Implementing a relationship education program for new parents in rural Australia

Baby Makes 3 is a couple’s relationship education program for new parents that has previously been found to be successful in metropolitan Melbourne. However, programs developed in urban areas may face challenges when implemented in rural and regional Australia. This paper reports on research that evaluated the implementation of Baby Makes 3 in rural Victoria, drawing on semi-structured interviews with 15 service providers involved with the program in the Great South Coast Region. Despite some concerns about the receptivity of the community to a program focusing on gender equity, facilitators and parents were recruited across the region. However, adaptations to the original model developed in an urban context were required including consideration as to the number of facilitators to be recruited, smaller groups, and groups running less often where there are few children being born to new parents. The timing of groups may also need to take into account farming and sporting cultures in the region. Furthermore, the research revealed a need to recognise the heterogeneity of agricultural communities, and associated variety in issues which need to be addressed in scheduling group programs for parents.