Tracey Tyley is the Founding Director and Chief Executive Officer of Motherhood Village, a Gold Coast-based health promotion charity providing free, lived experience-led perinatal mental health support for mothers and families.

A mother of three, Tracey founded Motherhood Village in 2023 following her own experience of perinatal depression, anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Passionate about ensuring no mother faces these challenges alone, she established the organisation to bridge the gap between clinical care and community recovery, creating safe, local pathways for mothers to reconnect, recover and thrive.

Before founding Motherhood Village, Tracey built a diverse career spanning the arts, finance and executive leadership. She performed internationally as a professional dancer in Paris, Monaco and aboard Princess Cruises before completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) at Bond University. She went on to lead teams across accounting, audit and business operations, bringing together commercial expertise, strategic leadership and a strong commitment to purpose-driven organisations.

Today, Tracey is recognised as a passionate advocate for innovation in perinatal mental health, working to strengthen partnerships between hospitals, primary care and community organisations to improve outcomes for mothers and families. She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA), and is committed to building sustainable, community-led solutions that create lasting systems change.

Tracey believes that when mothers are supported, families are stronger and future generations thrive. Through her leadership, she is helping change the trajectory of generational mental health outcomes - one mother at a time.

Director

Teall is a Clinical Psychologist and Board Approved Clinical Supervisor with a special interest in Perinatal Psychology. Teall has over a decade of experience working with people from all ages and stages in both the public and private mental health sector.

Through having her own children, Teall developed a passion for birth, infants and Matresnce – the journey of becoming a mother. She believes that the transition to parenthood is a hard one – a time of significant change and adjustment. She appreciates the many challenges women and families can face and is passionate about supporting parents through a season of transition.

Director

Stacy is an experienced lawyer with more than twenty years’ of practice in commercial litigation and insolvency. Over the past 15 years, she has successfully led a law practice on the Gold Coast while balancing the demands of raising a young family and contributing meaningfully to the not-for-profit sector.

Her work is grounded in a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach, and she brings extensive experience advising boards on governance, risk, and dispute resolution.

Stacy’s connection to Motherhood Village is deeply personal. Her third daughter, Audrey, was stillborn at 37 weeks, an experience that has shaped her commitment to supporting families navigating loss. As a mother to Audrey and her three other daughters, Stacy understands first-hand the complexity of grief, as well as the anxieties that can accompany pregnancy after loss. She is passionate about sharing her story to help create space for acknowledgement, compassion, and healing, believing that openness can empower others to feel less alone in their journey.

Alongside her professional work, Stacy is dedicated to contributing her skills where they can have meaningful impact. She served for five years on the board of Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) and currently holds the role of President of the Southport Carrara Netball Association.

Through her involvement with Motherhood Village, Stacy has found a community where she can both give back and continue her own healing journey.

Director - Board Deputy Chair

Ben has dedicated his career to changing the lives of others through his work in the not-for-profit sector. He has extensive experience in the sector having worked with the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Cerebral Palsy League, MS Queensland, Legacy, the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation and now as a Director of HomeMade.

Ben is a passionate advocate for the not for profit sector and is an experienced speaker and thinker on the design, delivery and value of effective impact delivery, fundraising, marketing and communications programs. Having been a non-profit CEO he is also a leader in the fields of governance, ethics, mentoring, leadership and perseverance. 

Ben currently is the Chair of the Fundraising Institute of Australia and serves on the Boards of Motherhood Village and Childhood Cancer Support. He has also been a Director of Variety QLD (Chair and Deputy Chair), a Director of Variety Australia, and a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia’s Queensland State Committee. He also has served on the Bond University Healthcare Innovations Advisory Board and several Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service committees including research, arts and infrastructure.

Director

Joe brings deep experience in the commissioning, governance, and delivery of complex health programs and services. He is currently Chief Operating Officer at the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation where he provides executive leadership across the organisations strategic and operational philanthropic cycle.

Joe is a tactical thinker. Combined with his passion for the community Joe has executed significant partnerships and programs that better the lives of those facing health challenges. Coming from the private sector, Joes experience and skills across sports administration, transport, commercial development and large-scale events is a welcome and valuable addition to the executive team of Motherhood Village.

