Background
BirthSkills ® is a comprehensive independent childbirth education program created by Dr Shari Read, an Australian psychotherapist/psychologist (trained in mind/body medicine, meditation, yoga & mindfulness). Shari has specialised in preconception, pregnancy & postnatal care since 2003. Shari is also recognised by the National Association of Childbirth Educators (NACE) as a Certified Trainer.
BirthSkills ® is a philosophy and an approach to birth and has been running in Australia since its inception in 2003. Techniques embodied in the BirthSkills Program aim to create a calm, confident, welcoming birth experience for mum, partner and baby.
The BirthSkills ® Program draws upon current research in the fields of mind/body medicine and birth as well as using a foundation of knowledge from childbirth education pioneers such as Dr Grantly Dick-Read and Marie Mongan. Combining best practice childbirth education with the use of evidence-based mind/body techniques, such as meditation, CBT,ACT and the full spectrum of active birth techniques. These elements are shared with pregnant women and their birth partners in the context of a workshop setting or private sessions. It is in this setting, the BirthSkills Practitioner seeks to normalize and demystify the process of birth; share strategies to create a calm atmosphere during labour and work through tried and true active birth techniques.
BirthSkills ® as founded by Shari has grown to become a program that is shared by a small team of certified practitioners with birthing women across Australia. BirthSkills Practitioners are women who come together to share their commitment to empowering birthing women through education and professional support. Practitioners have diverse backgrounds in fields associated with the provision of quality care to pregnant women including midwives, childbirth educators, naturopaths, yoga teachers, and birth attendants.
Training Requirements
Entry into the BirthSkills Practitioner Training is by prior approval from Dr Shari Read only. An application in writing is required as well as an interviewing process to assess suitability of the potential practitioner, prior training and qualifications and willingness to adhere to the BirthSkills Practitioners’ Agreement.
All prospective BirthSkills practitioners are required to be professionally accredited in a related field prior to undertaking the training, ideally, a registered nurse/midwife or properly accredited yoga teacher with experience in prenatal yoga (also with a formal academic/university background to at least degree level).
The BirthSkills Practitioner Training Program certifies practitioners to share the program with clients. The practitioner training program involves around 36 hours of training including completion of 10 modules which can be done by distance:
- Module 1 Introduction to BirthSkills the program and philosophy;
- Module 2 Mind/Body Medicine;
- Module 3 Breath work, Relaxation, Meditation & Visualisation;
- Module 4 Massage, Water and preparing the body for birthing;
- Module 5 Fear Release for birth and parenting;
- Module 6 Pain Theory & Mind/body communication for management of pain;
- Module 7 Calm, Confident Birthing – Teaching the BirthSkills Program;
- Module 8 Calm, Confident Birthing – Using the BirthSkills relaxation & meditation scripts;
- Module 9 Authenticity and the BirthSkills Practitioner;
- Module 10 Business Support: Coaching & Development
BirthSkills practitioner training also requires:
• 2 full days of face-to-face training with Dr Shari Read (around12hrs);
• supervised facilitation of a BirthSkills Workshop (12hrs);
• a case study assignment; and
• evaluation/feedback from 2 couples/women who the new practitioner has provided the full BirthSkills program to (on an individual basis).
Following certification Renewal is required on an annual basis. Affiliation with BirthSkills is renewable in February each year commencing the year after which you took your certification training.Renewal is not based on the month in which you were certified.In order to maintain certification and remain an affiliate in good standing, BirthSkills™ practitioners renew their affiliation with BirthSkills on an annual basis by submitting a renewal packet to Dr Shari Read. Renewal packets will be emailed from Shari at least one month prior to the due date for affiliation renewal each year.
Renewal requirements include:
- A statement verifying that the current textbook (The BirthSkills Book) has been reread/reviewed within a month of renewal(Please include a statement regarding particular concepts or techniques that were reinforced by the reading.);
- A review or summary of a recent and relevant research article OR a script for a guided relaxation or meditation (this review or script will be shared with other BirthSkills™ practitioners through our online server with your authorship clearly identified and acknowledged);
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development in the form of seminar or conference attendance, article or book review, case study submission, relevant certificate or qualification obtained etc.
- A copy of marketing materials currently in use by the practitioner
- Two class/workshop Evaluations from clients whom you taught during the previous 12 months;
- A signed copy of the current BirthSkills™ Practitioner's Agreement.
BirthSkills Practitioners are expected to:
-Apply the principles of adult learning and education to their practice;
-Aim to nurture participants personal growth and development across the continuum of pregnancy, birth and early parenting;
-Accept their professional responsibilities as childbirth and early parenting educators, including safe practice, privacy and confidentiality.
Certified BirthSkills Practitioners can obtain insurance for their practice through the IICT insurance product provided by OAMPS Insurance Brokers.
Commitment from Dr Shari Read
Shari is committed to upholding the integrity of the BirthSkills program through quality training that she is directly and personally involved with as well as providing ongoing support and professional development opportunities after training.
For further information or to enquire about BirthSkills Practitioner Training please phone Shari on 0407 775 783.