This week “CityNews” has a guide to expert services, products, entertainment and activities for mums and mums-to-be.

BEING a mum can be busy and demanding – and sometimes it’s hard to find the right advice, service or product when the need arises.

This week “CityNews” has made things a little easier by compiling this handy guide to expert services, products, entertainment and activities for mums and mums-to-be.

Culturally safe and accessible maternity care

WINNUNGA Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Service’s midwifery program aims to remove barriers that prevent women from accessing maternity care by providing culturally safe, non-judgemental and flexible care, says CEO Julie Tongs.

“We focus on the clinical, cultural and spiritual needs of Aboriginal clients, families and the community,” says Ms Tongs.

“The midwifery team offers antenatal and postnatal care, community at home support, baby health checks, breastfeeding support, immunisations, and a range of women’s health services.

“Our midwives work closely with ACT hospitals, and assist in ensuring continuity of care between Winnunga Nimmityjah AHCS and hospital services”.

Ms Tongs says Winnunga also has a comprehensive child immunisation program they encourage patients to access.

“This also allows us to follow up on our patients’ progress with postpartum recovery, and to assist them with any needs in relation to caring for their infants,” says Ms Tongs.

“It is vitally important for high-risk clients to have access to Aboriginal specific, culturally appropriate midwifery services, as many choose not to access mainstream services without support.”

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, 63 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah. Call 6284 6222 or visit winnunga.org.au

Giving kids a headstart on their schooling

KIDSTART Southside Education and Activity Centre understands that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial for development, says owner Kristen O’Connor.

“Kidstart offers classes for children from five months to five years of age to develop them socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually,” she says.

Operating since 1996 and located in Wanniassa, Kristen says Kidstart offers three distinct and age-appropriate programs to ignite a love of learning.

The first program is for children under the age of three, to attend with an adult, and introduces them to music, stories and stimulating equipment.

The second program is a “Pre-Preschool” program for three and four-year-olds to attend by themselves before starting preschool.

“It has been amazing to see 21 years’ worth of kids and their families growing, loving, enjoying and benefiting from the program,” says Kristen.

The third program is Preschool PLUS. It’s designed for children to be involved alongside Preschool. The program is centred on phonics based literacy. 

“We use interactive computer sessions to expose the children to the letter sounds, letter identification and letter formation,” says Kristen.

“We are passionate about developing a love of learning in each and every child.

“By allowing them to thrive in an educational setting and experience the joy in exploring and achieving, we hope learning will be a lifelong passion for all our Kidstart kids.”

Kidstart Southside Education and Activity Centre, 65 Sternberg Crescent, Wanniassa. For enrolment enquiries visit kidstart.com.au

Helping dads learn through birth

BEER and Bubs is a dads’ childbirth education class being run on October 12, says Heartfelt Healing Therapies owner Kylie Coad.

“I took over Beer and Bubs this year from a midwife, and I also work in births and have my own children,” she says.

“My children are older now and not at home any more, so I want to help others along in their journey.”

Kylie says it’s important to make dads feel like active participants.

“I help to give dads practical skills, like a knowledge toolbox, on how to make the birth and baby experience a positive outcome for everyone,” she says.

“Beer and Bubs is being run at Gryphons Caffe Bar, from 6.30pm. It is a powerpoint presentation where blokes can get together with other blokes and build a community, while learning, as I go through the ‘what ifs’.”

Kylie says she covers everything from labour, birthing and what comes after.

“I can teach them about what is normal, we have a dad guest speaker come in and we keep it very humorous and light-hearted,” she says.

“It can already be a stressful time and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

“But, I’m a hypno-birth practitioner, a doula, I support people who want home-births too and in postnatal care, and I used to work at Marymead so I am very familiar with everything.”

Beers and Bubs, Gryphons Caffe Bar, October 12. Call 0402 078003, or visit beerandbubs.com.au

Getting close-up and personal with animals

MORE hands-on than any zoo or park, Taralga Wildlife Park offers close-up and personal animal experiences, making it the perfect outing for the whole family, says owner John Stafford.

“Meet all our regular visitors’ favourites like Wilma the wombat,” he says.

“You’ll find Wilma wandering the grounds just waiting for a pat and some attention. 

“Or get up-close with Rinnie, our super friendly dingo, or visit the friendship farm area that also features rabbits, guinea pigs and sheep.”

The park also has numerous species of kangaroos and wallabies, including two spectacular white kangaroos, more than 100 species of birds, including macaws, curlews, parrots, finches and endangered freckled ducks, as well as free-ranging peacocks.

With more than 50 exhibits featuring animals such as dingoes, deer, antelope, camels, llamas and alpacas, John says there are plenty of animals and birds to see and feed.

Visitors can make a day out of the park, too, finishing it off at its cafe, which John says serves great coffee and cake or light lunch options until 3pm.

He says there’s also a good range of cafes and hotels in the area to enjoy a variety of food.

Taralga Wildlife Park is open 10am to 4pm, Thursday to Monday, and is open every day during school holidays.

Taralga Wildlife Park, 257 Bannaby Road, Taralga. Call 0419 014540 or search Taralga Wildlife Park on Facebook.