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Perinatal Mental Health Australia is the national body delivering Perinatal Mental Health Week. We do not provide clinical or support services for people in distress or crisis.
For urgent support, please contact the below services.
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About Us
Our Mission
Building a united and collaborative sector employing evidence-based advocacy to amplify voices, foster empathy, and champion diverse needs — creating a future where all Australian families flourish from the very beginning.
Our Purpose
Uniting the sector to drive collaboration and cultural change, creating environments where stories are shared, conversations begin, and families feel supported.
Our Values
Collaboration
We unite the sector through partnership and shared purpose, knowing lasting change happens when we work together.
Inclusion
We centre lived experience and diverse voices, ensuring perinatal mental health support is culturally safe, equitable and accessible for all families.
Integrity
We act with accountability, transparency and evidence‑based leadership, earning trust as the sector’s national body.
Impact
We focus on meaningful, measurable change that improves outcomes for parents, babies and communities across Australia.
Our Team
Alicia Yelavich
Karen Edwards
Arabella Gibson
Vivianne Kissane OAM
Dr Yvonne Luxford
Perinatal Mental Health Australia's History
PMHA grew from a shared commitment among leading organisations to strengthen perinatal mental health support and care across Australia.
What began as sector collaboration and a national awareness campaign evolved into an independent body, bringing together advocacy, research, education and collective action.
2018
A Shared Vision
Leading perinatal mental health organisations including Gidget Foundation Australia, Peach Tree, Perinatal Wellbeing Centre (formerly PANSI) and PANDA begin exploring opportunities to work together on shared advocacy priorities, awareness initiatives and national system reform. Discussions between sector leaders establish a vision for a stronger, more coordinated national voice.
2019
The Consortium is Established
Gidget Foundation Australia, Peach Tree, PANDA and Perinatal Wellbeing Centre formally establish the Perinatal Mental Health Consumer Consortium, creating Australia's first coordinated collaboration between leading perinatal mental health consumer organisations.
National Advocacy Begins
The Consortium begins engaging directly with the Australian Government about opportunities to improve national screening, referral pathways and treatment access for families experiencing perinatal mental ill- health.
November - Landmark National Research
The Consortium commissions PwC to deliver The Cost of Perinatal Depression and Anxiety in Australia, revealing that perinatal depression and anxiety costs Australia $877 million annually and affects approximately 100,000 families every year. The report becomes a defining advocacy platform for the sector and is referenced widely including by Government.
November - First Perinatal Mental Health Roundtable
Resulting from the Consortium's advocacy with the Minister for Health, in late 2019 the Consortium works alongside the Commonwealth Government to assist in the development of the first Perinatal Mental Health Roundtable.
2020
A National Campaign is Delivered
The Perinatal Mental Health Week Alliance (comprising of Gidget Foundation Australia, Peach Tree and the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre launches the inaugural Perinatal Mental Health Week, creating Australia's first brand agnostic, coordinated national awareness campaign dedicated to perinatal mental ill-health and providing a platform for collective sector engagement. For the inaugural year, 26 organisations confirm their commitment.
2021
Government Support Secured
Perinatal Mental Health Week receives Commonwealth Government support, enabling the campaign to expand nationally and reach more families, health professionals and communities. A further 8 organisations confirm their commitment, taking the total to 34 organisations collaborating to drive awareness and education.
Laying the Groundwork for a National National Body
As an Alliance, Gidget Foundation Australia, Peach Tree and Perinatal Wellbeing Centre enter into discussions with the Commonwealth regarding the formation of Perinatal Mental Health Australia with the intended purpose to:
- Reduce sector fragmentation
- Map services
- Reduce service duplication
- Work towards integrated service delivery
- Align with government strategy and priorities
- Align key priorities for the sector.
2021-26
Growing a National Movement
Perinatal Mental Health Week evolves into a nationally recognised campaign and unifying force across the sector.
