EP 29 | Bonus Episode | The challenges faced by parents in today's society with Tegan from The Parenthood

<p>In this bonus episode of The Postpartum Season, I’m joined by Tegan Gilchrist, a senior director at The Parenthood, an Australian advocacy organisation campaigning for the social and economic infrastructure parents need to make life work for modern families.</p><p>Tegan shares some of the challenges facing parents today, including the tension between work and caring responsibilities in the context of systems designed for another era,  the cost and availability of early learning, and the pressure parents can experience as their families move through different stages.</p><p>We also talk about what The Parenthood is advocating for: 12 months of paid parental leave for families, high-quality and accessible early learning, and more family-friendly workplaces.</p><p>Tegan explains why giving fathers and partners dedicated opportunities to take parental leave matters — not only in supporting mothers during the first year, but in establishing shared care from the beginning. We discuss the idea of the “default parent”, the role that time plays in building confidence and connection as a caregiver, and why creating better systems for families can benefit mothers, fathers, children and the wider community.</p><p>We finish by talking about The Parenthood’s vision for Australian families and how parents can get involved in advocating for change.</p><p>You can find out more about The Parenthood at:</p><p><a href="https://www.theparenthood.org.au/">https://www.theparenthood.org.au</a></p><p>Or follow along on instagram at @theparenthood.</p><p>Important links that were mentioned in the episode:</p><p>Address by Georgie Dent, CEO of The Parenthood, at the National Press Club:</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brIRti7aEpg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brIRti7aEpg</a></p><p>The Parenthood Paid Parental Leave Petition:</p><p><a href="https://www.theparenthood.org.au/first_year_foundations">https://www.theparenthood.org.au/first_year_foundations</a></p><p>Also, as mentioned in the episode, here are some postpartum support resources. Please reach out if you need help.</p><p>Australia</p><ul><li>PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety &amp; Depression Australia)<br>Helpline: 1300 726 306<br>Website: <a href="https://www.panda.org.au/">https://www.panda.org.au</a></li><li>Lifeline Australia<br>13 11 14 (24/7)<br>Website: <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">https://www.lifeline.org.au</a></li><li>Beyond Blue<br>1300 22 4636<br>Website: <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au