Birthing on Country is about choice, and the power that comes from making your own choice.
For some First Nations women it might be the choice to birth safely on the lands of their ancestors, instead of travelling thousands of kilometres away to a hospital where they don’t speak the language.
For others it might be bringing a symbol of their homelands with them into the hospital, or having their placenta returned to country after the birth.
As a leading advocate for Birthing on Country – a practice that stretches back countless generations of First Nations mums - Professor Yvette Roe knows that what happens in birth can echo through the lives of both parent and child.
Embedding these choices in birthing settings across the country is Professor Roe’s mission as the Co-Director of the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, where their focus is to radically transform maternity services for First Nations families no matter where they are giving birth.
So how can Birthing on Country keep First Nations mums’ physical and emotional wellbeing safe?
Please Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners should be aware, this episode contains references to people who have died.
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Acknowledgement
PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.
Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.
It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.
Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.
Credits
Host: Gia Hogarth
PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore
PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer
Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley
Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain
Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou
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