Walking Beside Women: The Transformative Impact of First Steps Pregnancy Support

As a proud early funder of First Steps Pregnancy Support (FSPS), we have had the privilege of witnessing something deeply meaningful unfold in the Queanbeyan region—a gentle yet powerful shift in how we care for women facing complex and challenging pregnancies.

As a proud early funder of First Steps Pregnancy Support (FSPS), we have had the privilege of witnessing something deeply meaningful unfold in the Queanbeyan region—a gentle yet powerful shift in how we care for women facing complex and challenging pregnancies.

First Steps began with a clear and compassionate vision: to walk beside women during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, offering not only practical support but also presence, connection, and hope. With an initial grant of $120,000 over three-years, the Foundation was honoured to support the establishment of the service and provide some funding security during those formative early years.

From the outset, FSPS has provided free, confidential, and compassionate support to pregnant women and new mothers, particularly those experiencing homelessness, domestic and family violence, financial hardship, social isolation, mental health challenges, or limited access to other services. Whether a woman is facing her first pregnancy or navigating a new chapter under difficult circumstances, FSPS offers her a safe place to land.

The model of care at First Steps is personal, relational, and grounded in dignity. Women are met without judgment and supported with whatever they need from medical care and housing referrals to emotional support, perinatal education, and connection with local services. The team, comprising GP obstetricians, social workers and community support workers, brings not only experience and skill, but heart.

Central to this work is the FSPS Community Hub, a warm, welcoming space in Queanbeyan where women can access practical resources, participate in birthing classes, connect with others, or simply be in a safe environment. The hub is as much about belonging as it is about services.

FSPS also makes a deliberate effort to reach women who are often left out of traditional systems including young mothers, First Nations women, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and those ineligible for Medicare or experiencing visa uncertainty. In many cases, women come to First Steps after exhausting all other options. Here, they are met with compassion, offered tailored support, and often leave with renewed confidence and clarity.

The results speak for themselves. In its first year, FSPS supported over 130 women, and demand continued to grow. But the real impact is found in the stories of women who arrived afraid and left empowered, of families who found stability, of children born into stronger, safer circumstances because someone cared for their mother.

Events like the Queanbeyan Pramathon are a visible expression of this community spirit. In May 2025, more than 200 families came together in solidarity, raising $35,000 to support FSPS’s growing work and to help make plans for long-term housing solutions a reality.

Now, as First Steps moves into its next chapter, the Foundation is proud to support them once again with a further grant of $50,000 to assist with expansion. This growth is a testament to the impact of their work and the depth of care that underpins it. It reflects what is possible when community-led, relationship-based models are nurtured and resourced.

As a funder, it has been a privilege to be part of this journey. We believe every woman deserves to feel safe, supported, and empowered in pregnancy and we know that services like First Steps are building stronger families and more connected communities, one relationship at a time.

First Steps is not just responding to crisis; it is offering calm, care and continuity helping women find their footing and take their next step with dignity.

To learn more, or to walk alongside First Steps Pregnancy Support, visit fsps.org.au.