Happy 18th Birthday Baby Makes 3!
20 February 2026
2026 marks a special milestone for healthAbility’s Baby Makes 3 initiative – 18 years of supporting first-time families to build strong, equal and respectful relationships.
The program is delivered directly to new parents through trained facilitators, often through Maternal Child Health Services, and also supports midwives, maternal child health nurses and other health professionals to include gender equality messages in their work with families.
Why Baby Makes 3 Matters
Across nearly two decades, the evidence has remained clear - children are less likely to experience or use violence if born to parents who:
- Challenge harmful gender stereotypes
- Share household and care work equitably
- Role model respectful relationships
Impact
- In the past 12 months alone, Baby Makes 3 reached over 8,500 families through childbirth parenting education and new parent programs.
- By shaping perinatal practices, systems, and structures, Baby Makes 3 reached an additional 25,000 families – 22% of families with children under five years old in Victoria.
Behind every number is a family better equipped to navigate the pressures of early parenthood with equality, respect and stronger foundations than before.
Congratulations Baby Makes 3! From little things, big things grow.
Image: Participants in a Baby Makes 3 group program in 2012.
