Vital support services offered to mothers and newborn babies

A DEDICATED volunteer group who aims to address social and isolation issues for mothers with newborn babies is expanding its free services to the Ballina Shire.

The Support for New Mums group has been active across Byron Bay and Tweed Heads for about seven years and offers multiple indoor and outdoor services from its volunteers.

The home-based helpers spend up to 12 months with the chosen mother and can offer additional support once the period is up.

The group has grown from a few volunteers based at Murwillumbah to a vital service across the region.

“They go into the home for about two hours a week and it could be as simple as having someone there to talk to,” group coordinator Deb Hunt said.

“We also help them with food preparation, taking them out of the house for a walk with the stroller and even just giving them time to have a decent shower.”

The group has about 60 volunteers with many coming from nursing and midwife backgrounds.

It is not just for first-time mothers or low income families; the focus is on providing social support and the reality of looking after a baby.

Each region has a coordinator and is entirely run by volunteers who raise money at community events to keep the service running.

The group receives referrals from doctors and medical practitioners with its focus on compassion and creating meaningful connections with the families.

“We don’t go as professionals, it’s more like something another mother or grandmother would help with,” Ms Hunt said.

“We realised early that it wasn’t just first-time mums who needed our help, a lot were second and third time mothers.

“One of the first mums I looked after had travelled the world and had a really good job.

“She had just felt like she had lost control of her life and needed to put some steps in place to get back on track.”

Anyone looking for more information on the group can visit supportfornewmums.com.au/about/