ABOUT mamatoto midwives

JULIANA BRENNAN

DIRECTOR AND REGISTERED & ENDORSED MIDWIFE

It was towards the end of my Bachelor of Nursing in 1993 that I realized my calling was to work more closely with women. In 1995 I studied for my Graduate Diploma in Midwifery, and I never looked back on this decision!

As a student, I witnessed many births that were very medicalised with intervention, and it was not until I worked along-side Birth Centre and homebirth midwives that I realized that gentle, calm and empowering birth can certainly unfold for women and their families with the right support and preparation.

As a child, I grew up on a farm, and I witnessed many different mammals (generally cattle) giving birth. Rarely did we have complications with calving, and I was surprised as a student midwife at how many women had so much trouble and difficulty with birth. I couldn’t understand why so many women would hemorrhage, would find labour and birth ‘unbearable’ as the cows we owned rarely (if ever) had these issues. Over the years, I have discovered what I believe the answer. Women who are not fearful of birth and who are undisturbed, supported and who are very well emotionally and physically prepared for birth tend to have very straight forward and uncomplicated labour and births.

In 2011 I was one of the first midwives in Victoria and Australia to obtain my Medicare Eligibility, and in 2012, I was the first Midwife in Australia to get my Prescribing Rights and be an endorsed and notated Midwife with AHPRA. Mamatoto Midwives was launched and is rocketing into the future!

I completed my first Master’s Degree in Midwifery in 2002 and my major area of study was Post Term Pregnancy. I published a comprehensive literature review on “The Risks associated with Post Term Pregnancy” in 2005 in ‘Women and Birth’. It is my long term goal to teach Midwifery in Third World Countries such as Africa…where I’ve already been lucky enough to travel to! I also have a Masters Degree in Clinical Nursing (Nurse Practitioner).

I am married to Tim and we have three beautiful children, all of whom were born in Birth Centres where we were supported by known Midwives. They are all young adults now! I had very positive birth experiences for all three of my children, Grace and Riley were Water Birth babies!

My special interests in Midwifery are protecting the first birth, Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC).

I also offer…

• Acuneedling for common pregnancy symptoms and for labour and birth
• Birth debriefing and counselling.

I believe that every woman should have a known Midwife for her pregnancy, birth and early parenting and I support the research evidence that shows that continuity of midwifery carer improves outcomes for women by working as a Private Midwife and Director of “Mamatoto Midwives”.

DINA PHILLIPS

REGISTERED & ENDORSED MIDWIFE

Mumma, Nanne and Midwife,

I am so grateful to be part of the Mamatoto team, providing holistic midwifery continuity of care to women during one of the most profound times of their life.

I became a mother in 1998 and my experience under the continuity of care model was so positive I knew I wanted to become a midwife and support women as beautifully as I was during this unique and vulnerable time. I was blessed to have my next two children under the same model of care, my choices were heard and respected at all times, leading to a fully supported home birth with my third.

I commenced my Bachelor of Health, Midwifery in New Zealand in 2010 at the wonderful age of 40(better late than never). It wasn’t always easy, as life takes us on journeys that we haven’t anticipated, but my dedication and determination got me through. I graduated in 2013 and two days later moved to Melbourne to commence the next chapter in my life.

After six months of settling into Melbourne I was offered an opportunity to undertake the Midwifery Graduate Programe at St John of God Hospital in Perth. This was an amazing opportunity as I consolidated my learning supported by new colleagues, family and friends.

On completion of my graduate year I returned to Melbourne and undertook a position in the private healthcare sector working with women antenatally, during labour and postnatally. During this time I furthered my study to attain Medicare eligibility and prescribing rights which in turn enabled me to register as an Endorsed Midwife.

I then gained a position on the inaugural team that through collective passion and vision for continuity of care in midwifery practice, successfully established the Know Your Midwife programe into the private setting.

I am dedicated to antenatal education and have been running classes for 3 years. I believe that education is a crucial component of antenatal care, leading to less anxiety and empowering women to make informed decisions that are relevant to them.

As a midwife I feel honored to have the privilege of sharing intimate moments with women from varying backgrounds who place their trust in me. We all have our unique stories, dreams and hopes, we inherently have the same needs which are to be heard, supported, encouraged and loved. Continuity of care with a known midwife upholds and respects these needs.

SHELLEY TAYLOR

REGISTERED & ENDORSED MIDWIFE

It was leading up to and during my sisters first pregnancy that first called me to midwifery. She chose independent midwives to support her through pregnancy and birth and through this grew from a place of fear to a place of empowerment and confidence. I knew then that supporting women on their birthing journeys was what I was meant to dedicate my working life to.

I graduated from the Bachelor of Midwifery at ACU in 2015, completed my honours during my graduate year at The Royal Women’s in 2016. I worked with families in the antenatal, birthing and postnatal setting at RWH and have also been a part of the midwifery team at The Angliss Hospital.

My own personal experiences birthing my two boys further increased my desire to offer truly individualised and woman-centred care to families. After a long labour ending in a caesarean with my first babe, I had private midwives support me through my second pregnancy to achieve the healing VBAC I desperately wanted.

With the right support, I believe that a positive birth experience can show you your inner strength and give you the best start to your parenting journey. My sincere desire working with such a wonderful small team is to be able to partner with families to help them to achieve their best possible experience of pregnancy, birth and postpartum as they bring a new life into their family.

I also offer..

