Gold Coast Health is recognised for quality patient care, nursing and midwifery excellence and innovations in professional nursing and midwifery practice under the Magnet® Recognition Program.
"Walking together in kindness" artwork produced for Gold Coast Health by Riki Salam, We are 27 Creative.
Ten years ago, new mum Gianette (Gee) decided to attend one of our Child and Family Health (CFH) drop-in parent clinics in Palm Beach.
She never expected it to change her life.
At this clinic she met five other mums – Olivia, Alana, Joanne, Claire and Jade. A decade later, they are still friends.
“We went to the clinic with something in common – our babies,” Gee said.
“We were all going through the same slightly different experience and we leaned on each other. One day, one of the nurses suggested we pop over to the coffee shop across the road – we all did and this continued every week.”
Eventually the six mums moved on from the clinic once the babies were old enough and met at a park each week.
“We all bonded over our babies, bounced off each other for advice and became really good friends,” Gee said.
“We then introduced all the dads to each other and all of us have now been friends for 10 years. We’ve been on holidays together, we have been to 40ths, 50ths and all kids birthday parties.
“The kids attend school and sports together and we try to arrange catch ups with kids and families all the time.”
The open clinics are run by CFH nurses and focus on supporting infants early feeding, sleeping, and settling issues and other parenting concerns.
Child and Family Health Assistant Nursing Director Rebecca Shaw said it’s heartwarming to see how these clinics help parents bond.
“It is wonderful to see that, 10 years on, these six mums and their families remain such close friends,” Rebecca said.
“Their story shows that our Child and Family Health clinics provide far more than practical support with feeding, sleeping and settling – they also create opportunities for parents to connect, share their experiences and build lasting support networks.
“Becoming a parent can be both rewarding and challenging, and having trusted people alongside you can make an enormous difference.”
“This clinic and group were exactly what I needed as a first-time mum,” Gee said.
“The nurses were incredible, they always asked how I was going and the classes touched on so much – sleeping, feeding, play.
“Every mum needs this group. Every baby is so different and whether it be your first or your third baby, I highly recommend this group postpartum.”
The six mums took a trip down memory lane last week and dropped in with their now 10-year-olds to our Palm Beach clinic where it all started.
“We will be lifelong friends,” Gee said.
“We have watched all these six kids and their siblings grow up and we are all like family to each other.”
