ABOUT

At Hygieia Health, we are dedicated to the sacred work of birth and the impact it has on the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of women, their families, and birth workers. We believe that “Peace on Earth begins at Birth,” as Jeanine Parvarti Baker so poignantly stated. As a non-profit organization with a charitable purpose of promoting the prevention and treatment of birth trauma, we strive to provide birth workers, obstetricians, midwives, and doulas with the knowledge and skills necessary to care for themselves and others, and to return birth to its rightful place as a profound rite of passage.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to support women on their journey to childbirth, ensuring that they receive safe and trauma-free birth services and support. We aim to raise awareness of the occurrence and consequences of birth trauma and provide women and birth workers with the tools and support they need to prepare for and experience a safe, positive birth.

To achieve this mission, we aim to establish, maintain, and operate dedicated birth houses throughout Australia. These birth houses will provide a safe and nurturing environment for women and families, and offer ongoing care and support to those experiencing social isolation. We also endeavour to develop and promote education and prevention programs for women, support people, and medical professionals, aimed at preparing mothers for birth and preventing the occurrence of birth trauma. We are working on providing support and counselling services to those affected or at risk of being affected by birth trauma, including women, their families, midwives, doulas, and obstetricians.

We advocate for greater government funding for birth centres and home birth services, and provide financial subsidies to low-income families and Indigenous women who are affected by or at risk of being affected by birth trauma. We also support research into birth trauma and source funding from the private sector, the general public, and other funders to further our mission.

Our vision

  • Our vision is to revolutionize maternity care options to support better outcomes for women, babies, and the community. We invest our time, resources, and funds into a range of projects, including lobbying for public-funded home birth and birth centres, providing better education for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, minimising and preventing birth-related trauma, leading or supporting campaigns for better maternity programs, building birth centres, funding and supporting research, providing support for birth workers, and extending our support to other programs with like-minded focus.

  • At Hygieia Health, mother and baby are held as the primary focus in all our work and thinking. We are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of women, their families, and birth workers and to ensuring that every birth is held sacred and is a safe, positive experience. Each project we undertake is driven by this purpose, and we look forward to sharing more about each as we evolve and grow. Join us in our mission to honour birth, birth workers, and reduce and prevent birth trauma. Together, we can heal birth and heal the earth.

Over recent years, Hygieia Health has delivered multiple impactful projects that demonstrate our expertise in community support, advocacy, and trauma-informed care, all of which underscore our readiness and relevant skillset to execute the proposed course for women’s circles centred on miscarriage and early pregnancy loss.

COMMUNITY BUILDING, AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY

  • Community Support and Crisis Management

COVID-19 Crisis Response: We established a hotline and an online Facebook group to support women in crisis during the COVID lockdowns. The hotline provided direct assistance, while the group became a continuous support hub that remains active today as an inclusive community space.

  • Birth Trauma Awareness Initiatives

Since 2023, we’ve hosted annual events, including in-person and online summits with specialist speakers, which bring attention to birth trauma issues and highlight potential solutions.

  • NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry

Our comprehensive submission to the inquiry, coupled with our role in testifying and lobbying, illustrates our dedication to elevating women’s voices and ensuring systemic change. We have supported individuals in sharing their experiences and worked with other groups to drive this historic initiative forward.

  • Education and Training

Trauma-Informed Perinatal Care Training: We facilitated trauma-informed care training at Lismore Base Hospital for obstetric staff, helping to improve awareness and care practices directly in the clinical setting.

  • Ongoing Lobbying and Consumer Representation

Advocacy for Homebirth and Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) Programs: We serve on a local health district committee advocating for accessible maternity care options, including the homebirth program, and push for trauma-informed training within the system.

Public Submissions and Feedback Platforms: Through ongoing submissions to government inquiries, maintaining local Facebook feedback groups, and having a volunteer as a consumer representative, we work to bridge communication gaps and ensure women’s feedback is heard.

  • Outreach and Public Engagement

Conferences, Public Events, and Podcasts: Our team has presented at birth conferences, participated in panels, and contributed to podcasts, raising awareness of birth trauma and promoting accessible resources for women.

  • Fundraising and Community Collaboration

Surveys, Raffles, and Fundraising: We conduct regular surveys to assess community needs and raise funds through raffles. Additionally, we collaborated on a national campaign surveying 6,000 women, meeting MPs, and mobilising a letter-writing campaign, leading to a successful legislative change on insurance for private midwives.

Through these initiatives, Hygieia Health has established a strong foundation in trauma support, advocacy, and community engagement. Our work consistently emphasises the importance of listening to and empowering women, aligning seamlessly with our proposed course for supporting those experiencing miscarriage and early pregnancy loss.

Our Directors

JANE HARDWICKE COLLINGS

CO-FOUNDER / DIRECTOR

Jane is a former home birth midwife, teacher, writer and menstrual educator. She holds workshops in Australia and internationally on mother and daughter preparation for menstruation, the spiritual practice of menstruation, and the sacred dimensions of pregnancy, birth and menopause. Jane founded and runs The School of Shamanic Womancraft.

RAVEN ABULHAWA

CO-FOUNDER / DIRECTOR

Raven is a mother and a grandmother. She is a qualified nurse, midwife and doula. Raven is also qualified in alternative therapies, Transpersonal Art Therapy and Counselling. She is a teacher of The School of Shamanic Womancraft.

Raven is committed to women reclaiming feminine wisdom, power, health, well-being and a sense of community.

FIONA O’SHAUGHNESSY

DIRECTOR

Fiona is a mother of 3, a full-spectrum doula, and menstrual & childbirth educator. She is a graduate of the School of Shamanic Womancraft Four Seasons Journey and a Shamanic Womancraft Practitioner and teacher with the school. Fiona is committed to community building, and advocating for women and families along their perinatal and parenting journey.

Revolutionising maternity care one birth at a time.

View our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions here.

© Hygiea Health 2026. All Rights Reserved.