Parent education at Subiaco

As one of Perth's leading maternity hospitals we offer a range of parent education classes for mums and dads covering what to expect during pregnancy, birth and the early weeks of parenthood.

Maternity resources

Our maternity information resources are intended to help you and your partner prepare for the birth of your baby, its ongoing care and the transition to parenthood:

Comprehensive parent education

To help you and your partner prepare for the arrival of your baby, we offer a range of parent education classes. These classes cover what to expect during pregnancy, birth and the early weeks of parenthood, as well as grandparent education and multiple births. To book a class, please email [email protected]

Once your baby has arrived, we offer a range of free postnatal education sessions on the ward, including daily bath demonstrations, breastfeeding classes and a going home talk.

Our midwives and lactation consultants continue to provide support through our free, fortnightly Subi Babies parent education group.

Maternity blogs

Read expert advice on everything mums-to-be need to know about pregnancy, birth and beyond through our maternity blogs.

Maternity podcasts

Hear the latest on maternity care from some of our leading specialists.

Antenatal parent education

We offer a range of parent education classes which are designed to help you and your partner prepare for birth of your child and the early stages of parenthood.

The healthy pregnancy and beyond class is relevant to expectant parents from 14 to 20 weeks.

Class location:

St John of God Subiaco Hospital Medical Clinic, Level 3, Conference Centre Auditorium

Register:

Parent education classes are available to parents who are booked to have their baby at St John of God Subiaco Hospital. Bookings can be made once you have completed your online admission on the My Admission page.

The Birth and Parenting Course is most popular with new parents and is held over three evenings (Wednesdays).

The three classes cover:

Birth, epidural and caesarean section
Breastfeeding
Postnatal care and transition to parenthood

The sessions are offered as face-to-face classes or via WebEx.

Class location:

St John of God Subiaco Hospital Medical Clinic, Level 3, Conference Centre Auditorium

Register:

This four-hour workshop provides the essential information about labour, birth, pain relief and caesarean sections, as well as more detailed information about breastfeeding, settling and what to expect during your hospital stay once you have had your baby.

The FastTrack workshop is held monthly on Saturdays.

Please note the workshop is a condensed version of the Birthing and Parenting course and as such, you do not need to attend any further classes.

Class location:

St John of God Subiaco Hospital Medical Clinic, Level 3, Conference Centre Auditorium

Register:

This complimentary class is available to soon-to-be grandparents, face-to-face or with the option of WebEx. It covers the latest information on challenges for new parents, infant care best practice, and the role of grandparents.

In addition, the class offers grandparents tips on how to show support without being intrusive.

Please note, expecting parents who are booked to have their baby at St John of God Subiaco Hospital can register their family members for this class.

Class location:

St John of God Subiaco Hospital Medical Clinic, Level 3, Conference Centre Auditorium

Register:

This class will be dedicated to preparing parents who are having multiple births and is in addition to the information provided in the traditional parent education classes.

The class will cover all aspects of delivery, including induction, vaginal delivery, caesarean section and epidurals. We also discuss preterm labour and birth, breastfeeding and general feeding advice, settling and practical advice around having multiple babies.

Class location:

St John of God Subiaco Hospital Medical Clinic, Level 3, Conference Centre Auditorium

Register:

Gestational diabetes service

This service is designed for women who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and are giving birth at St John of God Subiaco Hospital.

Our credentialled diabetes educators and accredited practising dietitian offer you personalised support and guidance during an in-person session at St John of God Subiaco Hospital.

Our team will provide education on the following topics to help you understand and manage your condition:

what is GDM and why managing the condition is important
diet management of GDM
additional strategies to reduce risk
insulin education

Medicare rebates do not apply for these services. We are not able to confirm any health fund rebates as this will depend on your fund and level of cover.

Access the service

If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and would like to access this service, please speak to your obstetrician for a referral.

Once we have your referral, you will receive an email to confirm your place, and our diabetes educator will contact you to schedule your session at St John of God Subiaco Hospital.

On the day, our educator will meet you in the foyer outside the Pregnancy, Baby and Beyond Clinic — located on Level 3, Suite 320 of the Medical Clinic.

You are welcome to bring a support person along with you.

The group session covers:

diagnosis and management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
importance of blood glucose testing and target ranges
potential complications of GDM
importance of diet management and physical activity

A certified practising dietitian will also be present to offer expert nutritional advice.

Additional support includes:

registration with the National Diabetes Service Scheme (NDSS) for subsidised blood glucose testing strips
information on purchasing a blood glucose meter from a local pharmacy and how to apply for a rebate from your private health insurer
educational handouts and guides for meal management
one week food diary review
follow-up via phone or email one to two weeks later
final email around 35 weeks gestation with hospital admission details and post-birth diabetes screening recommendations

Cost: $100

Insulin education

If you need to start insulin, your obstetrician may refer you to our service for a one-on-one session with a credentialled diabetes educator at the hospital.