A Gold Coaster for more than 40 years, Joe brings a wealth of local knowledge and is well connected to community leaders and decision makers. His 10 years working in health will complement his contribution to deliver the Motherhood Village mission. 

Director

Frances Bilbao is a visionary Clinical Psychologist and the Founder of Mums Matter Psychology, Australia’s first and only fully bulk-billed private perinatal psychology practice. Through her leadership, since 2015, over 20,000 women - many of whom face severe barriers to care - have accessed free, specialist mental health support. Frances has revolutionised the field by proving that high-quality care can be delivered affordably and sustainably within the Medicare system.

Her impact is not only clinical but systemic, reshaping how Australia supports new and expectant mothers during their most vulnerable moments. Frances is also the founder of the Perinatal Professionals Hub, a Board Member of the Women's Health Education Network, clinical supervisor, educator, and former management consultant. 

Village Art & Neurodiverse Peer Leader

Renee is our wonderful Peer Leader, who leads our Perinatal Mental Health and Village Art Support Groups.

Renee pursued a career working in mental health after gaining experience by facilitating art programs for a community based mental health service. However after navigating her own perinatal mental health challenges after the birth of her first child, Renee developed a passion for wanting to support other mothers navigating similar struggles with their mental health.

After the birth of her third child, Renee became a medical mum overnight as her daughter faced significant health challenges, all while raising three children under four without the village she needed. This deepened her own mental health struggles and strengthened her resolve to support others. She became a certified Doula, working closely with at-risk and marginalised mums, drawing on her own experience to ensure others never felt alone. Now on the Gold Coast, Renee uses her lived and professional experience as a Peer Leader to support mothers at Motherhood Village.

‘Lavender/Acute Perinatal Mental Health’ Peer Leader

Sophie is a mum to two beautiful girls and is a amazing addition to the Motherhood Village team.

‘I experienced perinatal mental health challenges with my first daughter and spent the first 6 weeks of her life in a mother baby unit.

As part of my recovery, I had a deep desire to help other mum’s going through similar challenges and wanted to advocate and raise awareness for perinatal mental health. I did this through volunteering for PANDA and sharing my story to help others feel less alone.

I am a primary school teacher with a passion for the social emotional development and mental wellbeing of children, and in order to foster this, I believe we need to look after and support the mental health of parents. I am a registered Circle of Security Parenting and Classroom Facilitator and love leading these groups to support and foster a secure attachment between parents and their children, all while honouring the mental wellbeing of both. 

Peer Leader

With the lived experience of being a mother of three, Bernie draws both deep personal insight and professional expertise into the journey of motherhood. After the birth of her second child, Bernie navigated postnatal anxiety for many years and knows firsthand what it is like to feel isolated, unheard, or without a safe space to simply talk. She was driven by the belief that no mother should ever feel alone and began finding ways to support mothers with similar experiences.

After almost 20 years as an educator, Bernie retrained in life coaching and completed the Mama Rising matrescence training, focusing on the profound transformation — emotional, psychological and relational — that motherhood brings. Through this work, she has developed special expertise in group facilitation, trauma-informed listening and supporting women through adjustment, overwhelm and loss of identity.

At Motherhood Village, Bernie holds space with compassion, curiosity and integrity—creating inclusive environments where mothers feel validated, connected and empowered.

CALD Peer Leader

Aline is a first time expat mum to a sweet little girl and a Dietitian by trade with a background in mental health, emotional regulation, and trauma-informed care. Throughout her career, she's supported women in nurturing a healthier relationship with food, body, and emotions through mindfulness and compassionate self-awareness. 

After becoming a mum while living abroad, her professional path became deeply personal. Navigating early motherhood without nearby family or community support was an incredibly challenging experience, especially while facing postnatal anxiety and the emotional ups and downs of adjusting to a new identity as a mother far from home.

Through her own healing journey, she discovered the power of shared experiences, emotional regulation tools, and community connection in supporting mothers’ wellbeing. This lived experience ignited her passion for perinatal mental health and inspired her to walk alongside other mums, offering understanding, empathy, and practical tools to help them navigate this season with greater ease.

As a peer leader, her mission is to create safe, supportive spaces where mothers feel seen, heard, and understood—reminding them they are not alone in their journey and that there is a village away from the village.

