Gidget Foundation Australia Expands Support for Parents in Orange with New Gidget House

Orange, NSW – March 4, 2025 – Gidget Foundation Australia has officially opened its newest Gidget House in partnership with Blooms the Chemist in Orange, marking a significant expansion of perinatal mental health support for parents in regional NSW.

Gidget Foundation Australia is a leading provider of specialist perinatal mental health services, offering year-long, free psychological support for expectant, new, and potential parents experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression. The foundation operates under a blended model of care, providing both face-to-face and telehealth services to ensure equitable access, particularly for families in regional and rural areas.

The new Gidget House, located in Orange, is the 23rd Gidget House in the state and the third in the Central West region, alongside locations in Cowra, Dubbo and Mudgee.

Breaking Barriers for Parents in Regional Areas

Both Gidget Foundation and Blooms the Chemist recognise the challenges faced by new parents in rural communities, including distance, financial pressures, and limited access to mental health services. Speaking at the event, Yvette Costi, Chief Marketing Officer at Blooms the Chemist, shared her personal connection to the cause:

“I personally suffered from perinatal depression after having my first son in 2020, and it showed me just how important these services are.”

Blooms the Chemist has been a dedicated partner of Gidget Foundation Australia since 2020, contributing over $500,000 to expand support services. Yvette highlighted the importance of reducing wait times and increasing access to care, reinforcing Blooms the Chemist’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare and well-being for all Australians.

A Community-Driven Initiative

The launch event was attended by local parents, psychologists, lactation consultants, and healthcare professionals, all united in their mission to support families in need. Kim Mouret, co-founder of Gidget Foundation, reflected on the foundation’s  connection to the region, recalling a visit Gidget’s mother and sisters made to Orange eight years ago for the ‘Gidget Goes Rural’ awareness and fundraising event.

Philip Donato, MP, spoke about the challenges parents face in seeking mental health support, especially in the early stages of parenthood. As a father of five, he acknowledged the prevalence of perinatal depression and anxiety in the community and praised the official opening of Gidget House Orange, congratulating Michael McDonald and co-owners of Blooms the Chemist, Orange for their commitment to the cause.

Real Stories, Real Impact

Dubbo mother and Gidget Angel, Letitia Bassingthwaighte, shared her deeply personal experience with postnatal psychosis following the birth of her first child. After struggling to find support, she discovered PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia), which ultimately connected her with Gidget Foundation Australia. Her story highlights the critical need for accessible mental health services for parents in regional communities. To read more about Letitia’s story, please see GFA’s page here.

How to Access Support

For parents seeking support, Dr. Joanne Lawrence-Bourne, a Clinical Psychologist from Bourne Psychology, will be one of the primary clinicians at Gidget House at Blooms the Chemist in Orange.

To access Gidget Foundation services:

• Speak to your GP and request a mental health care plan

• Contact Gidget Foundation Australia to book an appointment

With the opening of Gidget House Orange, more parents in the Central West will have access to life-changing mental health support, ensuring they receive the care they need during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. Gidget Foundation Australia (GFA) is the leading and largest national provider of perinatal mental health services. GFA supports the mental health of potential, expectant and new parents to ensure they receive timely, appropriate and specialist care.

GFA provides a range of free specialist treatment programs for Australian families, including individual psychological counselling via telehealth and group treatment.

Visit www.gidgetfoundation.org.au for:

• Information on how to refer a patient to GFA services
• Resources, including fact sheets for health professionals and parents
• 1 in 5 mothers, 1 in 10 fathers, a podcast series that explores real stories from expectant and new parents who have experienced perinatal depression & anxiety

Blooms the Chemist in Orange is located at: Shop 19, Orange Metro Plaza Centre – 227 Summer Street, Orange.