As one of Perth's leading private maternity hospitals we offer a range of parenting classes for mums and dads, covering what to expect during pregnancy, birth and the early weeks of parenthood.
Parent and grandparent education classes
To help you and your partner prepare for the arrival of your baby, we offer a range of education classes available to parents who are booked to have their baby at St John of God Subiaco Hospital. The classes cover what to expect during pregnancy, birth and the early weeks of parenthood, as well as grandparent education and multiple births.
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 classes are outlined below. Bookings can be made once you have completed your online admission through our My Admission page.
The healthy pregnancy and beyond class is relevant to expectant parents from 14 to 20 weeks.
The class is held at St John of God Subiaco Hospital Medical Clinic, Level 3, Conference Centre Auditorium.
This seminar is most popular with new parents and is held across three Wednesday evenings. The 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 Teams. Face-to-face classes are held at St John of God Subiaco Hospital Medical Clinic, Level 3, Conference Centre Auditorium.
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 at the St John of God Subiaco Hospital Medical Clinic, Level 3, Conference Centre Auditorium.
Please note the workshop is a condensed version of the birth and parenting seminar outlined above.
This free class is available to soon-to-be grandparents and covers the latest information on challenges for new parents, infant care best practice, and the role of grandparents.
The face-to-face session is held at St John of God Subiaco Hospital Medical Clinic, Level 3, Conference Centre Auditorium.
Expecting parents who are booked to have their baby at St John of God Subiaco Hospital can register their family members for this class.
This class is dedicated to preparing parents who are having multiple births and is in addition to the information provided in our other parent education classes.
The class covers all aspects of delivery, including induction, vaginal delivery, caesarean section and epidurals. We also discuss pre-term labour and birth, breastfeeding and general feeding advice, settling and practical advice around having multiple babies.
The class is held at St John of God Subiaco Hospital Medical Clinic, Level 3, Conference Centre Auditorium.
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 classes held during your stay with us on your ward to help you during the first days of parenting.
Available classes include:
taking your baby home and Q&A
lactation classes
bathing demonstrations.
Please refer to the poster in your room for scheduled class days and 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. Our free ‘Subi babies’ classes require no booking and are held at the Lake Monger Recreational Centre every second Thursday with free parking and refreshments available to purchase. These sessions also provide the opportunity for you to meet other new parents.
The new babies group is available to St John of God Subiaco Hospital parents with babies up to three months old.
Sessions are facilitated by a midwife or lactation consultant and cover topics such as feeding, settling and any concerns you may have.
Class details
Days: Every second Thursday throughout the year Time: 12:30pm - 2:30pm Location: Lake Monger Recreation Centre, 144 Gregory Street, Wembley
This group is available to St John of God Subiaco Hospital parents with babies three to 10 months old.
These sessions are facilitated by midwives and 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.
Class details
Days: Please see 2026 dates below Time: 9:30am - 11:30am Location: Lake Monger Recreation Centre, 144 Gregory Street, Wembley
2026 older babies program
16 July: Baby and toddler first aid with Steve from Family First Aid
30 July: Infant milestones and ensuring safe exploring
13 August: Introducing solid foods and first food ideas with Tiny Turtle
27 August: The importance of reading to children and speech development with Speech Pathologist Chiara
10 September: First teeth, teething and protecting little smiles with a dentist/dental therapist
24 September: Protecting you and your family from the sun with Cancer Council Western Australia
8 October: Engaging with baby, play, reading and building brains with Baby Sensory West Perth
22 October: Baby massage with Jane from Intuitive Baby Massage
5 November: Sleep and settling discussion with Tara from The Gentle Sleep Specialist (morning and afternoon sessions)
19 November: Postnatal wellbeing of yourself, your partner and friends
3 December: Introducing solid foods and first food ideas with a registered dietitian
17 December: Managing expectations and self-care over the Christmas period. End of year party! Please bring small plate to share if you wish.
Costs and payment information
St John of God Health Care private hospitals provide benefits that include reduced wait times for surgery, your choice of specialist, and access to high-quality, compassionate care.
We provide a range of ways to pay for your treatment.
Your private health insurance may cover some or most of your hospital costs, depending on your policy.
Contact your health insurer to understand your level of cover, and whether your policy is subject to additional fees such as a hospital excess or other ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses.
Before you are admitted to hospital you will be provided with the estimated costs of your care. You will be asked to acknowledge these estimates during the admissions process so it is important to understand these documents.
