Our History

In 1961, The Association for the Advancement of Painless Childbirth was established in Victoria by physiotherapists Marcelle Frame and Jean Webber. The organisation provided structured antenatal classes based on Ivan Pavlov’s theory of conditioned reflexes and the psychoprophylaxis method of childbirth preparation. As the movement evolved, the organisation was later renamed the Childbirth Education Association (CEA), reflecting its broader focus on education and professional development in childbirth preparation.

The Childbirth Education Association (CEA) actively championed the ‘right to choose’ and promoted the concept of personal responsibility for birth. CEA brought the influential film Naissance to Australia, helping to broaden public awareness of alternative approaches to childbirth. The screening of Birth with RD Laing, which focused on the baby’s needs and a woman’s autonomy in birth, generated significant discussion and had a lasting impact on the movement.

The Victorian Association of Childbirth Educators was established as CEA transitioned toward a more professional organisational structure. This shift reflected a growing emphasis on professional identity and governance, alongside an ongoing commitment to consumer advocacy within maternity care.

In 1987, the first biennial conference for childbirth educators, ‘A Movement on the Move’, was held. This landmark event contributed to the establishment of the National Association of Childbirth Educators (NACE), representing a move away from the Australian Childbirth Education and Parenting Association (ACEPA) and signalling a stronger national professional focus for the sector.

Childbirth Educators Australia runs its first conference in Melbourne, where international experts publicise the concept of drug-free birth. This gathering further strengthened professional networks and raised the profile of evidence-based childbirth education across the country.

In 2013, NACE was renamed CAPEA — Childbirth and Parenting Educators of Australia — recognising the expanding scope of childbirth education to include parenting education. The change reflected the evolving role of educators within maternity and family health services and marked a new chapter in national professional leadership.

To explore this history in greater depth, including the political, professional and social influences that shaped childbirth education in Victoria, we invite you to read Everything Old is New Again – An Early History of Childbirth Education in Victoria by Bronny Handfield (2013).