Over five years:
- Participation grows from 26 organisations to more than 68 organisations nationally
- Campaign reach exceeds 80 million Australians impressions
- Media coverage and support more than doubles
- A national support ecosystem is built around shared awareness and referral pathways
2023
A Shared Commitment to Formal Partnership
The three Executive Boards of Gidget Foundation Australia, Peach Tree and Perinatal Wellbeing Centre endorsed the formal commitment of their successful partnership under Perinatal Mental Health Australia, additionally committing co-contribution to fund establishment costs. The Constitution is drafted in November 2023.
2024
Five Years of Collective Impact
Perinatal Mental Health Week celebrates its fifth year and records its largest impact to date. The campaign is launched at Parliament House, Canberra.
A National Body Takes Shape
Building on five years of collaboration and advocacy, sector leaders develop a proposal for Australia's first dedicated national body for perinatal mental health, recognising the need for permanent national leadership and representation.
Recognition & Awards
PMHW 2024 Highly Commended
The MHS (Mental Health Service Awards of Australia and NZ)
Judge's Comment:
"This initiative has allowed a strong voice in what was a quiet space in the MH sector and addresses stigma through raising public awareness. The program is robust, well-designed, collaborative, responsive, and sensitive. Great work."
NSW Winner
Suicide Prevention Australia LiFE Awards 2024
December - PMHA Proposal Submitted
The proposal for Perinatal Mental Health Australia is submitted to the Australian Government through a Commonwealth Pre-Budget Submission, seeking investment to establish an independent national body.
2025
Building on Strong Foundations
Following 18 months of significant collaborative work and laying strong foundations, Perinatal Mental Health Australia is formally incorporated as an independent organisation, transitioning from a collaborative alliance of organisations to Australia's national body for perinatal mental health. Directors are appointed from the founding organisations including Arabella Gibson (Chairperson) - Gidget Foundation Australia, Viv Kissane OAM – Peach Tree Wellness and Dr Yvonne Luxford – Perinatal Wellbeing Centre.
Recognition & Awards
Finalist
Suicide Prevention Australia LiFE Awards 2025
2026
A National Voice
Perinatal Mental Health Australia launches membership, strengthens national representation and assumes leadership of Perinatal Mental Health Week, establishing a unified platform for advocacy, research, collaboration and sector development. The inaugural CEO appointment of Alicia Yelavich is announced.
The History of Perinatal Mental Health Week
Founded by Ann Lanigan and Jan Devlin in 1993, PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) played an important pioneering role in raising awareness of perinatal mental ill-health across Australia. In 2005, PANDA launched the first dedicated “PANDA Week”, helping to bring much-needed national attention to postnatal depression and anxiety and the services offered by PANDA.
In 2019, building on the success of several collaborative projects, the alliance between Gidget Foundation Australia, Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness and Perinatal Wellbeing Centre conceptualised Perinatal Mental Health Week as a collaborative, brand-agnostic national initiative. Its aim was to broaden understanding of the full spectrum of perinatal mental health experiences while uniting and elevating voices from across the sector through a shared national platform.
PANDA transitioned from calling the event "PANDA Week" to Perinatal Mental Health Week in 2021, when it joined the national collaborative campaign alongside many other organisations.
PMHA values its ongoing relationship with PANDA and continues to collaborate during the annual awareness week, recognising its important history alongside the collective efforts of organisations working to strengthen perinatal mental health and wellbeing across Australia.
The journey of parenthood
"The Aboriginal symbols and pathways represent the different journeys we each take, while the circles reflect connection, support and coming together. The flowing pathways acknowledge that the journey is not always straightforward, there can be difficult moments, but there is strength in continuing forward.
At the heart of the design is the message that you don’t have to walk the journey alone. Leaning on others, connecting with community and reaching out for support are all important parts of building resilience.
The artwork celebrates strength, connection, courage and hope, reminding us that asking for help is not a weakness, it is an important part of the journey."
Rheanna Lotter
Artist
Rheanna Lotter is a proud Yuin woman and founder of Ngandabaa (Yun-Da-Baa; named after her grandfather Keith Thorne). Growing up in Willow Vale in the NSW Southern Highlands, Rheanna now lives and works in Western Sydney.