In celebration of International Babywearing Week 2008 (IBW08), babywearing groups around Australia and New Zealand are organizing local events to celebrate, promote, and advocate the many benefits of babywearing. Below is a list of local events scheduled at this stage. New events may be added between now and then, so please check back if you don’t see any events in your area. If you are interested in organizing an event in your area, please contact us or join our Forum to find other locals near you. For more information on IBW08, please visit www.babywearingweek.org.

Brisbane
Canberra
Melbourne
Perth
Auckland
Waikato (NZ)
Christchurch

BRISBANE

Saturday 15 November, 1-4pm

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Carrier Workshop at Brisbane Sling Meet.
Learn how to make your own carriers, whether or not you can sew! Those who are not interested in DIY carriers can still try on different carriers.
Venue: Indooroopilly Library Meeting Room, 4th floor of Indooroopilly Shopping Centre.

Sunday 16 November, 11-3pm

Babywearing Walk and Picnic.
Join other local babywearers for a nice walk and a BYO picnic at the Southbank Parklands. There will be opportunity to try on carriers at the picnic area.
Venue: Southbank Parklands, meet for the walk at the Ferris Wheel near QPAC at 11am. The picnic will be held at noon at the other end of the Parklands, near the playground with the creek.

CANBERRA

Bush Babies is sponsoring Babywearing talks at five community childcare centres around Canberra, for parents of children who attend or are on the waiting list to attend. Dates and centres are:
11 November - 8am at Forrest, 12pm at Binara Childcare Centre (city).
18 November - 12pm at Currawong (Barton - near Parliament House).
19 November - 4pm at Narrabundah
26 November - 4pm at Fyshwick (combined with a talk on gentle sleep settling techniques).

The inaugural Canberra Sling Meet will take place on Tuesday 18th November 2008, 10 am - 12 noon, at Meeting room 2, Belconnen Community Centre, Swanson Ct, Belconnen. For more info, join the Yahoo Group.

MELBOURNE

Melbourne International Babywearing Week Meet
Friday the 14th Nov at 11 - 11.30am
Melbourne Museum Carlton
Meet in Cafe Area

PERTH

Babywearing Gathering on Friday 14th November 10.00am
Coolbinia Park, Joondanna (on Short St between Banksia and French Sts)

AUCKLAND

Sunday 16 November, 10am-1pm
‘Slings in the Park’ at Western Springs Playground, BYO picnic. For more details, please visit Slingbabies.co.nz.

WAIKATO (NZ)

Babywearing Demo on Tuesday 18 November, 10am.
Venue: the Kaimai Cheese Factory Cafe, Waharoa.

CHRISTCHURCH

Picnic at the children’s playground in the Botanic Gardens 11am - 1pm Tuesday 18 November, weather permitting.