CAPEA Philosophy and Values
CAPEA believes that:
- Pregnancy, birth and parenting are physiological, significant, and transformational life events for most families.
- Birth can safely take place in hospitals, birth centres and homes with appropriate monitoring and professional health care.
- Childbirth and early parenting education is:
- an integral component of maternity, as well as maternal, child, and family health care.
- a significant primary health initiative that has the potential to influence not only the health and well-being of women, parents, and their immediate families, but also future generations.
- based on contemporary, evidence-informed knowledge and the appropriate application of adult learning principles and group facilitation skills.
- provided in a respectful, trauma-informed, and evidence-based way for anyone seeking the service.
- Childbirth and Early Parenting Educators:
- advocate for laws, policies, guidelines, and care that promote physiological birth, breastfeeding, and the rights of parents to choose what is best for them and their family.
- are accountable and responsible for their own practice and professional development.
- All expectant and new parents and their families have the right to respectful and professional care
6. High-quality, accessible, and responsive education should be available to all expectant and new parents and families, both within and external to maternity and parenting services.
7. Learning needs of all parents, co-parents, and carers of infants and young children should be recognised regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, family structure, or disability.
8. Fathers and father figures, including partners, non-resident fathers, step-fathers and other significant male carers, have a central role in supporting women during pregnancy, labour, birth and early parenting. They have specialised educational needs in the transition to parenthood, which can be met without compromising women-centred care.
9 Parents, co-parents or carers may be from diverse family structures — such as same-gender, single-parent, blended or multi-generational families, or may be adoptive parents or legal guardians. These parents also have specialised educational needs in their transition to parenthood.
10 The early development of the parent–infant relationship is crucial for the future physical and mental health of the infant. This is achieved through parents and significant others identified by the parent actively engaging in providing sensitive, timely, and appropriate responses to their infant’s cues for interaction and assistance.
National Competency Standards developed by CAPEA
The CAPEA National Competency Standards for Childbirth and Early Parenting Educators aim to promote competent educators from a range of backgrounds and are the basis for assessment and recognition as a CAPEA Certified Educator or Trainer. Beginner and experienced educators, as well as coordinators or managers of childbirth and early parenting education services, can use the Standards in a variety of settings.