This covers:

the reasons for starting insulin
how to inject and store insulin
how to prevent, detect and treat hypoglycaemia
a pen device to administer insulin
update NDSS registration to receive pen needle ends (free of charge on NDSS)
follow-up phone or email support

Face-to-face education

We offer one-on-one sessions at the hospital with a credentialled diabetes educator, and you are welcome to bring a support person or interpreter. Afterwards, you will receive follow-up by email or phone, in line with the group session criteria.

Additional phone or email support

This is available for women referred in early pregnancy (before 20 weeks). Often additional support and review is necessary and reassuring across the three trimesters of pregnancy.

Cost: $80

In-hospital parent education

When you choose to give birth at St John of God Subiaco Hospital, you and your partner have access to a range of free parent education sessions during your stay with us to help you negotiate the first days of parenting. These classes are held on the ward

Classes

The timetable for each class is below and available in your room.

We hold these classes daily in the seminar room. There is a poster in each room with days and times.

Classes are held in the ward 54 seminar room. There is a poster in each room with days and times.

Bathing demonstration classes are held daily in the ward nursery. Please refer to the poster in your room for scheduled times.

Postnatal parent education

The first weeks and months of parenthood are exciting, exhausting and often full of the unexpected, especially if you are a first-time parent.

After you have left St John of God Subiaco Hospital we offer ongoing education and support services to help you navigate the early stages of parenthood.

Subi Babies classes are free and no booking is required to attend.
Both groups held on the same day.
Ample free parking onsite.
Refreshments available for purchase.
Refer to timetable for dates and topics.

New babies group - 12.30pm to 2.30pm

The Early Weeks group is available to St John of God Subiaco Hospital parents with babies up to three months. In these sessions, we will discuss feeding, settling and any other concerns you may have. It also offers the opportunity to meet other new parents.

Facilitated by midwife/lactation consultant.

Days: every second Thursday throughout the year
Time: 12.30pm to 2.30pm
Location: Lake Monger Recreation Centre, 144 Gregory Street, Wembley 6014
Parking: Free onsite
Refreshments available to purchase onsite.

Older babies group 9.30am to 11.30am

This group is available to St John of God Subiaco Hospital parents with babies three to 10 months. In these sessions, we discuss some of the common milestones and developments your baby will experience during their first year of life, as well as parenting and women’s health topics.

Guest speakers provide a valuable resource for new parents.
Facilitated by midwives.
Informal environment offers an opportunity to develop friendships with other new parents.

Days: Every second Thursday
Time: 9.30am to 11.30am
Location: Lake Monger Recreational Club, 144 Gregory St, Wembley.

2025 older babies group program

January 16: Welcome back. Infant milestones and ensuring safe exploring
January 30: Sleep and settling discussion with Tara from The Gentle Sleep Specialist
February 13: Thinking about returning to work? How to work and parent and still have a life!
February 27: Baby and toddler first aid with Steve from Family First Aid
March 13: AM: Introducing solid foods and first food ideas with our Registered Dietitian
PM: Sleep and settling discussion with Tara from The Gentle Sleep Specialist
March 27: Women’s health and physical recovery after birth with a Subiaco Women’s Health physiotherapist
April 10: Engaging with baby, play, reading and building brains with Baby Sensory West Perth
April 24: First teeth, teething and protecting little smiles with a dentist/dental therapist
May 8: The importance of floor play and how to make it interesting with physiotherapist Alison
May 22: Nursing the sick infant through common illness and infections
June 5: Baby massage with Jane from Intuitive Baby Massage
June 19: Sleep and settling discussion with Tara from The Gentle Sleep Specialist
July 3: Thinking about returning to work? How to work and parent and still have a life!
July 17: Baby and toddler first aid with Steve from Family First Aid
July 31: Infant milestones and ensuring safe exploring
August 14: Introducing solid foods and first food ideas with Tiny Turtle
August 28: The importance of reading to children and speech development with speech pathologist Chiara
September 11: First teeth, teething and protecting little smiles with a dentist/dental therapist
September 25: Protecting you and your family from the sun with Cancer Council Western Australia
October 9: Engaging with baby, play, reading and building brains with Baby Sensory West Perth
October 23: Baby massage with Jane from Intuitive Baby Massage
November 6: Sleep and settling discussion with Tara from The Gentle Sleep Specialist
November 20: Women’s health and physical recovery after birth with a Subiaco Women’s Health physiotherapist
December 4: Introducing solid foods and first food ideas with a registered dietitian
December 18: Managing expectations and self-care over the Christmas period
End of year party! Please bring small plate to share if you wish.

Download the 2025 program flyer.