Internal pelvic release work to women to further explore their pelvic space, creating balance, releasing tension and promoting softness in the pelvic tissues.

Acuneedling for common pregnancy symptoms and birth preparation.

In my spare time I enjoy exploring the hills with my family, going to the beach, fishing with my kids, reading, sewing and knitting.

KIRSTEEN SMITH

REGISTERED ENDORSED MIDWIFE & IBCLC

From a very early age I knew I wanted to become a midwife. I graduated as a midwife in 2011 and commenced my graduate year at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne. I continued to work there for the following 11 years across antenatal, birthing and postnatal before moving into the homebirth space in 2021. In 2015 I worked in a remote village in rural Zambia, in a tiny, ill-equipped 1-room clinic, running pregnancy clinics, birthing services and attended to anyone who walked through the door. While I was there I raised enough money to build a fully functional maternity unit that is now run by 2 nurse/midwives. I continue to raise funds to support this clinic and the vital services it provides the women and children of the region.

I am extremely passionate about women’s health, and firmly trust in the power and strength of the woman’s body. My time in Zambia cemented my belief in the importance of education and how empowering knowledge is during what can be such a vulnerable chapter of life. My passion then led me to study further and become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in order to support women bettter in their feeding journey in whatever way that looks like. My aim is to equip women with information to help them make the best, informed choices for themselves and their families.

My journey into motherhood began in 2017 when I gave birth to my first son, in the water, at the hospital where I worked. In this birth I felt strong, supported and safe with my independent midwife by my side. For my following two births, it was an easy decision to bring them into the world at home, in my own environment, surrounded by my family and midwives.

Whether you choose to birth your baby in a hospital or at home, the important thing to remember is that the choice is entirely yours. There is not just one way to bring babies into the world and I am extremely passionate about making sure women’s transitions into motherhood are safe, secure and supported.

HANNAH NUGENT

REGISTERED & ENDORSED MIDWIFE

Midwifery truly is a profession like no other. Birth is raw, powerful and transformative and I feel so privileged to witness it over and over again. Wherever and however your baby is born, it is an honour to be able to care for women during this vulnerable and exciting time in their lives.

After achieving my midwifery qualification in 2014, I found employment at Monash Health where I gained vast experience across antenatal, labour/birth and postnatal care.

I have been privileged to care for women from many culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. From observing how these women approach birth, it is evident that your attitude and beliefs can have a huge impact on your experience.

I believe that the highest quality midwifery care comes from a mutual trust between woman and midwife. I am passionate about the importance of antenatal education regarding labour/birth and preparing for postpartum. Ultimately it is up to you to make your own choices regarding your body, your birth and your baby.

My experience birthing my own son in the public system in 2020 was good, largely due to being cared for by known midwives. However after experiencing such holistic and personalised care during my second pregnancy and a magical home birth in 2023 with Dina & Juliana, I just knew my calling was to private practice.

Whilst my own birth experiences were positive, my first postpartum was challenging to say the least. Finding myself isolated in the middle of covid lockdown with an unsettled newborn led to a struggle with PND that clouded my introduction to motherhood. As the restrictions and sleep deprivation lifted, I came out the other side stronger than ever. I later experienced the most healing postpartum the second time around with my daughter. Motherhood is now my favourite job in the world (followed by my beloved Midwifery).

When I’m not supporting women to bring their babies into the world, I enjoy indulging in good food and coffee, wandering the hills and dancing in the lounge room with my babies.

Amy Rawlings

REGISTERED & ENDORSED MIDWIFE

My passion for midwifery began early in life. Growing up as the daughter of a Midwife and Maternal and Child Health Nurse, I was drawn to follow in my mother’s footsteps. Witnessing firsthand the profound impact of her supportive and compassionate care provided to families inspired my own desire to work with women and their loved ones.

After completing my Bachelor of Midwifery and Nursing Degree at Deakin University in 2014, I started my career in the public healthcare system, dedicating over six years to various roles in the antenatal, birth, postnatal and education space. In 2021, I transitioned into Midwifery Group Practice (MGP), which deepened my commitment to empowering women and their families and providing continuity of care throughout their pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum journeys.

One of the most impactful moments came when attending my first home birth, supporting my dear friend and fellow midwife, Hannah. Witnessing this experience solidified my belief in the importance of a supportive environment during childbirth, where women can feel safe and empowered to make informed choices. It was here that I realised my true passion lay outside the hospital system and in private practice.

In 2023, I launched my own business in childbirth education as a Hypnobirthing Australia™ Practitioner. I find immense joy in educating families about the various tips, tricks and techniques for achieving positive birthing experiences and have lots of fun meeting and engaging with families from all walks of life.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me enjoying a strong almond latte, at a Pilates class, on the beach, or spending quality time with my family.

Whether supporting home births or providing care in hospitals, I am passionate about ensuring every woman receives compassionate, respectful, and personalised care tailored to her unique needs. It’s a privilege to be part of the Mamatoto team, where I look forward to supporting you on your journey to motherhood, offering guidance, comfort, and expertise as you welcome your baby into the world.

JODIE

ADMIN

I have been working for Mamatoto Midwives in a part time administration role for the past 8 years, coming from a background of administration/secretarial roles in accounting and insurance prior to having my 3 wonderful children. It is a pleasure to work with all the Mamatoto Midwives and assist them with the administration requirements. I enjoy being a part of the Mamatoto team.

I live on a farm and we have some sheep and horses. I love horse riding and holidaying with my family.