Celebrating 18 years of helping Aboriginal mums and bubs

By PETER ROWE

The community, Aboriginal Elders, health care professionals and families who have used the Malabar Midwifery Group Practice are celebrating 18 years of the service providing culturally respectful pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care to Aboriginal families.

Affectionately known as ‘Malabar Midwives’, the service has supported the births of over 1,500 babies since it was established in 2006.

“Women from all over NSW travel to Sydney to attend Malabar Midwives, which is a testament to the solid reputation the team has developed across Aboriginal communities,” Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris said.

The service provides pregnancy, birth and postnatal care to Aboriginal women, and women with an Aboriginal partner, who choose to give birth at the Royal Hospital for Women.

Malabar Midwives has a unique way of working that promotes flexible and culturally respectful midwifery care, and is available to Aboriginal women and families from anywhere in NSW who seek out the service.

The midwives work alongside an Aboriginal Health Education Officer in a continuity of midwifery model of care, which supports women getting to know the midwives during their pregnancy journey.

“The Royal Hospital for Women’s Malabar Midwifery Group Practice is an exceptional model of care that other services seeking to establish pregnancy, birthing and postnatal care for Aboriginal women and families can learn from,” Minister for Health, Ryan Park said.

Four midwives work on a rotating 24-hour roster so women have a known midwife to provide care around the clock. Two midwives in the team are proud Aboriginal women.

Local community members, Elders, health care professionals and families who have used the Malabar Midwifery Group Practice will be attending celebrations to mark this milestone at the La Perouse Medical Centre at 11:00am on Wednesday, 6 November 2024.

Aboriginal Health Worker Trudy Allende said it was a tribute to the service to have been around for 18 years.

“We know the women and families in this community and are able to support their voice within the health system,” she said.

“I believe that the team at Malabar Midwives gives our local Aboriginal community the service and care it deserves to support best outcomes for mothers and babies.”