SA Power Networks supporting vulnerable new mums
SA Power Networks is supporting vulnerable new mothers in the regions by transporting care packs which might otherwise not have made it to regional South Australia.
Created by registered charity, The Village Co, the packs are designed to support women in the first few weeks after birth, especially those facing domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, or isolation. Each bag contains a selection of essential items and is gifted to eligible vulnerable mothers in public hospitals.
The Village Co has been providing these essential support bags to women in Adelaide hospitals since 2018 however prohibitive transport costs have meant the regions have missed out.
With crews and equipment transport services travelling across South Australia every day, SA Power Networks stepped in – carrying the new mother bags and other support packs created by the Village Co into the regions free of charge.
SA Power Networks crews have so far made deliveries to Port Pirie, Clare, Port Augusta, Angaston, Murray Bridge, Port Lincoln and Ceduna.
The Village Co’s Steph Malan said geography shouldn’t be a barrier to offering support.
“SA Power Networks has done something simple and extraordinary: they've used what they already had, their crews, their routes, their reach, and the willing hands of their own people, to make sure that a mum in regional South Australia gets the same welcome into motherhood as a mum in Adelaide,” Ms Malan said.
“As a former midwife, I know that the first weeks after birth can be the loneliest and most overwhelming of a woman's life, and for mothers in regional South Australia, distance has too often meant missing out on the support they deserve. Geography has never stopped vulnerability, and it shouldn't stop care.”
In addition to providing transport, through the SA Power Networks Employee Foundation, employees in offices and depots across the state volunteer their time by holding workshops to cut the materials required to be stitched into breast pads to fill new packs. Adelaide employees have also volunteered their time to pack bags.
“From employees giving their time to cut breast pads, to crews carrying our packs across the State, every part of this partnership is an act of dignity,” Ms Malan said.
“That is what we are trying to give every mother we reach, and we are so grateful to SA Power Networks for understanding that so deeply."
More than half of all mothers giving birth in South Australia each year do so while experiencing financial hardship, while more than a third experience domestic violence during pregnancy or early motherhood.
SA Power Networks Employee Foundation Executive Officer Isabell Al-Nahat said this practical support of The Village Co represents the commitment of SA Power Networks employees to serving their communities.
“Supporting The Village Co is a wonderful example of how our employees rally behind causes that matter to the communities where we live and work,” Ms Al-Nahat said.
“Through payroll donations, volunteering, fundraising and this practical delivery support, our people are helping ensure families in metro and regional areas receive care and comfort when they need it most.”
About The Village Co
Co-founded by former midwife Steph Malan and Nicole Doak, The Village Co is a South Australian registered charity supporting women through pregnancy and the first 12 months after birth.
For too many women, day one begins with fear, loneliness, and nothing but a hospital bag. By surrounding new mums with care, essentials, and community, The Village Co helps them feel seen, valued, and capable, because when a mother is supported, her baby, her family, and her future all flourish.
About the SA Power Networks Employee Foundation
The SA Power Networks Employee Foundation enables employees, their families and friends, to make a positive contribution to the lives of people in their community. This is achieved through donations, fundraising, and volunteering.
In 2025 the Foundation passed the milestone of more than $6 million donated since its inception. It is celebrating its 20th year in 2026.