Birthing on Country Placement Bursary

1. Applicants must identify as an Aboriginal person and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
2. Applicants must be enrolled or intending to enrol into a Midwifery Professional Experience unit at Southern Cross University.
3. Applicants must be available and willing to attend Birthing on Country placement through the Aboriginal Health Service at the nominated placement allocation AND DATES (via the Work Integrated Learning Unit).
4. Applicants must commit to working while on placement with community members to develop cultural resources relating to pregnancy, labour and birth, and early parenting (6 weeks’ postnatal).
5. Applicants agree to present to peers and/or academics about their experience on placement and what their main learning and knowledge take home is.

Applications will be assessed on the strength of their responses to the following questions:

• Demonstrate understanding of Birthing on Country and your motivation to attend rural/remote placement (150 words)
• Demonstrate provision of culturally-appropriate woman-centred care (125 words)
• Demonstrate understanding of the benefits of smoke-free and vape-free pregnancy  (125 words)
• Demonstrate knowledge and reflection of support strategies for yourself whilst on placement (100 words)

iSISTAQUIT is a wrap-around support for pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are wanting to quit smoking.

It involves a model of care designed with culturally-appropriate and national best-practice training informed from previous studies. iSISTAQUIT provides vital training for health professionals and encouragement to communities and pregnant women to quit smoking.

Having culturally thought out approaches with assisting women to quit smoking through a pathway of support, helps Indigenous women navigate health and wellbeing systems safely.