Starting August 2026, families welcoming a new baby will soon receive more than congratulations. SHDH Health Promotion team are partnering with SHDH Midwifery and Maternal Child Health to distribute 100 gender equity book packs to families of newborns in the Swan Hill District.  Each pack includes the children’s book No Difference Between Us by Jayneen Sanders, along with information about reading to babies and key messages from the Raise Them Equal project by Women’s Health Loddon Mallee.

Pictured: Tania, Lisa, Tara, and Nicole before the first book pack was presented to a local Vietnamese family in SHDH Midwifery.

This initiative aims to support families to challenge harmful gender stereotypes and promote gender equity and respectful relationships from birth. When families are supported to raise children free from limiting ideas about gender, communities’ benefit from healthier, safer, and more inclusive environments.

To ensure every family can engage with these messages, SHDH Health Promotion team has developed translated welcome letters in five languages: Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Malay, Hazaragi and Dari. These translations support early engagement for non‑English‑speaking families, ensuring all parents can access information about reading, bonding, and raising children with equal opportunities. The very first family to receive a pack overcame a language barrier thanks to the Vietnamese translation, demonstrating the real impact of inclusive communication.

Midwifes at SHDH will provide families with the book packs upon discharge with MCH nurses capturing families who have birthed outside of Swan Hill. We are grateful to SHDH Midwifery, Swan Hill Maternal Child Health team, and Women’s Health Loddon Mallee for collaborating to ensure these important messages reach families across our community.

If you would like to learn more or get involved, please contact Tara at tmirabito@shdh.org.au.