Speakers

We are delighted that such experienced and successful birth practitioners are able to join us to speak at the March 2010 Birth Choices Expo.

PETER JACKSON, Founder, Calmbirth®

As a male midwife working in a country hospital for over 20 years, Peter Jackson witnessed mothers whose experience of childbirth was one of fear, anxiety and trauma.  Peter know that nature did not get it wrong, that a labouring mother’s experience could be filled with empowerment and joy.  He believed the answer lay in the preparation of the couple during pregnancy.  Thus he developed the calmbirth® Childbirth Preparation program.

Peter is internationally recognised for his success in childbirth education. He offers over 30 years experience in General, Midwifery and Psychiatric disciplines of Nursing in Sydney and NSW regional hospitals. Peter is a member of the Australian College of Midwives, NSW Nurses Association the NSW Midwives Association and trained with the Brice-Wright School of Subconscious Mind Therapy.

For more information on Calmbirth, visit www.calmbirth.com.au

RENEE ADAIR, Founder, Australian Doula College

Renee first began working with women and babies in 1994 as a massage and aromatherapist and in 1998 began studying and working as a doula, childbirth and early parenting educator and birth counsellor.

Renee worked from home at the start of her career and devised individual programs for couples wanting specialised childbirth and early parenting education in their homes.

For three and half years she then worked for the Australian Red Cross at their young women’s health program/refuge and set up both the outreach and childbirth and early parenting education programs for that service.  She has volunteered for a variety of services over the years including the Spastic Centre of NSW, Ankali (HIV/AIDS), Homebirth Access Sydney and the National Association of Childbirth Educators.

Renee is the founder and principal educator of the Australian Doula College, The Centre for Spiritual Birth and Development and the registered charity Doula Heart Network.  “I am passionate about the services we offer families and also about sharing the benefits of doula support to them and other health professionals.”

In her career she has supported hundreds of women, their partners and families through pregnancy, birth and the early parenting phase. She has been training doulas since 2004 and still attends births on a regular basis.

For more information on the Australian Doula College, visit www.australiandoulacollege.com.au