Sarah Witty (Melbourne, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently I joined more than 500 mums and supporters walking in solidarity through the heart of Melbourne to shine a light on something that we do not talk enough about: motherhood loneliness. The walk, organised by Mum Walk, was simple and powerful—mums with prams; babies bundled up; and partners, friends and grandparents walking alongside them. Conversations began between strangers and, within minutes, turned into connections because the early months and years of motherhood can feel isolating. You can be surrounded by people and still feel alone. You can be constantly needed and still miss adult conversation. Shared understanding and real community—what I saw was connection being built in real time. I saw women swapping numbers. I saw laughter cutting through exhaustion, and I saw communities forming step by step.

That is Melbourne at its best. We are a city that gathers, a city that creates spaces for people to belong, a city that knows community is not just a word; it is something we build through action. Motherhood is not meant to be done alone. It grows stronger when communities wrap around it. To every mum who walked and everyone who came in solidarity, thank you. You remind us that connection changes everything and that a child should be brought up by the community, not just by one person.