Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated (BWWA Inc.) is a not for profit organisation dedicated to education, promotion and facilitation of baby wearing in the wider community. BWWA Inc. supports multiple chapters across Western Australia that meet regularly to educate parents on safe baby wearing and facilitate their baby wearing journey.
Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet. We acknowledge their Elders past, present and emerging.
In 2016 the BWWA Inc. committee published a document called Diversity and Inclusivity Statement for BWWA. This was uploaded within the documents of the Baby Wearers WA Inc. Chatter Group ( BWWA ) and was revised by the managing committee in June 2019 and June 2020. This document is an important part of the organisation's acknowledgement of the need for a cohesive, inclusive approach to babywearing education and promotion, and has now been uploaded to our website.
Babywearing is not new. It was not "designed" by the middle class white women that largely represent this organisation. It is derived from hundreds of years of cultural learning, and originated in black, indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) communities. It is a valuable parenting tool that is now gaining in popularity amongst western society members, with thanks to the deep seeded cultural traditions passed through generations of BIPOC communities and shared amongst those western society populations of which we belong.
2020 has provided many obstacles and difficulties, but with these come opportunities for education and improvement. It is true that with our sudden inability to provide hands-on promotion and facilitation of babywearing we have also neglected our responsibility to continue to educate our community. As an organisation we pledge to improve our own personal and organisational knowledge and understanding of all matters pertaining to the BIPOC community and promote historical, cultural babywearing.
In response to the worldwide online movement Baby Wearers Western Australia Incorporated would like to apologise to everyone that has been affected by our silence, and we take this opportunity to thank you for reaching out, for questioning us, and for keeping us accountable.
We hear you, we see you, we value you.
If you would like to contact us about how we can better meet the needs of the BIPOC Community please contact us at info@babywearerswa.com.au