This session explores the importance and impact of peer support in healing from birth trauma, drawing on Peach Tree’s successful community mental health approach and delivery of BTA’s Peer2Peer Meets program. The presentation will share practical insights into the peer role, workforce training and support, program delivery, impact, evaluation, and funding pathways that enable birth trauma peer support to be embedded and sustained within services.
Session aims
- Understand the unique role of peer support in supporting healing from birth trauma, and the value of lived experience alongside clinical care.
- Explore the impact of peer support for parents experiencing birth trauma, maternal distress and/or mental health challenges.
- Gain insight into Peach Tree’s delivery of BTA’s Peer2Peer Meets program.
- Understand what is required to build a capable peer workforce, including recruitment, training, supervision (reflective practice).
Speaker Information
Viv Kissane OAM (CEO Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness) founded Peach Tree in 2011 following her own experience of perinatal mental illness and the loss of a family member to maternal suicide. As a mother of three, Viv brings personal insight into pregnancy, birthing experiences and caring for infants and young children while experiencing significant mental health challenges. Peach Tree has grown into Australia’s largest employer of perinatal mental health lived experience workers, delivering peer-led services across Queensland. Viv is passionate about embedding lived experience into perinatal mental health care, and has extensive experience in consumer representation, systemic advocacy, lived experience governance and workforce development. In 2022, Viv was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her contributon to community mental health.
Genevieve Fleming (Program Engagement Officer) joined Peach Tree eight years ago as a volunteer and became the Team Leader for the North Brisbane location in 2020. Since 2024, Gen has worked within the Programs Team, focusing on educating both primary stakeholders and the wider community about the value of peer support during the perinatal period. She has also played a key role in delivering two of Peach Tree’s newer programs. After experiencing her own challenges with postnatal depression and anxiety following a traumatic birth with her first child, Gen developed a deep passion for supporting others who may be struggling. She is commited to creating a safe and compassionate space where people can share their experiences and feel less alone.