Updates on the Baggarrook project

Improving the health of Aboriginal mothers and babies through continuity of midwife care: a multi methods translational study

The Baggarrook Yurrongi (Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people) meaning ‘Woman’s Journey’ and the Nuraagh Manma Buliana (Yorta Yorta language meaning ‘All of us working together in pregnancy’) is a 5-year NHMRC funded Partnership Project with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), the Royal Women’s Hospital, the Mercy Hospital for Women, Sunshine Hospital (Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s) and Goulburn Valley Health.

The primary aim of the project is to explore the capacity of maternity services to implement a new, culturally safe model of care for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women (or women having an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander baby). Women are proactively offered ‘caseload' midwifery: they receive continuity of care from a primary midwife through pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum. The study is also exploring the effect of the model on perinatal outcomes for Aboriginal women and their infants, women's experiences of care as well as midwives' views and experiences.

The model was introduced at the Royal Women’s in March 2017, Sunshine Hospital in October 2017, and the Mercy Hospital in April 2018. It has resulted in a major increase in the number of Aboriginal women having access to caseload midwifery. A major highlight of the project to date was the project team winning a Victorian Public Healthcare Award in the category Improving Aboriginal Health.

Helen, Pam and Tanisha will give an update on what's happening in the study now.

Time and venue

1 July 2020
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University
Zoom: https://latrobe.zoom.us/j/448620007 [external link]

The Judith Lumley Centre holds open lunchtime seminars on the first Wednesday of every month from February to December from 12.30 - 1.30 pm and also extra seminars at different times. These seminars showcase the work of national and international academics/researchers.
Our lunchtime seminars are free and open to all.

Email us at jlc@latrobe.edu.au for more information and/or to be added to our mailing list.