Media Enquiries

For media enquiries please contact Sharon Settecasse at hello@betterbirthsillawarra.org.au

Birth Trauma Inquiry in the Media

Penny Burfitt, journalist. Photo: @Billielikes

The media spotlight during the Birth Trauma Inquiry is testament to the sheer volume of submissions, the harrowing stories of trauma and the imperative for change. Below are all the media pieces on the Birth Trauma Inquiry including the Report. BBI featured in more than 45 news pieces representing women and families across NSW.

We would like to thank the journalists for their accurate reporting and trauma-informed care when interviewing families. Most importantly, we wish to express our gratitude to the women for bravely talking to media about the sensitive issue of birth-related trauma.

August 2024

The Guardian Australia - NSW Health Minister apologises to women failed by maternity care after birth trauma inquiry

ABC News - Birth trauma inquiry response disappoints NSW women who wanted 'bolder' action - ABC News

SBS News - The 'missing element' in NSW's historic promise to end birth trauma | SBS News

Al Jazeera English - ‘I wish I was listened to’: NSW to respond to landmark birth trauma inquiry | Women News | Al Jazeera

Illawarra Mercury - Apology, reform after landmark birth trauma inquiry | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Sydney Morning Herald - NSW birth trauma inquiry: Health Minister Ryan Park apologises to women failed by maternity care (smh.com.au)

SBS News - Disappointment as midwifery continuity of care not prioritised by NSW | SBS News

Illawarra Mercury - Response to birth trauma inquiry falls short, Illawarra mums say. | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

May 2024

ABC News - Mothers involved in NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry reflect on its impact and say report isn't strong enough - ABC News

The Guardian - ‘I felt guilty’: women reveal harrowing details to groundbreaking NSW birth trauma inquiry | Health | The Guardian

7 NEWS - Mum reveals lasting birth trauma as NSW inquiry labels treatment of thousands of mothers ‘distressing and unacceptable’

The Daily Aus - NSW Parliament committee on birth trauma delivers final report (thedailyaus.com.au)

ABC News - Select Committee on Birth Trauma chair disappointed by lack of support for consideration of 'gendered violence' (msn.com)

Illawarra Mercury - Illawarra mothers push for stronger birth trauma reform

SBS NEWS - Women want culturally-sensitive, trauma-informed continuity-of-care landmark birth trauma inquiry reports

Illawarra Mercury - Birth trauma inquiry report brings hope for change in Illawarra | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

March 2024

Illawarra Mercury - Hopes for improvement at Wollongong Hospital as birth trauma hearings end

ABC News - NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry to hear families of Down Syndrome babies feel pressure to terminate

ABC News - NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry told teenage mother kept in the dark about the death of her daughter in utero

November 2023

The Practising Midwifery Journal - Consumer Advocacy Groups: A voice for Survivors in the Birth Trauma Inquiry

September 2023

CNN World News - 'MeToo' for mothers: Australian inquiry hears troubling accounts of birth trauma | CNN

WIN NEWS Illawarra (Video) - Wollongong Public Hearing - Birth Trauma Inquiry

ABC News - NSW inquiry into birth trauma hears how 'disrespectful' care has left mothers traumatised - ABC News

ABC News - NSW government announces maternity care advisory group in wake of birth trauma inquiry - ABC News

Illawarra Mercury - Better Births Illawarra claim 'seven years of inaction' has led to birth trauma inquiry | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury - A single image will stay with Health Minister Ryan Park from Wollongong's birth trauma hearing | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury - What it's like to be pregnant amid Wollongong's shocking birth trauma stories | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury - Inspiration for who to nominate in Illawarra citizen of the year awards | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

August 2023

ABC NEWS TV (video) : Traumatic Births

Daily Telegraph - How you can help make change for birthing mothers with the NSW Inquiry into Birth Trauma

The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast - How to Change the System: Guests Sharon Settecasse Better Births Illawarra and senior researcher Hazel Keedle

ABC News - Refugee mother says giving birth in Wollongong Hospital one of most traumatic experiences of her life - ABC News

Illawarra Mercury - Women's birth plans 'mocked' by staff, Wollongong midwife tells NSW inquiry | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury - Birth trauma 'widespread' in the Illawarra, consumer advocacy group says | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury - 'I gave birth to my daughter twice': Women speak ahead of birth trauma event | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury - Rising birth interventions 'complex and multi-factorial', Illawarra health district says | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury - NSW women give birth in 'a system designed by middle aged white men': inquiry | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury - Thousands of submissions lodged in NSW birth trauma inquiry | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury - Public hearing into birth trauma to be held in Wollongong | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury - Birth trauma inquiry: Hospital boss says 'we must listen and make changes' | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Mercury Birth Trauma Hearing - Video

Region Illawarra - Safer births and less suffering – Illawarra community takes steps to stop birth trauma in local hospitals | Region Illawarra

Illawarra Flame - Illawarra advocacy group campaigns for more midwives, better births (theillawarraflame.com.au)

APRIL, June, July 2023

ABC News - Women speak out about birth trauma ahead of NSW parliamentary inquiry - ABC News

WIN NEWS Illawarra - Birth Trauma Awareness Event

Illawarra Mercury - 'Nobody can turn an blind eye to birth trauma anymore,' Emma Hurst MP tells Illawarra women | Illawarra Mercury | Wollongong, NSW

Illawarra Flame - Facing birth trauma (theillawarraflame.com.au)