Birth Trauma Peer2Peer Support Program

Welcome to ABTA’s Birth Trauma Peer2Peer Support Program. Here you will find information to help you understand how this free program works and how it may help you. If you have any further questions please email us via our Contact Page.

What is the Peer2Peer Support Program?

The Peer2Peer Support Program is an initiative that provides an online live chat service for women and their families impacted by trauma from childbirth. This is the first service in Australia dealing specifically with birth trauma.

The service is provided by women who have a lived experience of trauma from childbirth, so you will be in contact with someone who has been there and will treat you with kindness, respect and without judgment. We hear time after time from families how important it is for them to simply be heard, treated with respect and to realise they are not alone. This is where a peer support program can have immense positive impact.

What can I expect from a session with a P2P Mentor?

Our aim is to offer one-2-one support with empathy, and a non-judgmental attitude.

Our program is made possible by our volunteers (P2P Mentors), who have themselves experienced psychological and/or physical injuries from birth and are in a place where they can now provide support to others who are on their birth trauma journey.

Our P2P Mentors are not trained counsellors and are therefore not able to provide specific advice around diagnosis, however they can provide a listening ear and supportive shoulder for those navigating life after birth trauma. The may also recommend services and resources that other women and families have found useful.

Meet your P2P Mentors

Meet our P2P Mentors

When is the service available?

We have two options for accessing the service.

You can access a drop in session Mon – Friday 8pm – 10pm AEDT (in summer) or AEST (in winter) * or
You can request a booking by emailing us your preferred date and time. You can also request a particular mentor but please note that connecting with this mentor may not be guaranteed. Please allows at least 24 hours for us to arrange your chat time.

*Please note that these times are based on NSW time (ie. AEST in winter and AEDT in summer). If you are having trouble with time conversions you can check here.

Below is a list of the states/territories and what time they will be able to access the P2P service.

NSW, VIC, TAS – 8:00pm – 10:00pm

QLD – 7:00pm – 9:00pm

SA – 7:30pm – 9:30pm

NT – 6:30pm – 8:30pm

WA – 5:00pm – 7:00pm

New Zealand is 2 hours later than NSW is Summer and 3 hours later in Winter.

Before participating in the program it is important that you read our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. As part of using this service you accept these terms and conditions.

How long does each session last?

While there is no set time limit for sessions please keep in mind the operating hours of the service. There is no limit to the number of times you can access the service however the service is intended for short term support. Our Mentors may encourage you to seek professional support and will be able to direct you to a more appropriate service provider for professional counselling.

How do I access the service?

The service is best accessed from a larger tablet or computer. It can also be accessed from a mobile however it is more difficult to view the conversation due to the small screen size and pop up keyboard on a mobile phone.

If you are contacting us during our drop in service hours or you have confirmed a booking to chat with a mentor, simply select the Live Chat P2P Logo pop up in the bottom right hand corner of this page and register your first name and email address.

You can then start messaging a P2P Mentor like you would on Facebook Messenger or via SMS.

If you are trying to contact us outside of our regular hours and do not have a booking, you will be greeted by an out of office note. You will be able to type a message to us and we will respond to you within 24 hours.

If you would like to book a time to chat with a mentor, please email us your preferred date and time using our Contact Page.

What happens when all the Mentors are online but busy on a live chat?

You will be asked to initiate the start of a chat and one of our mentors will pick up your chat as as soon as they become available. As you can understand some days may be busier than others, but your need for support does matter to us, and we will follow up with you if you leave your details.

Can I contact the P2P Mentors out of hours?

If you are trying to contact us outside of these hours, you will be greeted by an out of office note. You will be able to type a message to us and we will respond to you within 24 hours. You will also receive an automated email containing links to information that may be useful in the meantime, and other support services that may be of interest.

How can I become a P2P Mentor?

If you would like to know more about becoming a P2P Mentor we are currently accepting expressions of interest from both men and women.

Apply to be a P2P Mentor

Other options for support

Women are welcome to join our Facebook Group – Australasian Birth Trauma Support to connect with other mothers and ask questions about trauma recovery.