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The South-East Queensland ‘Birthing in Our Community’ project

Author: Department of Health

The South-East Queensland ‘Birthing in Our Community’ (BiOC) project advances Priority Reform Two of Closing the Gap by returning birthing services to First Nations communities and control. 

The Commonwealth has invested $40.8 million over 4 years to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led continuity of maternity care models, such as Birthing on Country (BoC). The term ‘Birthing on Country’ is a metaphor for the best start to life for First Nations babies and their families - returning birthing services to First Nations communities and control and ensuring culturally safe continuity of care across the perinatal period. Research has shown Birthing on Country models of care result in a 50% reduction in pre-term birth rates, and reductions in child protection involvement including a 63% reduction in removals of First Nations babies from their families. 

The BiOC project was established in 2013 in the South Brisbane region and began as a partnership between the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service and the Mater Mothers’ Hospital. Now delivered across 3 additional sites in urban Southeast Queensland, BiOC is estimated to reach over 750 women, babies and families per year. 

BiOC has been developed and implemented under Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and delivers a unique model of maternity care that provides comprehensive and culturally informed maternal and infant health services to First Nations families. Integrated within a family services model, BiOC is grounded within a culturally intrinsic parenting model that supports connection, belonging and cultural growth. 

In 2024, evidence shows Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program (AFPP) and BoC are positively impacting Closing the Gap Outcome 2, including: the number of babies born with a healthy birthweight; reductions in preterm birth rates; increased access to culturally safe maternal care; and higher rates of antenatal appointment attendance. 

“My journey through the program was great and still is great. They supported me so well. I didn’t have much support through anyone else, like family. So they helped with literally everything, with transport to appointments and information that I didn’t know. They were just always there when I needed them. I was supported by a midwife and a family support worker because they always came around to do check-ups. They helped with bub’s stuff as well. The best part of the program is all the deadly ladies, making me feel so supported” - said one mother who birthed through the program.

Read more about the Birthing in Our Community program here


A Female Doctor holds a stethoscope to a pregnant woman

Photo: Birthing on Country staff member, Donna with a client.

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