Because motherhood was never meant to be done alone.
Our Mission
The Village is a grassroots, community initiative created by Shine Om to support mothers and their children through the early years of parenting. It’s a space to slow down, connect, and be held in community, in rhythm, and nourishment.
We’re here to rebuild what many of us have lost — the village.
Our Vision
We imagine a world where mothers are not isolated, overwhelmed, or simply “getting through the day,” but deeply supported by one another in a heart-led community.
At The Village, we return to the wisdom of shared meals, outdoor play, intergenerational connection, and conscious caregiving, all held in a nurturing weekly rhythm.
This is not a program. It’s a remembering.
Weekly Gatherings – Details
We meet weekly in Canberra’s Inner North at a warm and welcoming local hall. Each session is designed with simplicity, care and rhythm:
🗓 Weekly on Monday
⏰ 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
📍 St Margaret’s Uniting Church Halls (Hackett) – Connecting Dickson, Hackett, Downer and Watson
🍲 Community afternoon tea served at 3:30 PM
The Village will open on October 20 and will initially operate on a 5-week pilot program on October 20, 27, November 3, 10 and 17. The endeavour is to continue this each week throughout school terms, but it is pending interest and funding.
The Rhythm:
- Nature play and arrival
- Gentle circle time (connection, healing, songs, stories, breath)
- Mother healing focus
- Communal afternoon tea prep (kids welcome to help)
- Shared meal and meaningful connection
- Wrap-up and farewell
All ages are welcome. We especially support:
- Stay-at-home mums
- Mothers with babies and toddlers
- Unschooling/home-educating families
- Mums to be
- Parents craving real connection
A Circle of Contribution
At The Village, we believe community care is a shared circle, not a service. This space is sustained by all of us, together.
Each gathering invites gentle contribution from those who attend. That might look like:
- Helping cook or prep our shared meals
- Setting the tables or lighting a candle
- Serving food or tidying up afterwards
- Facilitating a grounding practice, sharing a story, or leading a song
- Offering your unique gifts — wisdom, herbal knowledge, art, music, or just a listening ear
Upon registering, you will be invited to contribute towards the afternoon in a small way. Every small act becomes part of the whole, and your presence is always enough.
Who It’s For
The Village is open to:
- Mothers in the early years of parenting
- Caregivers who align with conscious, gentle parenting values
- Families seeking connection, not perfection
- Anyone yearning for a deeper community in the day-to-day
- Mothers who want to build their tribe and be part of a conscious village to raise their children with presence
This space is inclusive, low-pressure, and intentionally gentle.
Whether you’re newly postpartum, juggling multiple kids, or just feeling the isolation of modern motherhood, this is your invitation to exhale, connect, and be held.
Why Join?
Because you weren’t meant to do this alone.
Because dinner tastes better when it’s shared.
Because your nervous system deserves support.
Your child learns connection by watching you live it.
Because you are worthy of community.
What We Mean by “Conscious Mothers”
A conscious mother is a woman who approaches parenting with presence, intention, and awareness. She is committed to growing alongside her children by learning, unlearning, and creating a family culture that aligns with her values.
Conscious motherhood is not about being perfect. It’s about:
- Valuing connection over control
- Respecting children as whole people from birth
- Making thoughtful choices about family rhythms, education, nourishment, and wellbeing
- Taking responsibility for her own emotional regulation, healing, and growth
- Nurturing a home and community where everyone can feel safe, seen, respected and supported
We believe conscious mothers come from all walks of life. You don’t need to “have it all together”, you simply need to care about showing up for your children, yourself and this community with love and awareness.
Our Financial Model
Small family contributions, and community support entirely sustain The Village. Shine Om resources, time, and energy are invested in this initiative, and our focus is on supporting this vision to thrive. Should any profit be made it is returned to this project.
Your investment covers:
- Venue hire
- Ingredients for shared meals
- Basic materials (the purchase of cooking utensils, cleaning supplies, and play items)
- Subsidised access for families in need
We ask for a suggested contribution of $15 per family per week, but no one will be turned away due to finances.
If you would like to support this project, we are also gratefully receiving contributions via GoFundMe. We are actively applying for community grants, where applicable, to make this initiative sustainable in the long term.
Expressions of Interest – Get Involved
Want to help the village grow?
We are currently welcoming:
- Anchor Mamas (You’re Rach’s key helper on the day, you will help set up, welcome, and pack down)
- Kitchen Angels (to help prep and cook food)
- Elders & Grandmothers (to support and share presence and be an extra set of eyes on the littles)
- Practitioners (massage therapists, yoga teachers, postpartum professionals, musicians) who would like to offer their time, care, or services in a future session
If you feel called to contribute your energy, time, or talents, we’d deeply love to hear from you.
Reach Out
For general inquiries, questions, collaborations, or to express interest as a volunteer or service provider, please contact: info@shineom.com.au with the subject line ‘The Village’ or complete the form below, and we’ll be in touch.
Let’s Bring the Village Back
Whether you’re exhausted, lonely, hopeful or just curious — you belong here.
This is a slow, imperfect, love-filled attempt to rebuild what we were never meant to lose. A place for the real, the messy, and the magical moments of motherhood to be shared and supported.
Come sit with us. Let’s make dinner together. Let’s raise our children in a community.
The Village is growing.
And we’d love to welcome you in.