About Mum for Mum
Mum for Mum is an outreach program for new mothers and women in the last trimester of pregnancy. The program offers home-based family support by matching trained and supervised volunteers with new mothers who are in need of a supportive connection. It is free of charge and currently services the eastern suburbs of Sydney.
Our objective
The key objective of the program is to help mothers successfully cope with the post natal months thus promoting healthy and nurturing family attachments. Although motherhood is a natural process the adaptation of a new mother to her role is challenging and influenced by many factors, including the availability of a support system. The service is complementary to other health and support services that are available in the community.
Our program
The program on which Mum for Mum is based originated in Boston, USA. Later it was introduced by Dr Marsha Kaitz, a clinical psychologist at the Hebrew University, to Israel, where it has been operating successfully in a number of cities. Lea Gilad (Master of Social Work) introduced and adapted the program to NCJWA NSW Division in Sydney and is the program coordinator. Lea has 30 years experience as a social worker as couples and family therapist; children at risk and was chairman of the program at Ramat Ha'Sharon municipality in Israel.
Our volunteers
Our volunteers are mothers themselves who are willing to offer non judgmental and confidential support to new mothers on a regular weekly basis up until the infant is one year of age. Our volunteers are empathetic women who are passionate about improving the well being of new mothers so that the mothers can enjoy motherhood and establish nurturing bonds with their babies. Our volunteers are not health professionals. They are trained by our program co-ordinator and are provided with continued coaching as well as personal and group support throughout the period of volunteering. The mothers and volunteers are carefully matched according to the mothers’ needs and circumstances.
Our patron
Dr Devora Lieberman, patron of Mum for Mum, brings to the program her vast experience in the areas of women health. Dr Lieberman is president of Family Planning NSW; president of Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia and is also the director of the Miscarriage Management Program at Sydney IVF.