About Rainbow Families

Rainbow Families Australia is the leading voice for LGBTQ+ families in Australia. Founded in 2015, we are a proudly community-led organisation governed by a Board comprised entirely of LGBTQ+ community members.

We connect, support, and empower LGBTQ+ families through community programs, peer support, advocacy, and education. Our work is grounded in the belief that every LGBTQ+ family deserves to live fully, safely, and with access to the services and support they need.

About the Program The LGBTQ+ Antenatal Education and Support Program is funded by the NSW Ministry of Health over three years (2026–2029). It builds on ten years of antenatal education delivered in partnership with Sydney Local Health District, and has been expanded to reach LGBTQ+ families across NSW through a hybrid delivery model.

The program delivers four half-day Transition to Parenthood and Newborn Care education classes per year (up to 20 participants each), alongside four antenatal education classes and a fortnightly Pregnancy Support Group. All content is developed specifically for LGBTQ+ families and uses inclusive, affirming language that reflects diverse family structures, bodies, and identities.

Each Transition to Parenthood and Newborn Care class covers infant feeding (including chest feeding and induced lactation), protected sleep, newborn care, perinatal mental health and wellbeing, and peer support and community connection.

Purpose of the Position

This role is responsible for the preparation and delivery of Rainbow Families' Transition to Parenthood and Newborn Care education classes. Drawing on clinical expertise and LGBTQ+ cultural competency, the facilitator creates a safe, affirming, and evidence based learning environment for LGBTQ+ expecting families with a particular focus on the practical skills and knowledge needed in the newborn period.

The Facilitator works closely with the Executive Officer and Community Engagement Coordinator to ensure classes are delivered to a consistently high standard, that content is current and clinically accurate, and that all participants leave feeling prepared, supported, and connected.

Employment Type

Casual

Hours of Work

Four half-day newborn care education classes per year (approximately 4 hours per class, plus preparation time). Classes are scheduled on Saturdays.

Rate of Pay

SCHADS Award, casual Saturday rate ($87.94 per hour)

Location

Sydney

Key Responsibilities

1. Class Preparation

- Review and update class content prior to each session to ensure alignment with current NSW Health policies, clinical guidelines, and relevant legislative changes
- Prepare all presentation materials, handouts, and physical props (e.g. training dolls, feeding demonstration equipment) in coordination with the Community Engagement Coordinator
- Review participant registration information in advance of each class to understand the specific family structures, pathways to parenthood,



infant feeding intentions, and any accessibility needs represented in the group
- Set up the hybrid delivery environment (in person room and Zoom)

2. Class Delivery

- Facilitate class content creating an inclusive, participatory, and psychologically safe environment for all attendees
- Manage hybrid delivery to ensure online participants are fully included and engaged throughout the session
- Respond sensitively to participant disclosures, questions, and needs as they arise during class, including escalating any clinical, mental health, or family violence concerns
- Ensure inclusive language is used throughout including correct use of pronouns, gender neutral terminology, and language that reflects diverse family structures
- Lead the delivery of four half day Transition to Parenthood and Newborn Care education classes per year (approximately 4 hours each), covering the following curriculum areas:
- · Infant feeding — breastfeeding/chest feeding, formula feeding, combination feeding, and donor milk presented; with particular focus on chest feeding for transgender and gender diverse parents, and induced lactation for non-gestational parents
- · Practical newborn care
- · Skin to skin — benefits for birth parent, non birth parent, and baby, including for families where a surrogate has given birth; role in bonding, feeding initiation, and temperature regulation
- · Perinatal mental health and wellbeing — postnatal depression and anxiety in the LGBTQ+ community, risk factors, symptoms, when to seek help, and available resources including PANDA and Beyond Blue
- · Peer support and community connection — social isolation risks for LGBTQ+ new parents, Rainbow Families programs, strategies for building peer networks, and connection to the broader RF community
- · Referrals to inclusive local health district services

3. Post Class

- Complete a brief post class debrief with the Community Engagement Coordinator, noting any participant needs, content gaps, or delivery issues for follow up
- Contribute to the administration of post class participant feedback surveys as required
- Flag any updates required to class content, resources, or materials to the Executive Officer

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

- Registered qualification in midwifery, nursing, child and family health, lactation consulting, or allied health, with current registration where applicable.
- Current individual Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII)



covering all aspects of clinical practice including education and facilitation roles outside primary employment
- Demonstrated experience facilitating newborn care, infant feeding, or early parenting education programs
- Demonstrated cultural competency in LGBTQ+ health, including working with trans and gender diverse people, same sex parents, and families formed through surrogacy or donor conception
- Specific knowledge of chest feeding and induced lactation, and the practical and emotional dimensions of infant feeding for diverse family structures
- Strong knowledge of relevant clinical guidelines, including Red Nose Australia safe sleep guidelines, NSW Health newborn care policies, and infant feeding best practice
- Excellent facilitation skills — ability to deliver evidence based content in an engaging, inclusive, and participatory manner to groups of up to 20 people
- Experience with hybrid (in person and online) program delivery

Highly Desirable

- Lived experience of LGBTQ+ family formation (e.g. same sex parenting, surrogacy, donor conception, trans parenthood)
- Experience supporting families with postnatal depression, perinatal anxiety, or perinatal mental health challenges
- Familiarity with LGBTQ+ affirming Child and Family Health Services and referral pathways across NSW
- Experience working with families formed through surrogacy, including the specific newborn period experience of intended parents bringing a baby home

Core Competencies

- Clinical expertise and commitment to evidence based practice
- Warmth, empathy, and genuine commitment to LGBTQ+ community wellbeing
- Cultural competency and inclusive practice — using affirming language and adapting content to reflect diverse family structures and identities
- Confident, engaging facilitation with groups of varying sizes and experience levels
- Ability to respond calmly and appropriately to sensitive disclosures or unexpected situations during class
- Reliability and professionalism in a casual, self directed engagement model

Equity and Diversity Rainbow Families is dedicated to equitable and inclusive hiring practices and understands the benefits of a diverse workforce. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, parents and carers, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Candidates from the LGBTQ+ community or with a strong personal connection to the LGBTQ+ community are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of demonstrated capacity and commitment to perform the role, rather than on formal qualification alone.

How to Apply

Please address how you meet the key responsibilities and essential criteria in a cover letter of up to two pages. Send your cover letter and resume to [email protected] by 14th August 2026.

If you require any reasonable adjustments in completing this process, please contact us so that we can support your application.

📌 Antenatal Education Facilitator - Transition to Parenthood and Newborn Care (Sydney)
🏢 Rainbow Families
📍 Sydney