Baby Makes 3 I’d like to start with some quotes from mums and dads who have done the BM3 group program

Baby Makes 3 “Well worth it. It helped us talk about topics we were making assumptions about.”

Baby Makes 3 “I think after I realised [what it’s like for new mums] we got an understanding that she’s not alone in this, we’re in it together. I think that was the biggest thing for me.” - Dad #3

Baby Makes 3 “We really found the program to be beneficial and it has helped open conversations and helped us start to rebuild our relationship” - Mum, feedback form 55

Baby Makes 3 “I’ve placed less expectations on myself. I don’t feel that pressure any more that was part of what I think brought on the postnatal depression.” - Mum #2

Baby Makes 3 “Sometimes you would leave and you’d almost feel like a bit of weight had been lifted off.” - Mum #1

Baby Makes 3 “It’s changed my way of thinking so I hope as a result of that it’s contributed to my change of action. I think I was hands-on to start with, but now I have an understanding of why it’s important to be hands-on and important to have a balanced and well-rounded household.” - Dad #5

Baby Makes 3 “I kept telling the guys at work, ‘guys, you should be doing this course’, and they said ‘why?’ I said ‘just flipping do it because it will open your eyes’.” - Dad #7

Baby Makes 3 3-year pilot project Funded by VicHealth Partnership between: Whitehorse Community Health Service Whitehorse City Council, MCH Service BM3 was funded by VicHealth over the last 3 years as a pilot project, to build the evidence base for preventing violence against women. It was delivered as a partnership between WCHS & WCC MCH, And Drummond Street Relationship Centre.

Baby Makes 3 AIM: To promote equal and respectful relationships between men and women during the transition to parenthood. The aim of BM3 is It does this primarily through a groupwork program for first-time parents And also through staff training and capacity building

Baby Makes 3 Group Program 3-week program for first-time parents Sessions held in evening Male and female facilitators Groupwork approach Structured discussions – societal expectations, gender roles, healthy relationships, conflict, communication The power of BM3 is that it’s held in a group setting, So parents can learn from each other and see that many of their experiences are universal

Primary Prevention Addresses the key determinants of violence against women: Power imbalances between men and women Adherence to rigid gender stereotypes BM3 was specifically designed to address the key determinants of VAW, As identified in the VicHealth framework for PVAW. Which are… BM3 is unique in that it’s a mainstream program for parents that focuses on gender roles and gender equality and the importance of these topics in healthy relationships and parenting

‘Promising Practice’ Evaluation showed: Greater awareness and communication about gender roles, gender equality, societal expectations Shifts in attitudes Some changes in behaviour, leading to greater equality

And… parents loved it! Of 90 couples evaluated… 90% continued on sessions 2 & 3 96% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that it was enjoyable, relevant and helpful.

Vision: part of all MCH services Ideally situated as a complement to the First-Time Parent Group Program run by Maternal and Child Health

Implementation Facilitator Training Program Training DVD & Handbook Implementation Guide Capacity Building Workshops VicHealth has provided some addition ‘sustainability funding’ to WCHS to create package of resources to support the implementation of BM3

Baby Makes 3