Welcome to Navigating Parenthood

Welcome to Navigating Parenthood, the podcast for parents, not babies, brought to you by HCF, Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund. Whether you’re already parent or planning to become one, these are real people’s compelling stories of finding their way along unexpected pathways, sharing …

Embracing special needs parenthood

Even though Melanie’s son was born with brain damage, she wanted so badly to believe he’d be fine. But when he was diagnosed with a permanent disability, everything changed. Melanie talks about the unexpected joys and the day-to-day experience of parenting a child with special needs. Joan Bratel …

A single mother’s path

Julia Hasche never thought she’d be a single mum, but her relationship broke down just months after having her baby. She shares her journey of single parenthood, from the vast emotional reward, to combatting loneliness and the work-family juggling act. Julia now runs the website and podcast Singl…

Starting life in ICU

What does it feel like to go home, after giving birth, without your babies? Mum Lee had her twins at 28 weeks and they landed up in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 102 days. We hear from Lee and NICU nurse Maddie O’Connor about the challenges of becoming a parent in this environment, the imp…

Reshaping your identity

Before having a baby Stephanie was a busy news reporter who loved her job. After giving birth she changed so much as a person she couldn’t look at work, or herself, in the same way. With psychologist Lisa Williams from the University of New South Wales we talk about how becoming a parent can funda…

Managing mental challenges

Blogger Leah Williams from The Dearest Days and her partner had both experienced mental health problems before having their baby. When their daughter turned out to be a “textbook difficult baby”, Leah struggled and knew she had to seek help. Social worker and therapist Ray Medhora talks about how…

Parenting across cultures

Saman is from Pakistan and her husband is from Scotland. They’ve had children in three different countries. Now living in Australia, they try and bring different elements of their cultures to parenting and family life. Anthropologist Dr Geir Presterudstuen from the University of Western Sydney p…

Season 2 - Talking to teens

Ever wondered what your teen is thinking, feeling and experiencing? In season two of Navigating Parenthood – Talking to Teens, six switched-on teens and experts tell us what it means to grow up and get by in 2020: mates, dates, self-esteem, study stress, true grief and the grief we give them. Host …

Teens: Grief and resilience.

What happens when your child unexpectedly has to face the worst of life’s challenges? There are hundreds of parenting books out there, but there are some things you can never prepare your kids for. Grace was 10 when her father died. Since then, she’s had to process her own grief, as well as manage…

Teens: Stress, study and anxiety.

Study and exam stress can affect any student, and teenagers are experts at hiding their worries. So how do parents know when to offer help, and what should that help even look like? By the time Genevieve reached year 12, she was used to being on top of things: vice captain and sports captain of her…