By: Nomi Kaltmann as seen in the Herald Sun
5 November 2025
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk in the media about the so-called “baby bust” in Australia, focusing on millennials having fewer children and governments around the world worrying about population decline. As a millennial who has bucked the trend, I follow these discussions with interest. I’m in my early 30s and a mum of five children under eight. In this day and age, I know that makes me unusual. When I gave birth to my youngest this past January, people kept asking if she was my first. I’d smile and say, “No, she’s number five,” and watch their jaws drop.
I’ve always known that I wanted a big family and I feel blessed that I’ve been able to have one. I grew up with lots of siblings, noise, and laughter, and I loved it. I feel deeply grateful for my children. Being their mum has been the most joyful, exhausting, and meaningful experience of my life.
Still, I can see why many people delay or avoid having children. To me, not having children is not just about lifestyle or priorities. It’s about cost and how little our entrenched systems support families. Childcare in Australia is expensive and rarely matches working hours. Most jobs give four weeks of annual leave a year, but schools close for thirteen weeks. My husband and I have some flexibility to work from home, but even then, school holidays are a challenge. There are never enough spots in holiday programs, and not all our kids want to go, plus even between us, we don’t have enough weeks of leave.
If governments are serious about encouraging people to have children, to me, the solution is clear: make childcare affordable, flexible, and accessible. Support families so parents aren’t constantly forced to juggle the impossible.
I’m also lucky to be part of a strong community. As an Orthodox Jew, I’ve seen the power of the village. Each time we’ve had a baby, people have cooked meals, and checked in. That kind of support makes all the difference, but not everyone has it, and that’s where public policy should step in. Government-backed community hubs could provide new parents with practical support, things like subsidised childcare, parenting advice, and social connection. They could act as a modern “village,” helping families navigate the early years and school holidays.
Other ways policy could help include extending paid parental leave, increasing access to affordable before and after-school care, and offering programs that connect new parents for mutual support and advice. Together, these measures could make raising children more manageable for everyone, not just those with flexible jobs or strong networks.
Having children has been the greatest joy of my life, but joy shouldn’t come with such a steep cost. If Australia wants to have a baby boom, we need to make it genuinely affordable and doable.