Channel Seven Melbourne news reporter Bethan Yeoman has revealed she was made redundant while on maternity leave as part of wider newsroom changes at the network.
Bethan, who works as a journalist with 7NEWS Melbourne, has been on maternity leave after announcing the arrival of her first child earlier this year.
Posting to Instagram on Friday, the young journalist shared a heartfelt post about the shocking news, writing: ‘Being made redundant on mat leave was not on my 2026 bingo card…’
‘But all the greatest things that have happened in my career have come after set backs – so I know the best is yet to come,’ she continued.
She also paid tribute to her colleagues at Seven, writing: ‘It’s the people who make this job so special… and I’m just so grateful for all the amazing journos and cameramen I’ve worked so closely with over the years.’
Despite the setback, Yeoman said she is optimistic about her future.
Channel Seven Melbourne news reporter Bethan Yeoman (pictured) has revealed she was made redundant while on maternity leave as part of wider newsroom changes at the network
Posting to Instagram on Friday, the young journalist shared a heartfelt post about the shocking news, writing: ‘Being made redundant on mat leave was not on my 2026 bingo card…’
‘Looking forward to new opportunities, but for now I’m enjoying the greatest role there is – being a mum x’ she added.
The post quickly drew a flood of comments from friends, colleagues and industry figures offering support and praise, with many describing her as a ‘talented’ journalist and wishing her success in her next chapter.
However, the announcement also sparked backlash and debate in the comments section, with some questioning how the decision was handled.
One user asked bluntly: ‘Is that legal?’ while others criticised the optics of a redundancy during maternity leave.
Several commenters defended Yeoman and condemned the move, with one writing: ‘That’s disgraceful. These corporations push ‘diversity’ and pretend to be pro-women, but then this sort of attitude that working mums are so easily replaceable is a terrible look!’
Others called for stronger action, with another suggesting: ‘Fairwork ASAP.’
Under Australian workplace law, employees on maternity leave are generally protected from discrimination and are entitled to return to their role or a comparable position, although redundancies can occur where employers can demonstrate genuine organisational restructuring.
Channel Seven has been contacted for comment.
Among the latest casualties is former 7NEWS Sydney reporter Inga Neilsen (pictured), who confirmed this week she had accepted a voluntary redundancy after more than six years with the network
In Melbourne, longtime Channel Seven reporter Estelle Griepink (pictured) also confirmed she was leaving after accepting a voluntary redundancy following 11 years at the network
Sources say Sydney reporter Grace Fitzgibbon (pictured), who recently welcomed her first child, has also reportedly taken a voluntary redundancy
Bethan is the latest in a spate of young journalists who are departing Channel Seven amid the network’s redundancy bloodbath.
Among the latest casualties is former 7NEWS Sydney reporter Inga Neilsen, who confirmed this week she had accepted a voluntary redundancy after more than six years with the network.
In Melbourne, longtime Channel Seven reporter Estelle Griepink also confirmed she was leaving after accepting a voluntary redundancy following 11 years at the network.
TV insiders said that Sydney reporter Grace Fitzgibbon, who recently welcomed her first child and is on maternity leave, is believed to be among those affected.
Young reporters Brianna Jackson and Amy Clements are also believed to be among staff nervously waiting to learn their fate as cuts continue to ripple through the business.
Their departures come as panic spreads through Seven newsrooms amid sweeping cuts linked to the newly merged Southern Cross Media empire, which now controls Seven West Media and Southern Cross Austereo.
The company announced this week that between 250 and 300 roles would be slashed nationally as worsening television advertising conditions hammer the business.
New chief executive Rohan Lund said the company needed to ‘reset our cost base’ amid deteriorating market conditions, with the cuts expected to deliver up to $150 million in annual savings.
Meanwhile, veteran presenter Natarsha Belling is also understood to have departed Seven, with Hugh Whitfeld stepping into the network’s midday news bulletin.
Belling had only joined Seven’s National News at Noon around 18 months ago.
Before that, she famously spent more than two decades at Network Ten before being made redundant in 2020.
