Barbara May Foundation

02/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who came and supported our event at East Coast Wildflowers. It was a beautiful sunny day amongst flowers and friends, with delicious food and a genuine sense of compassion and partnership.

Your generosity continues to humble us. From the amazing people who made the day possible, to everyone who came along and showed your support – thank you so much.

Sonic Healthcare Foundation

22/09/2026

Thank you to all the churches and schools who have welcomed us recently. We’ve loved getting to meet some of you and hear your passion for women suffering with fistula injuries. And of course it’s always wonderful to welcome new supporters who share the hope and vision we have to make sure every woman – no matter where she is born in the world – can give birth safely.

If you’d like us to speak at your school, workplace or church, please find out more here: https://barbaramayfoundation.com/how-can-i-help/ -involved

19/09/2026

Who could resist giving these precious babies a cuddle 😍

Midwives Luciana and Elizabeth helped deliver these little ones at our supported hospital in Tanzania.

17/09/2026

Twenty years ago, there was no standardised training for fistula surgery – just a handful of surgeons, often working in isolation.

Together with a global community of surgeons and trainers, our Medical Director, Dr Andrew Browning, helped change that. He recently chaired the 10th meeting of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Expert Advisory Group at our supported hospital, Kivulini Maternity Centre, which is an official FIGO Training site.

In a new article for FIGO, Dr Andrew reflects on how far fistula care has come, and what’s still left to do.

Read his full reflection here: https://www.figo.org/blog/two-decades-fistula-care-repairing-lives-and-preventing-future-harm

11/09/2026

Happy New Year to all our friends in Ethiopia!

Did you know the Ethiopian calendar runs slightly different to ours? In Ethiopia today they are welcoming in the year 2019.

To our colleagues, partners, patients and friends in Ethiopia, we wish you a day full of joy, delicious food and coffee, and time with the people you love.

And an extra special welcome to any babies born in Barbara May Maternity Hospital and Vision Maternity Care Hospital today!

09/09/2026

Featured in the news recently was our very own Professor Jonathan Morris AM!

‘After decades caring for women with high-risk pregnancies, Professor Jonathan Morris AM could have stepped away from medicine altogether. Instead, he and his wife Katherine have shaped a new chapter around family, purpose and sharing their expertise where it can make a lasting difference.’

Read their insights about volunteering professionally in Africa:

After decades as an obstetrician, Professor Jonathan Morris AM found a new purpose in retirement, travelling to Tanzania with his wife to support maternal healthcare where it's needed most.

08/09/2026

Another wonderful evening with friends – this time in Bowral, where it all began!

Dr Andrew Browning first heard stories from a visiting missionary at Sunday School as a six-year-old boy. It was wonderful to return to that same community to share what that childhood spark has become: helping women give birth safely at maternity hospitals in Africa, and treating thousands of women for obstetric fistula (a devastating birthing injury).

We were warmly welcomed by everyone who came along and loved getting to chat with so many of you throughout the evening.

Thank you to everyone who made it out to support this life-changing work.

Make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter to hear about our next event: https://barbaramayfoundation.com/events/

07/09/2026

Real mamas, real babies, real lives.

We don’t receive government funding. This is all possible because of people like you.

This week across our partner hospitals:
• a mother gave birth for free and avoided getting a fistula injury
• a baby who needed to be delivered through emergency caesarean was saved
• a baby received intensive care and got the best start to life
• a pregnant mama was able to be excited about her pregnancy, rather than scared about giving birth
• a woman went home healed after being treated for a long-time birthing injury

From our small team in Australia, and our partners in Africa, we want to say thank you.

05/09/2026

Happy Father’s Day to the strong, compassionate, faithful men in our community who are committed to improving women’s health in Africa.

Today we want to share with you a story of a fistula patient, told by her father Abdulahi, and recognise all the Dads like him – whether here or in Africa – who would do anything for their daughters 💙

Read it here: https://barbaramayfoundation.com/stories/zeinas-story-no-longer-alone/

04/09/2026

It was wonderful to meet so many of you at our recent event in Bowral. Here are some thoughtful words from Dr Greening, a local obstetrician who came and was inspired by Dr Andrew’s stories.

Thank you to everyone, like Dr Greening, who is helping to raise awareness of the importance of treating and preventing fistula in Africa.

Simple acts like sharing on social media can make a difference in highlighting this important work👩🏽‍🍼

It was my absolute honour to meet Dr Andrew Browning last night in Bowral. An Australian 🇦🇺 respected obstetrician who has worked in Africa for decades. He is a legend in the world 🌍 for fistula surgery and worked with Dr Catherine Hamlin in Ethiopia 🇪🇹 originally on this terrible complication of birthing.
A fistula is a leak from either the bladder or the bowel after obstructed labour. If the obstruction occurs for days the tissues die along with the baby almost always. In third-world countries obstetric care is minimal. Here in Australia or NZ and so on women have access to caesarean or vacuum delivery or sometimes forceps. But not so in many parts of the world.
A fistula woman is ostracised, her baby taken away if alive, divorced, and lives a lonely existence outside her people. Many die. Many spend decades alone.
Andrew was inspirational in progressing and promoting the surgery to fix fistulas. Teaching the surgery in Africa (and south-east-Asia) to many and still does. Promoting healthcare centres for safer delivery and tirelessly helping.
His father is retired Bowral obstetrician Dr David Browning. His incredible aunt Val works in the Afar region of Ethiopia 🇪🇹 in the hottest poorest region as a nurse and health care promoter and is a force of nature there.
His grandmother was Barbara May and that foundation funds many projects in Africa. Have a look at www.barbaramayfoundation.com
Andrew’s book 📖 ‘A Doctor in Africa’ I’d read and got to finally meet him in person on his trip back to his family origins in Bowral. He had the energy and drive I’d expected and admired.
We live in a lucky country and his astonishing talk made me realise that but more so how lucky women of Africa and south-east- Asia are dedicated people are tackling fistulas. And changing their world.
David