Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan in Cairns has expanded its midwifery service with the launch of the Mookai Maternal Health Program.

Mookai Maternal Health is a completely unique program: a community-integrated, midwife and doula-led, trauma, attachment and culturally informed model of care. This includes:

  • the development of culturally tailored doula education and training,
  • provision of culturally appropriate doula services in the community (recruiting and training place-based community representatives), in Cairns via Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan and Cairns Hospital,
  • the continuity of the midwifery and doula model of care for all Cairns referrals.

As part of this program, Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan is also progressing towards becoming a recognised birthing centre — one of its long-term strategic goals.

The birthing centre will include comprehensive and collaborative practice in a cultural safe space, offering seven to 10-day postnatal checks, postnatal and breastfeeding support, and support for early labour. Part of Mookai’s project site at Edmonton is under renovation to support this space.

Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan CEO Theresa Simpson said the introduction of Indigenous birth support (doulas) would provide education, advocacy and act as a go-between for women birthing through the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service.

A Mookai Maternal Health worker demonstrating. Photograph courtesy Mookai Rosie

As non-medical companions, doulas or birth attendants offer invaluable physical and emotional assistance throughout the stages of pregnancy, labour, and the immediate postpartum period.

“We’re developing the doula training in-house in consultation with community and partners, a completely unique offering that doesn’t exist elsewhere in Australia,” Ms Simpson said.

“The training builds on initial concepts and principles of the ‘chalali doula’ program, an Indigenous-led program Mookai helped develop and implement with fellow ACCHOs in the 1980s.

“It also includes implementing the newborn behavioural observation tool, to help families recognise their infant’s voice and support healthy attachment.”

Ms Simpson said the project reinforced the enduring need to improve child and maternal health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families across the Cape, Torres Strait and beyond.