Kelly Langford
What's your name and role at MAMA?
I’m Kelly and I’m re-introducing myself as I am now leading MAMA into her second decade of success.
What inspired you to work at MAMA?
I was a co-founding director with Jan Ireland from 2011 for seven years before the birth of my first child. Children change your world (as many of you would know!) so in 2017 I relinquished my Directorship to Jan whilst continuing to support her, and continued working at MAMA in a caseload midwife role. As family life became easier, I returned 2 years ago to a manager/midwife support role, building sustainability into our midwifery practice to prevent burnout and to build midwife mentorship models to support early career midwives.
What are you passionate about at MAMA?
My vision for MAMA as we continue to grow is that our care remains the same; that we provide loving individualised care that empowers families in their experience of pregnancy, birth and beyond. I know we have the right team to provide gold standard, empowering care. I believe the key to success for the longevity of MAMA and private midwifery practice has two important parts; the first lies in growing our mentorship program which enables passionate, early-career midwives to follow their professional dreams within an experienced, supportive team. The second, is ensuring the sustainability of the private midwifery practice model for the brilliant midwives we have and want to keep working happily for their entire careers. We do this by employing our midwives and putting supports in place such as rostered days off covered by the team and paid education days. I have seen that these small changes to the traditional sole private practitioner model has already reduced the burnout that is so common in the sole private practitioner (traditional) model. With three mentees currently working towards primary caseload care and two graduate mentorship positions available in 2025, the future of MAMA is looking bright.
What are your favourite things about your role?
Just as MAMA pioneered the first holistic private midwifery centre in Victoria, I believe our mentee program and sustainable midwifery model is the only one of its kind in Australia. I am looking towards the future of MAMA and private midwifery practice with gratitude. I am honoured to take the reins of my ‘first baby’ again and I am so grateful for the wonderful team at MAMA as we seek to support more positive transitions to parenthood for more families across Victoria.
Where would we find you outside of MAMA?
Running some trails!
