OUR STORY
The mum-to-be and the social worker and doula who brought our organisation to life.
Our beginning
Our story began with a strong, intelligent and brave young woman named Carly. At 19, she fell pregnant. Her mother had just passed away, she had only recently moved to Victoria and didn’t have many connections in Melbourne.
Her life, as she describes it, was ‘going down a dark path’. Little did she know she was about to become the inspiration behind – and founding Board member of – Birth for Humankind.
Her social worker at the Royal Women’s Hospital suggested she might benefit from the support of a doula – and connected her with Mei Lai Swan, a doula and social worker who offered to provide support free of charge.
A few months later, with Mei Lai by her side, Carly gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.
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It was such a mutually enriching experience that it seemed obvious to them that a service like this needed to be available on a broader scale. Whilst Carly was caring for her new son, Mei Lai and doula colleague, Kirstan Flannery, (our co-founders) began establishing a sustainable volunteer doula support program.
And thus Birth for Humankind was founded, initially as a small team of four operating out of Mei Lai’s lounge room.
In just a few years, we have become a fully-fledged charity with a dedicated team of staff members, more than 35 volunteer doulas, a committed and hands-on Board of Directors, as well as a growing community of donors and supporters. Carly also served as a founding board director and co-facilitated our first childbirth education program for young mums.
“Built on professionalism, trust, and respect, we have been referring young pregnant women to Birth for Humankind since 2014. My experience of the organisation has been one of hope, empowerment, growth, and gratitude. If I could tell the world one thing about Birth for Humankind it would be that this organisation truly wants to make the world a better place. Their support comes from a foundation of generosity, understanding and kindness and they always go above and beyond.” – Amanda Styles, Social Worker at Royal Women’s Hospital who first connected Mei Lai and Carly.
Our present and our future
We know that Carly’s experience is not as unusual as you might expect in Australia. The reality here in Melbourne is that many pregnant women and gender diverse birthing people face complex barriers seeking the support they need as they enter parenthood.
10 years’ later, Birth for Humankind has provided over 900 services to clients across Melbourne and Geelong.