Colac Otway Shire is experiencing a baby boom along its coastline, despite the country's fertility rate falling to its lowest level on record and Victoria reporting the biggest fall in births through 2020, according to a recent Australian Bureau of Statistics report.
"Last year, 16 babies were born in the Apollo Bay region, but in the last 5 months we have already had 17 births here – with 10 of those births to first-time mums," said Colac Otway Shire Council's Maternal and Child Health Coordinator, Diane Earl, who has worked in the department for the past 16 years. "Every month this financial year has had higher than average births across the shire."
The numbers include one baby born at Cape Otway, two at Hordern Vale, as well as babies in Johanna and Lavers Hill. Of the 10 births to first-time mums, eight are boys, which Ms Earl says will stand coastal and Otways footy clubs in good stead.
"There are some mothers transferring in from Melbourne and setting themselves up for COVID honeymoons down the coast in family beach houses, but most are local residents with some mums on their third, fourth, and even seventh babies," said Ms Earl. "They are very spread out geographically, so we set them up their own playgroup before the summer rush starts to provide a feeling of social connectedness. These mums would normally travel to Colac for first-time parents groups or attend an already established local playgroup."
She says it's been challenging managing a health service through COVID and remembers being in full PPE, dropping scales on doorsteps for mothers to weigh their babies and doing consults online from the car.
The team has completed 221 consults last month in Colac Otway Shire and has seen an increase in those struggling financially, with the facilitation of support through Geelong Mums with items such as recycled cots and car seats welcome relief for many new parents.
Throughout the lockdowns, Council's Maternal Child & Health team continued to visit all new babies and vulnerable families and will continue to see unvaccinated people, as well as those who have been fully vaccinated.
"Our community of mums has been very patient with us when we have rearranged appointments due to workplace shortages when a team member becomes a close contact," said Ms Earl.
Sadly, being out and about in the community has also meant the team has seen an increase in family violence and wants the community to know that although they are not a specialist family violence service, they can screen and refer, and want to make sure all mums feel safe.
One of the elements of their work that has been harder to continue through COVID has been the group sessions, where new mums in particular are able to feel a social connectedness and sense of support.
"There's online sessions, such as sleep and settling, and a circle of security parenting course, but nothing beats having the babies meet and socialise together while the parents connect," said Ms Earl.
"Alongside the increased births, a positive side effect of COVID has been on parents who usually work away from the home and have been able to spend more time with their children," said Ms Earl. "Although that comes with its challenges, overall it has been positive for families."
The next challenge will be returning to work and looking at childcare options, and with a new Apollo Bay Kindergarten welcoming children from Term 1 in 2022, the transition to school should be that little bit easier for parents living along the coast.
For more on Council's Maternal Child & Health services, please visit: https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Maternal-Child-Health
Pic: Four of the new babies to Colac Otway Shire – Max, Mason, Violet and Jack
