A lack of choice and control that Aboriginal women currently have over their birthing experience is the driving force for Griffith graduate Cassandra Nest from the Gold Coast.
With International Day of the Midwife this week (5 May), Cassandra is currently the only Aboriginal midwife working in the Midwifery Group Practice at the Gold Coast University Hospital and one of only three indigenous midwives working in the Gold Coast area.
Close the gap as mentor
Her aim is to close the gap by actively mentoring indigenous Griffith Midwifery students.
“Current indigenous maternity services in rural and remote Australia involkve the removal and transferral of pregnant women from their communitry to a hospital between 36 and 37 weeks gestation to give birth.
“Aboriginal women are routinely removed from their land, family, culture and community to await the arrival of their new baby with little or no emotional, psychological and financial support,” Cassandra said.
“In indigenous culture a person’s relationship
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