Event Details

Stronger connections for better outcomes: the views and experiences of midwives working in culturally tailored continuity of care for First Nations families

This presentation will include the background, rationale and findings of the ‘Baggarrook Yurrongi’ culturally tailored continuity of care model for First Nations families at three tertiary maternity services in Melbourne, with a focus on midwives' experiences of providing care in the model.

Key takeaways:

• Culturally safe continuity of midwifery care is a key strategy to reduce health inequities for Australian First Nations mothers and babies. 
• There is a growing body of evidence that working in a caseload model has benefits for midwives, however midwives’ experiences of working in caseload models specifically for First Nations families has been less well explored.
• In the ‘Baggarrook Yurrongi’ program, midwives who worked in the culturally tailored continuity of care models were very satisfied, valuing close relationships with women.
• ‘Strengthened connections’ were considered key to better outcomes. Midwives reported that the model strengthened connections with women, families, systems (internal and external) and that for sustainability, these strong connections and sustainability require responsive systems and management.

Publications: 

• Stronger connections for better outcomes: Exploring the views and experiences of midwives working in a culturally tailored caseload midwifery model for women having a First Nations baby in Australia - ScienceDirect
• Comparing the views of caseload midwives working with First Nations families in an all-risk, culturally responsive model with midwives working in standard caseload models, using a cross-sectional survey design - PubMed