Introduction: In Australia, one in five mothers experience perinatal depression and anxiety, with health costs estimated at AUD$227 million annually. The Australian healthcare system predominantly focuses on clinical interventions for acute mental health issues while offering limited support for the broader transition to parenthood—the complex interplay of biological, identity, and social changes women experience. Social prescribing offers a promising approach by enabling healthcare providers to refer people to link workers who connect them to non-clinical community supports. Multiple systematic reviews demonstrate social prescribing can reduce isolation, improve mental wellbeing, and enhance quality of life. However, its application for perinatal women remains under-researched. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of social prescribing in reducing psychological distress and improving wellbeing in perinatal women. Method: This exploratory, longitudinal study analysed data from 15 perinatal women who completed social prescribing programs in New South Wales and Queensland between December 2021 and January 2025. Women were referred by GPs or self-referred for mental health concerns or chronic disease risk. Qualified social workers acting as link workers conducted initial assessments and collaborated with participants to develop personalized plans addressing social, emotional, and practical needs. Support was provided for up to 12 weeks. Outcome measures included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), EQ-5D-5L for quality of life, Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, and self-reported health. Pre-post intervention changes were assessed using paired t-tests. Results: Participants (mean age 33.0 years) included postpartum women (n=6), primiparous pregnant women (n=3), multiparous pregnant women (n=5), and one woman who experienced pregnancy loss. Twelve women had mental health diagnoses. Women received an average of 5.7 social prescriptions (range 1-14). Social prescribing significantly reduced psychological distress (t(10)=4.750, p<.001, d=1.432) with a large effect size. The most frequent referrals addressed mental/emotional wellbeing (36 referrals to 12 participants) and accommodation/environment concerns (20 referrals to 8 participants). Improvements in quality of life and mental wellbeing approached but did not reach statistical significance. Discussion: This first Australian study of social prescribing for perinatal women demonstrates significant reduction in psychological distress, suggesting valuable potential as an addition to perinatal support services. The large effect size is particularly meaningful for a programme not designed as mental health treatment per se, demonstrating that addressing practical social needs can meaningfully improve emotional health. Social prescribing's holistic approach appears well-suited to the multifaceted challenges of perinatal mental health. The predominance of accommodation and mental health referrals highlights how social prescribing addresses broader social determinants beyond clinical care. Despite promising results, the small sample size indicates need for larger studies examining different delivery models and longitudinal outcomes to establish effectiveness and inform sustainable implementation.