies for enhancing adult learning Explore different adult learning styles Plan appropriate learning activities for pre-natal classes Managing diversity in educational programs - Mary Nolan Identify the issues associated with diverse groups Examine appropriate strategies for managing difference within a group Consider practical strategies for enhancing learning in diverse groups Teaching birth basics: making birth easier - Andrea Robertson Enable women to discover their own innate capacity for birth Identify the key strategies for getting this message across to women Explore ways of weaving this information into every session. Getting started as an educator - Julie Clarke Describe basic steps for establishing independent educational programs Explore program options Consider options for marketing and promotion 'I can do this!' the second stage of labour - Julie Clarke Explore ways of building women's confidence in birthing the baby Consider the role of the support people Discuss practical activities for teaching about the second stage of labour. Inside the mind of the expectant father - Paul Prichard Gain insight into what men think about pregnancy, birth and parenthood Discuss opportunities for men's needs and issues to be explored in classes Explore the impact of the birth on men's future lives, attitudes and beliefs. Making connections with early parenting - Deb Galloway Consider the common barriers to teaching early parenting issues in pregnancy Discuss how to engage expectant parents in learning about early parenting Experience some educational strategies for the early parenting period Confronting the issue of pain in labour - Penny Simkin Explore the mind/body connection in relation to labour pain Practice exercises designed to improve women's confidence in managing labour pain themselves Consider the wide range of self help measures available to women in labour. Working prenatally with survivors of sexual abuse - Penny Simkin Explore appropriate ways to inform expectant parents of the potential manifestations of childhood sexual abuse on childbearing Discuss modifications in teaching childbirth classes to accommodate the unique needs of abuse survivors Describe potential behavioural indicators of childhood sexual abuse that may present during childbirth classes Creativity and self-expression into prenatal programs - Lorna Davies Explore ways of encouraging self-expression in pregnancy programs Discuss the benefits of this approach to enhancing learning Experience teaching activities that incorporate art, music, movement etc Action teaching - Judy Cottrell Examine the potential of role play for explaining physiological birth Learn how to facilitate action and feelings in your program Explore the potential of "potent-speak" for advocating physiological birth. Teaching birth basics: drugs and interventions - Alesa Koziol Explore the role of the educator in providing parents with full information on these topics Practice appropriate teaching strategies for getting the message across Discuss important facilitation skills for presenting unbiased information Linking sexuality and birth - Allison Hilbig Discuss the importance of this topic Examine appropriate teaching strategies for incorporating sexuality, relationships and changing body image into the program Practice appropriate counselling responses for facilitating discussion and de-briefing postnatally. Beating educator burnout - Andrea Robertson Share strategies for avoiding educator burnout. Formulate new programs that inspire and excite. Strategies for nurturing yourself and creating success.. From fear to excitement about birth - changing mindsets - Lina Clerke Explore strategies for developing positive attitudes to birth Consider the role of words and images in shaping beliefs Learn practical skills and strategies to share with pregnant women and their partners. The Notovel Hotel Reservations: Phone: 1300 65 65 65 or Email: h1656@accor.com You will need to make your own accommodation reservations, and early booking is advisable, especially if a double or triple room is required, as these facilities are limited. Mention that you are attending the Birth International event when you book for the special room rate. Other hotels within a 15 minute taxi ride are: Airport Sydney International Inn Mercure Hotel, Sydney Airport Ibis Hotel, Sydney Airport, Phone: (02) 8339 8500 Formule 1 Hotel, Sydney Airport, Phone: (02) 8339 1840 Holiday Inn, Sydney Airport Please choose your workshop sessions carefully and provide first and second choice preferences for each session. Workshop numbers will be limited and places will be filled in strict order of receipt of registrations. If your workshop preferences are already filled, you will be allocated another workshop session at the same time. You have at least two opportunities to attend most workshops in the program. Once you are registered, we regret that no changes to workshop selections will be made, either in advance or at the Conference itself. This is a two and a half day program. Single day attendance is not available. Individual registration: $550.00 (incl. GST) Registrations postmarked before 23 December 2007 $599.00 (incl. GST) Registrations received after 23 December 2007 Register on-line now to secure your place! Student rate: $350.00 (incl. GST) Full-time undergraduate student rate. Current student identification must be attached to your registration. No online student registrations will be accepted. Please either send all student registrations with the relevant documentation to fax number (02) 9564 2388 or to PO Box 366 Camperdown NSW 1450. Special offers: Bring your colleagues! Two separate registration forms, sent together and paid with one cheque/credit card - save $55.00 off the total registration fee Send three registration forms at the same time, pay with one cheque/credit card - save $165.00 off total registration fee Everyone who registers before 23 December will be sent a free gift, worth $100.00. Cancellation Full fees, less a $25.00 processing charge for individuals who cancel will be made up to Friday 22 February 2008. If one member of a group cancels, the full fee will be payable by the remaining members of the group. There will be no refunds offered after that date, although substitutions will be possible at all times if notified in advance. Birth International reserves the right to alter the program due to unforseen circumstances. Closing date for registrations is Friday 7 March 2008. Special needs Please notify us if you have any special needs (e.g. dietary, disabled access etc).