The Council of Adult Education (CAE) offers a childbirth course for women who are from a non-English speaking background. The course is called ‘English as a Second Language Program for Childbirth.’ It is held at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Grattan Street, Carlton.
What you will gain from the course
During the course you will:
- Gain the confidence to cope with English language requirements during pregnancy, hospital visits and hospital stays.
- Gain a better understanding of Australian hospital and medical procedures and community health services.
- Practice using English so that you are able to access community health services.
- Learn more about the options open to you - for example, the choice to have your baby in a hospital or a community based childbirth centre.
Help for you to make your own decisions
Better English skills will help make you more confident to make informed decisions during your pregnancy and childbirth.
What the course involves
The course will focus on the English skills needed during:
- Antenatal (before the birth) visits and hospital procedures
- Labour
- The postnatal period (after the baby is born).
Help for after the baby is born
You will also be given information about health and education services that will help you after the baby is born, for example:
- Further English classes
- Community health centres.
The length of the course
The course will take 30 hours to complete and involves:
- Face-to-face teaching in small groups
- Videotapes
- Audiotapes.
After completing the course, you may like to enrol in the English Language Volunteer Home Tutor Program.
The course is held during the day
The course involves day classes held during school terms. It costs 10 dollars ($10).
Who can take the course
The course is open to women from non-English speaking backgrounds who will be having their babies at the Royal Women’s Hospital. Your English level must be below ASLPR 4 (staff at CAE can tell you whether the course is the right one for you).
Where to get help
- Council of Adult Education Tel. (03) 9652 0776
- Women’s Health Information Centre, Royal Women’s Hospital Tel. (03) 9344 2007
Things to remember
- There is a childbirth course just for women from non-English speaking backgrounds.
- Better English skills will help you to understand Australian hospital procedures.
- Better English skills will help you to learn more about the health care choices available to you.
You might also be interested in:
Childbirth - medical interventions.
Childbirth - pain relief options.
Postnatal depression.
Pre-eclampsia.
Pregnancy - antenatal checks of your baby.
Pregnancy - birth choices.
Pregnancy - signs and symptoms.
Pregnancy - stages of labour.
Pregnancy - week by week.
Pregnancy and diet.
Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.
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