Red Nose Grief & Loss Peer Leaders

Meet Hannah and Tessa - our beautiful mums who lead our Grief and Loss Bereavement Support Group for Red Nose at Motherhood Village.

Hannah - has volunteered within the loss community after losing her daughter Imrie in 2022. She volunteers for Red Nose, Heartfelt and Precious Wings. In her spare time, you will find her adventuring outdoors and making memories with her beautiful family.

Tessa - I have been volunteering in the pregnancy and child loss community since the start of 2024 when we lost our beautiful son Noah, who was stillborn at 32 weeks.

I split my time during the week between working as a Conveyancer, volunteering with Red Nose and fundraising to support families who face to same heartbreak we did. We currently support families in over 10 hospitals around Australia.

On the weekends you’ll find me loving life with my husband, Greg and beautiful daughter, Iluka

‘Resident Grandma’ Volunteer

Julia is a mum to a lively toddler and one of our Resident Grandmas at our Isle of Capri location. She brings warmth, care and a nurturing presence to every child she supports.

As a parent with lived experience of perinatal mental health, she understands how important it is for caregivers to have time for themselves - and she’s here to offer exactly that: a safe, loving space where little ones feel safe, cared for and connected.

‘Resident Grandma’ Volunteer

Hi I’m Maryann, mum to Tracey and her brother Leigh, and Gigi (grandmother) to five special little ones in my life. My support for Tracey (as her mum) when she experienced perinatal mental health has provided me insight and greater compassion to provide the practical and nurturing support for Motherhood Village community and the mothers needing our support.

Professionally, I am a registered nurse having worked in the health care setting from working on the wards to executive leadership roles. Currently I continue to support health care facility staff to ensure they have a great place to provide safe care and to work within.

A little about me – I am the Grandma who isn’t a Grandma!

Unfortunately I don’t have children however have a niece and nephew who are like my children as their mother passed when they were very young.  So I have been involved, and very much part of their lives since they came into our world.

My niece, Emily, is now married and has two boys.  Since their birth I have been looking after them weekly until they started school – a sad day for me as my day each week with them was very special.  Fortunately, we have built a beautiful relationship and they spend a lot of school holidays with me, their Noni.

Other than that, I am an outgoing, fun loving, very giving and loyal person.  I adore working with children, have a great social life, love travelling and being busy.

Motherhood Village – thank you – I have found my niche for volunteering

Jane lives with her husband,  three teenagers (aged 15, 16 and 17) and Labradoodle Barney  (aged 6) across the NSW border in Kingscliff.

Jane has been a paediatric Speech Pathologist for more than 25 years. Jane is passionate about providing fun, functional and neuroaffirming early intervention that is child-led and centred around each family's strengths, interests and everyday life.

As a mum who once had three children under the age of three without nearby family support, Jane understands the beautiful chaos of early parenting. Her eldest daughter was born with a bilateral profound hearing loss, and the family's early years were filled with specialist appointments and weekly early intervention. These experiences give Jane a unique perspective—not only as a Speech Pathologist, but also as a parent—and continue to shape the compassionate, family-centred care she provides.

Jane loves spending time supporting families at the Motherhood Village, where lovely conversations and the occasional baby cuddle are always a highlight.

Outside of work, Jane can usually be found being the family chauffeur, chef and laundry manager for her busy household. When she finds a little time for herself, she enjoys swimming, running, hiking, travelling and relaxing with a good coffee and friends.

I'm 52 years old and have been living in Palm Beach for the past 3 years. 

I am from Bowral in the beautiful Southern Highlands. Here I raised 3 gorgeous girls who are now all adults.

I enjoy travelling, keeping active, gardening and most of all spending time with family.

I have always enjoyed volunteering and currently volunteer at Ronald McDonald House at the Gold Coast hospital.

It is such a joy to volunteer at Motherhood Village and meet all the beautiful mums and precious babies.

Before having my own family I was a director of a child care centre here on the Gold Coast. We moved overseas when my children were younger and I was lucky enough to be a stay at home mum for them. After 7 years abroad we moved back to the Gold Coast and I now work as a Team Co Ordinator at the charity Baby Give Back. I am so grateful to have the opportunities to help mums and their babies throughout their journey of parenthood, the baby cuddles are definitely a bonus!