Vale Dr Robyn Thompson (1944 - 2025)
“Don’t be sad. Live your life and trust your instincts.” – Dr Robyn Thompson
With heavy hearts but profound love and gratitude, we announce the passing of Dr Robyn Thompson OAM, the beloved founder of The Thompson Method, who died on 21 January 2025, following complications from a stroke last year. She was 80 years old.
True to her extraordinary spirit, Robyn specifically requested no funeral services, instead asking for celebrations to mark her life – a perfect reflection of how she lived and the joy she brought to others. Even at her 80th birthday party just last year, she famously outlasted everyone on the dance floor, her energy and zest for life shining through as brightly as ever.
Robyn's remarkable journey began when, as a young nurse and midwife, she attended her first home birth. This transformative experience opened her eyes to the natural capabilities of women and birthing mothers, setting her on a lifelong path of discovery and fierce advocacy for women's birth and breastfeeding rights.
Her dedication to supporting mothers and babies led her to create The Thompson Method, a gentle and revolutionary approach to breastfeeding support that has touched hundreds of thousands of lives globally. She was awarded a PhD for her groundbreaking research and recently received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in recognition of her contributions to mothers, babies, and breastfeeding education.
What made Robyn truly special was her authenticity and dedication to helping others. Right up until her stroke, she continued to volunteer her time to supporting mothers who couldn't afford care, working tirelessly online with breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Under her guidance, The Thompson Method grew into a global movement, with over 150 certified practitioners carrying her gentle methods forward to help countless more families.
Robyn was deeply connected to Mother Earth and had an unwavering belief in women's innate wisdom. Her message was always clear and powerful: "Trust your instincts. In this very disconnected world, you already have everything you need within you. Don't look outward – look inward. Every woman and every baby is unique. Take time with your newborns; it's sacred and to be respected."
The Thompson Method community now spans over 300,000 members worldwide, a testament to Robyn's profound impact and the universal resonance of her message. Her vision continues through this vibrant community and through the documentary currently in production about her life's work – a project that brought her immense joy in her final years.
Robyn is remembered with deep love by her family, friends, and colleagues around the world. But perhaps the most fitting tribute to her memory would be to honour her wish that we celebrate rather than mourn – to continue supporting and uplifting each other, to trust in ourselves, and to carry forward her legacy of gentle, respectful care for mothers and babies everywhere.
Her spirit lives on in every mother who finds her inner strength, every baby who feeds peacefully, and every practitioner who carries forward her methods with the same dedication and gentleness that defined her remarkable life.
Dr Robyn, we thank you, and we will miss you!
