Aboriginal maternal health program

• Reach:

  WA

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

The goal of the Aboriginal maternal health program is to improve pregnancy outcomes in Indigenous mothers in the Rockingham Kwinana area of Western Australia.

The program specifically aims to:

• raise awareness into the harm associated with health risk behaviours during pregnancy
• increase access to antenatal care and education at the start and throughout the pregnancy
• deliver a culturally secure maternity service for Indigenous women, their partners, and families.

The program links mothers with community services, and assists with transport to attend medical appointments. After the birth of the child, mothers and newborns are offered regular health checkups and support at their home, the clinic, or at another location at the request of the mother. Mothers are provided with information and resources about a range of topics, such as breast-feeding and immunisation, as well as support accessing childcare services, baby groups, playgroups, and child and family health services.

The program is run by the Perth South Coastal Medicare Local (previously the Rockingham Kwinana Division of General Practice and GP Down South).

Abstract adapted from the Perth South Coastal Medicare Local

Contacts

Maternal Health Officer
Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre
Perth South Coastal Medicare Local
Ph: (08) 9439 9540

Links

• View information: Aboriginal maternal health program
• View contact details: Perth South Coastal Medicare Local
• View website: Perth South Coastal Medicare Local