Frequently Asked Questions

General

• Is Motherland Village designed for new mums only?

  Not at all! It’s open to rural mums with children aged 0-3 years, 4-10 years and 11-18 years. You just need to select the age category you are most interested in joining.

• How does it differ from a traditional mothers group?

  Unlike traditional mothers groups which are often run by Maternal Child Health Nurses,  Motherland Village is focused on facilitating friendships and meaningful connections, and is run by Motherland’s trained ambassadors. Our program is not a replacement for any services offered by medical or allied health professionals and we do not offer any professional advice when it comes to your own health or the health of your child/ren.

  If you need support in certain areas of expertise such as breastfeeding, sleep and settling (etc), we can point you in the right direction to services that can support you.

• Does joining the waitlist guarantee me a place?

  No. Joining the waitlist ensures you get the first chance to enrol in your mothers group when places open for that age-group. You’ll be the first to know when enrolments open (via email notification) giving you the chance to secure your spot before places are advertised publicly.

• How many rural mums are in each mother’s group?

  Each group is capped at 10 women maximum. Spots are limited for this reason. 

• What do I need to join Motherland Village?

  Internet, a mobile phone, and access to Facebook. 

• What happens if I have more than one child, which age group should I join?

  Whichever age group you want! Pick one of your children’s ages bracket that you need the most support with which will connect you with rural mums with kids of a similar age.

• How much time commitment will the Motherland Village program take?

  Over the six-weeks, you will have 3 x 1.5 hour Zoom sessions with your group. These two meetings are a critical part of the program and enable you to meet your group ‘face to face’ via video. Your facilitator will run each session.

  Other than those three sessions which are locked in at the start of the program, Motherland Village has been designed to be very flexible. You will be supported with weekly email check-ins from Steph, including suggested icebreakers and activities for your group.

• How will my group communicate?

  In addition to Zoom calls, your group will have its own private Motherland Village Facebook group and Messenger chat.

• What can I expect to gain from the program?

  Like anything, you get out what you put in and this will all depend on how engaged you are with your mother’s group. 

  If you’re eager to make meaningful connections and get to know the other rural mums as much as possible, please spend some time posting, chatting and getting to know them each week.

• Can the three Zoom catch ups be rescheduled?

  Unfortunately, no. They are scheduled in the evenings to allow participants the best chance to attend with no distractions. When these dates are locked in, please alert any support people you have so they can be around on those evenings to help with children if required. 

  These sessions are YOU time. It’s a commitment to yourself, and it’s a chance for you to invest in relationships with other mums.

• What if I can’t get someone to look after my kids for our Zoom?

  No problem! Our catch ups are very relaxed and family friendly. We understand unavoidable commitments pop up and your kids might need you. For younger children and babies, you might need to feed them, hold them or tend to them during our call, and they are absolutely welcome to join us!

  Just please remember to pop your microphone on mute if you are not speaking so we can avoid background noise for your group. 

  Of course, if you really can’t make the call, then please let your facilitator know as soon as possible so we are not waiting for you unnecessarily on the night. 

• Can my group arrange our own Zoom calls outside of the Program ones?

  Absolutely! We encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and catch up as much as you want to outside the three facilitated calls. The more chances you have to connect via video catch up, the better for your group’s relationship.

• What happens after the six weeks are up?

  When the official Program ends, your group doesn’t! You are all free to keep chatting and connecting privately, continuing your journey together. That’s the beauty of it! 

  After Week 6, a handover will take place for your group where the Motherland team will leave the group permanently, and handover admin to all the members of your group so you take full control. To date, all our groups have kept in contact, with nearly 20 virtual villages full of rural mums still connecting!

• What if I have other questions?

  Feel free to email Steph and the team at hello@motherlandaustralia.com.au or reach out via an Instagram DM.

• Where can I read the Motherland Village T&Cs?

  You can find them here

• What time of the day are the video calls?

  The three video calls are scheduled on a weeknight at 8pm AEDT. You will be notified of the details after you enrol.

• Who will facilitate my mother’s group?

  All our facilitators are rural mums themselves who live and breathe life on the land, and understand the unique challenges or being a rural mother.

  Our ambassadors have been taken through Motherland’s training program under the guidance of our CEO Stephanie Trethewey. All our facilitators also undergo compulsory mental health first aid training, and have each completed Lifeline’s Accidental Counsellor Training Course.