Karen O’Mara – Perinatal and Parenting Support

Motherhood Village is a registered charity (DGR1 Health Promotion Charity) based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, dedicated to ensuring that no mother suffers in silence. Founded by local mother and lived-experience advocate Tracey Tyley, the charity provides free, in-person, peer-led mental health and wellbeing support for parents during pregnancy, postpartum, and the early parenthood years.

Recognised as a trusted community provider of perinatal mental health peer support, Motherhood Village fills the critical gap between clinical services and community connection. Its model is grounded in trauma-informed, evidence-based, and person-centred principles, enabling parents to feel heard, validated, connected, supported, and empowered. Each week, trained Peer Leaders supported by Resident Grandma volunteers, facilitate small group sessions where parents can share their experiences safely, build supportive friendships, and be linked to further professional or community supports when needed.

The charity currently delivers multiple targeted support programs including Village Art for perinatal mental health, support for mothers recovering from acute perinatal mental health experiences, support for bereaved parents, perinatal mental health support, and specialised peer groups for neurodiverse mothers, multicultural and expat families, and health professionals. These initiatives operate in collaboration with local health networks and partners such as Gold Coast Health, GCPHN, Red Nose, Baby Give Back, and The Fathering Project.

Since its inception, Motherhood Village has supported hundreds of families, positively impacting over 600 individuals annually, and has been recognised at the Queensland Mental Health Awards for excellence in early years and lived experience leadership.

Through compassionate, community-based support, Motherhood Village reduces isolation, improves mental wellbeing, and strengthens family resilience during one of life’s most vulnerable stages. Its vision is simple yet profound: to create a space where every parent finds their village, where mental health support is accessible, non-judgmental, and delivered with the empathy that lived experience provides.

Ilana Lawrence – Founder, The Sick Sense

Ilana Lawrence is a Paediatric Nurse Consultant and mum of two with over 14 years’ experience caring for children in some of NSW’s busiest hospitals and emergency departments. Having been both a clinician and a parent in the waiting room, she truly understands what it’s like on each side of the emergency triage desk.

She founded The Sick Sense to close the gap in community health literacy — giving parents, carers, and educators the skills and confidence to recognise when a child is unwell, act quickly, and know when to seek urgent help.

Unlike generic first aid courses, The Sick Sense is paediatric-specific and goes beyond the basics. Workshops blend expert medical knowledge with real-world scenarios, covering sickness recognition, red flag signs, and practical responses to emergencies like choking, burns, and poisoning. Participants leave feeling prepared, empowered, and supported — not overwhelmed.

Delivering sessions across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Hunter, and the Central Coast — and now through an online, bite-sized version — Ilana’s mission is simple: to create informed, confident advocates for children’s health, so more families can make the right call at the right time — and potentially save a life.

Hi, I’m Dominique McGuire – degree-qualified naturopath and founder of The Pillars Naturopathy, based in Manly Beach and also available Australia-wide via Telehealth. I work closely with women and families to support everything from digestive health and hormone balance to fatigue, skin issues, and mood.

As both a practitioner and a human, I know that true healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. I take a compassionate, evidence-based approach to naturopathy, blending functional testing with clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, and realistic lifestyle advice to help you feel like you again – not just as a mum, but as a whole person.

Many of the women I work with come to me feeling burnt out, bloated, and like their bodies just aren’t working the way they used to. Some are navigating postpartum hormone shifts, breastfeeding challenges, or period issues after coming off contraception. Others are struggling with gut issues, low energy, or anxiety that seems to have worsened since becoming a parent. Wherever you’re at, we work together to get to the root cause and create a plan that fits in with your life – even if that life currently includes toddlers, night feeds, or limited time for yourself.

I offer comprehensive one-on-one support as well as structured programs like my Gut Feeling program, which includes microbiome testing, personalised protocols, and weekly check-ins. I’m also experienced in helping women prepare for pregnancy, optimise postpartum recovery, and support their children’s gut and immune health using gentle, targeted naturopathic care.

Above all, this is a safe, non-judgemental space to be honest about how you’re feeling. Whether you’re an expecting mum, navigating early motherhood, or trying to get your health back after years of putting yourself last – you’re in the right place.

Let’s work together to help you feel energised, empowered, and supported again.