Birth Cartographer online Master Class

Discover the ways of The Birth Cartographer, and develop practical tools to create an environment that leads to informed, supported and confident birthing. This revolutionary approach to birth preparation is so stunningly simple to implement and yet extraordinarily powerful. This master class is for those birth workers and health professionals looking to enhance communication and support the decision making process with their clients in birth and beyond. Using the three tenets, you will develop a deeper understanding of:

• • How information is processed and can be understood differently for different people

• • How decisions are made, and why people draw different conclusions

• • How to implement compassionate care, even in a fragmented system

• How to use The Game of Birth to support your clients sensemaking

We will explore the importance of language, discover The Game of Birth and develop our skills to facilitate communication and support maternal decision making in maternity care. Dr Catherine Bell is a pioneering Australian advocate, author, researcher, and community leader whose work has transformed how families navigate pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. As the creator of The Birth Map and the field of Birth Cartography, she has introduced a new paradigm in maternity care—one that centres on informed decision making, consent, and autonomy. Her work is evidence-based, community-driven, and infused with storytelling.

Bell’s contributions extend beyond birth. She is also a founding force behind Tender Funerals Canberra Region, a not-for-profit that brings dignity, affordability, and community back into end-of-life care. Whether at the beginning or end of life, Catherine Bell is committed to ensuring people are informed, supported, and respected.  

This masterclass is self-paced and could be completed over 4 weeks (estimated at 2 – 3 hours per week). At the end of each module there are tasks to be completed using the closed forum. Your access is ongoing, to ensure the opportunity to stay connected. In addition to the course content, registration for the online course gives you:

• discount to join face to face training and zoom training  (to become a certified Birth Cartographer, ou will need to complete training)
• member access, which includes a flipbook version of The Birth Map, the digital version of The Game of Birth and other resources.

During 2026 the course will be redeveloped to be more interactive and visually interesting. Some changes to the order to modules will occur, and additional resources developed. Your access is ongoing so that you can benefit.

Topic	estimated duration	Learning Outcomes	Suggested Tasks
The trouble with consent   Benefits of Birth Cartography	90min	Understand consumer perspective of consent, risk and choice. Understand the concept of birth cartography and its key elements and benefits.	Game of Birth Activity, forum response, create a social media or blog post
Informed Decision Making The Fast Birth Pathway The Partner Perspective	90min	Understand decision-making from a consumer perspective Understand the concept of the fast birth pathway and how it benefits birth preparation.  Apply this to your practice.  Understand the partner perspective and analyse the impact this has on outcomes.  Evaluate decision-making and begin to create a birth map.	Forum interaction, a social media or blog post
General Considerations The Vaginal and Caesarean Pathway	90min	Understand the pathways from a consumer perspective, and apply this into practice by analysing a wholistic appreciation of individual care and evaluating circumstances to support consumers in creating an individual birth map for use during labour.  Create communication tools to enhance practice, creating effective and efficient appointments.	Forum interaction, a social media or blog post
Beyond the Birth	30min	Understand the wholistic and varied nature of the newborn phase, understand matrescence and apply education antenatally to support this phase.  Create new methods and networks particular to own practice to enhance education and support within own community.	Forum interaction, a social media or blog post
Putting it into Practice	60min	Creating a landscape overview particular to your practice within the context of individualised birth.  Consolidates all the sessions, and provides opportunity to clarify or grow concepts	Game of Birth Activity, create a map, forum interaction, a social media or blog post