Mob caring for Mob: Establishing educational pathways to midwifery for Aboriginal women to support the upscaling of Birthing on Country services

This project aims to decolonise and strengthen the maternity care workforce by improving the choices and pathways for Aboriginal women into tertiary education necessary for employment in maternity services such as Birthing on Country models of care. Through qualitative exploration, we seek to understand the key barriers and enablers for Aboriginal women in the Shoalhaven Region of New South Wales to pursue a career in midwifery. We will then seek to address these barriers via establishment of a Birthing on Country Workforce Committee made up of key stakeholders from Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation who are spearheading the Birthing on Country movement in Australia, secondary and tertiary education providers, and peak bodies representing Aboriginal Health Practitioners and midwives. The aim of the Birthing on Country Workforce Committee will be to foster collaboration and innovation among key stakeholders in order to address the barriers identified.