Redcliffe Hospital Ngarrama Maternity program expands

Expectant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and women pregnant with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander baby accessing Redcliffe Hospital will soon have the choice of a continuity of care model across the antenatal, birthing, and postnatal period.

The new model, to be introduced in early 2025, will provide a continuity of care Midwifery Group Practice model covering the antenatal, birthing, and postnatal journey, initiated through the Growing Deadly Families Strategy funding of $4.1 million for a period of 5 years.

Strong Start to Life Clinical Nurse Consultant and proud Mununjali woman, Tara Denaro and the Strong Start to Life team, have advocated for the model to be introduced in line with the successful Ngarrama programs at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Caboolture Hospital.

“The initiative was in response to overwhelming community feedback that Ngarrama Redcliffe needed to provide continuity of carer across the whole pregnancy, birthing and postnatal period and that more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be leading and working in the program.

“Continuity of care means that families have their care provided by the same person and team making it easier to build trust and understanding. This type of care has shown improved outcomes for women and their infants, including infants being born closer to their due date and at a healthy weight.

“We are really excited to be receiving Growing Deadly Families funding and to see Redcliffe Ngarrama expand to offer services in line with our other Ngarrama services,” Tara said.

Metro North Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Executive Director, Sherry Holzapfel, said the program will be better able to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student and graduate midwives to work in programs like Ngarrama.

“By increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in the program, Ngarrama will be able to build better relationships with community programs and supports so that Ngarrama can offer a holistic service that includes and respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing.

“We will be welcoming four Midwives, another Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker, and administration worker to the team. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for the roles once the recruitment begins in the coming months,” Sherry said.

Ngarrama Redcliffe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker, Angel Sellars said community have shared great enthusiasm for the model.

“Having a dedicated team to walk beside our families in their journey is going to be amazing. One of our mums told me ‘It would be great having Ngarrama at my birth, with Ngarrama knowing my birth plan and being able to feel secure and safe.”

Ngarrama is a free antenatal, birthing, and postnatal service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who choose to birth at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Caboolture, and Redcliffe Hospitals. Any woman who is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or any woman whose baby is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander can use the service.

Consumers are also encouraged to join the Ngarrama program to share their experiences and to empower other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families accessing the service. Contact the Strong Start to Life team on how to become involved or for further information – a_tsilt_strong_start_to_life@health.qld.gov.au