Marita Pascoe, senior manager of diversity, inclusion and wellbeing at Maddocks, said the partnership was an important step for the firm post-pandemic. 

“Attending in person prenatal classes can be a challenge for working parents so this program is ideal as it blends the best of both worlds: evidence-based content developed by subject matter experts that’s delivered at a time that best suits the needs of the expecting parent or parents, as well as the opportunity to attend virtual sessions every week to ask questions on the material or anything else related to their prenatal journey,” she said. 

“COVID-19 has sharpened the focus on health, safety and wellbeing as an important element of any organisation’s approach to their people. We know that almost 7 per cent of our partners and staff become parents in any given year, and for us, this kind of support, along with the introduction of the Circle In platform and other initiatives we’ve rolled out for working parents (regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation), is an important part of bringing our inclusion strategy to life.”

Edwina Sharrock founded Birth Beat after her own journey as a midwife and expectant mother and said the program was founded off her knowledge of how important it is that women and their partners feel prepared and know what to expect. 

“Preparing to become a parent can often be a time of heightened anxiety and overwhelm. By creating this program and providing parents with access to their virtual midwife, education and a community of parents, we are able to reduce those feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. We enable parents to feel excited and prepared and know they have a reliable place to seek advice,” she said. 

“Working with the team at Maddocks, we have heard how important this has been for their staff, particularly with the combination of working long hours and the impacts of COVID-19. It is no longer enough to just talk about mental and physical health for parents, it requires meaningful action and Maddocks has led the way in taking that action with Birth Beat.”

Particularly post-pandemic, more workplaces should have programs and partnerships like this one in place, Ms Sharrock added. 

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“Workplaces must keep up if they want to compete. Burnout is more prevalent than ever and it’s currently impacting parents and particularly mothers disproportionately. Programs like these show that the company values parents and will support them on this journey,” she said. 

“This will help with the recruitment and retention of parents and those considering becoming parents by showing they are committed to supporting parents. Now more than ever, workplaces need to be looking at the complete offering around health and wellbeing, not just the return-to-work journey. Birth Beat is a way to ensure that the mental and physical health of parents is being cared for before they prepare to take their parental leave.”

After partnering with Birth Beat on the recommendation of a Maddocks partner, Ms Pascoe said the program had received nothing but positive feedback from staff. 

“We were introduced to the Birth Beat program and to Edwina by one of our partners and decided to pilot the program with three staff – a senior associate, an associate and a support staff member. The feedback on the program was so positive, especially with the backdrop of COVID-19 restrictions which were disrupting in person programs, that we wanted to extend the program to all partners and staff. Expecting a child is a significant event for anyone,” she added. 

“By providing trusted information to our partners and staff, we’re reducing the uncertainty and anxiety that often accompanies a time of life where there can be a lot of unknowns or even worse, misinformation. It’s great to know that during this period when often people are hesitant to share the news of a new pregnancy at work, we’re able to provide them with a program to empower and support them.”