Milestone for country healthcare as thousands access telehealth antenatal classes

WA Country Health Service’s (WACHS) innovative Positive Birth Program has reached a major milestone, with more than 14,000 expectant women and their birth partners accessing antenatal education via telehealth.

The milestone coincided with the fifth anniversary of the launch of telehealth antenatal classes, introduced at the height of COVID-19 restrictions.

WACHS Clinical Midwifery Specialist and Parent Education Coordinator Kasey Biggar said expanding accessibility to the program had “opened up a whole new world” for regional patients and staff.

“The suite of classes we offer via telehealth has made a profound difference over the past five years — particularly for expectant families in remote and rural areas,” she said.

“Offering this program online has not only removed traditional barriers like distance, cost, and travel, but it has also enriched the knowledge and confidence of our maternity teams.

“Staff in regional and remote areas have been able to upskill, build confidence in birth education facilitation, and ultimately grow in-person offerings in communities where parent education was previously unavailable.”

The Positive Birth Program equips expectant parents with the knowledge and tools to negotiate the birth process – including natural birth, assisted birth and caesarean section – and covers topics such as breathing and deep relaxation techniques, care-planning for labour and birth, and breastfeeding.

Ms Biggar is also responsible for supporting the delivery of in-person classes at Albany, Bridgetown, Bunbury, Busselton, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, and Kununurra.

She said the feedback had been “overwhelmingly positive”, citing a recently published peer-reviewed paper that indicated most women who took part in the program felt fully prepared for birth and parenthood.

“Many families have expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to connect, learn, and prepare for birth in a way that feels both empowering and inclusive, regardless of their geographic location or personal circumstance,” Ms Biggar said.

“We have a 98 per cent positive feedback rate for our programs.”

In WA’s Goldfields region, one expectant mum was so impressed by the program that she took to Care Opinion to share her experience.

“My partner and I had a wonderful two days completing the Positive Birth Program through WACHS at Esperance hospital,” she wrote.

“The Midwives involved in delivering the program were professional, knowledgeable and compassionate, and we felt very informed and comfortable during the whole experience.

“Due to the information and support provided during the course, I’m feeling very positive about birthing at Esperance hospital with the great team of Midwives.”

Ms Biggar said while face-to-face classes were important, accessibility was the key to “gold standard” parent education.

“This initiative has extended far beyond individual learning — it’s building a stronger culture of evidence-based, woman-centred care,” she said.

“It is a clear example of how innovation in service delivery can lead to equity, connection, and lasting change.”