BOOSt Study - Newsletter 2 - January 2019 - Developing and Evaluating Birthing on Country

Q: What is the aim of the BOOSt study?

The study aims to implement and evaluate a Birthing on Country service and facility, including standalone birth centres, across urban Queensland and rural New South Wales.

Q: How will the study measure clinical and cost outcomes?

De-identified routinely collected data from Aboriginal Community Controlled Health partners and associated health services will be analysed, comparing outcomes before and after implementation.

Q: How will culturally safe care be ensured?

Local Indigenous communities guide service design, with cultural safety training and supervision at both sites, and the service can incorporate culturally informed birthing and parenting practices. Women will also be able to provide feedback that directly informs service provision.

Sep 15, 2026

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BOOSt Study newsletter 2 (January 2019) presents updates on developing and evaluating Birthing on Country services, including standalone birth centres, across urban Queensland and rural New South Wales. It outlines study aims, clinical and cost outcome evaluation using routinely collected de-identified data, and a mixed-methods design grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander methodologies and Participatory Action Research. It also explains cultural safety measures and the approach to midwife-led and obstetric-led care.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

BOOSt Study

Newsletter 2: January 2019

A message from Sue Kildea, Chief Investigator

Study aim

Clinical and cost outcomes

Study design

Cultural safety, wellbeing, and satisfaction

Frequently asked questions

South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation (Waminda) Update

Executive Birthing on Country Committee

Aboriginal Midwifery Group Practice 'Minga Goodjaga' - Woman and Child

The BOOSt Study NEWSLETTER 2: January 2019 Developing and Evaluating Birthing On Country with Community Hubs and Freestanding Birth Centres A message from Sue Kildea, Chief Investigator The BOOSt study is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funded Partnership Project, awarded in 2017 (5-yrs) . 2018 was a busy year for the BOOSt collaborators, working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisations to support their goals of establishing Birthing on Country Services and Birth Centres in their local communities: the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS), Brisbane the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health,(IUIH) Brisbane, the Waminda South Coast Women's Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation, Nowra. We are working with Waminda to develop their new Midwifery Group Practice and Service Model (seepage 3) . We have identified the barriers to implementation in Queensland and New South Wales and are working with key stakeholders to address them (see page 4) . We are lobbying both state and federal politicians and senior policy people to ensure there is a greater understanding of what Birthing on Country means and how important it is that we see national implementation of Birthing on Country Services (as per the National Maternity Services Plan) . BOOSt builds on the success of the Indigenous Birthing in and Urban Setting study (NHMRC) that has seen the development and evaluation of the Birthing in Our Community Service through a partnership between IUIH, ATSICHS and Mater Health. In <5yrs we have redesigned the maternity service and seen a significant reduction in preterm birth for Indigenous babies, increased Indigenous employment and have seen our first Indigenous midwifery graduate (Congratulations to Kyleigh Brown-Lolohea!!) In November 2018, Professor Sue Kildea was awarded the Health Services Research Award at the 16th Research Australia Health and Medical Research Awards. Photo above (L-R): Dr Yvette Roe and Prof Sue Kildea. What is the research about? Study aim To implement and evaluate a Birthing on Country service and facility (including standalone birth centre) in urban Queensland and rural New South Wales. Clinical and cost outcomes We will analyse unidentifiable routinely collected data from the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health partners and the Health Services associated with each Birthing on Country service and facility. Outcomes before, and after, will be compared. Study design The project will use Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research methodologies and Participatory Action Research to undertake a mixed methods study. Cultural safety, wellbeing, and satisfaction We will recruit and survey women pregnant with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander baby during pregnancy, 2-months and 6-months after birth. Interviews will also be offered. Frequently asked questions Do all women have their own midwife? Highest level international evidence involving nearly 20,000 women shows women and babies of any risk do better when they have care during pregnancy, birth and postpartum from a known and trusted midwife. Midwives use the National Midwifery Guidelines for Consultation and Referral to determine which women are appropriate for midwife-led care, which women should be offered medical consultation, and which women should be offered obstetric-led care. How can we ensure culturally safe care? The local Indigenous communities have been central to the design of a safe service. Cultural safety training will be provided at both sites alongside cultural supervision. The service has the ability to incorporate cultural birthing and parenting practices informed by the local Indigenous community. Women will have the opportunity to feedback about their experiences of care, the results will directly impact service provision. Are freestanding birt

FAQs

What is the aim of the BOOSt study?

The study aims to implement and evaluate a Birthing on Country service and facility, including standalone birth centres, across urban Queensland and rural New South Wales.

How will the study measure clinical and cost outcomes?

De-identified routinely collected data from Aboriginal Community Controlled Health partners and associated health services will be analysed, comparing outcomes before and after implementation.

How will culturally safe care be ensured?

Local Indigenous communities guide service design, with cultural safety training and supervision at both sites, and the service can incorporate culturally informed birthing and parenting practices. Women will also be able to provide feedback that directly informs service provision.

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Valentina