GENDER JUSTICE: EQUALITY AND EQUITY A five-year study of the BiOC program, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council has shown dramatic improvements in many maternal and infant health outcomes. These include: • halving the national pre-term birth rate (six per cent compared to 14 per cent) 14% 6% PHOTO: Macca and her baby daughter from Birthing in Our Community program This prompted local community and health leaders to think about what else was needed. giving expectant mothers and families a safe space to disclose and share their needs. “Demonstrating from the start the respect for community leadership that is core for BiOC, they said, ‘We don’t know what’s needed, let’s go talk to mob’,” Kristie said. “It could be as simple as ‘I’m frightened and I don’t know what to expect’, to ‘I’ve never had a mum, so I don’t know how to do this’, or it could be ‘I’m in an unhealthy relationship and need support to exit it’,” Kristie said. From those discussions in 2012, the BiOC program was established. The BiOC Hub opened in 2016. Located in community in south Brisbane, it provides a dedicated midwife from conception to six weeks, and a dedicated family support worker to walk with mums on a wellness journey until the baby is three years old. Women and families also have onsite access to a social worker, psychologist, transport support, early learning programs, a child health nurse and allied health exercise groups. Milestones across babies’ lives are celebrated through rites of passage celebrations, arts, connection, music and culture, community days and playgroups. According to Kristie, at BiOC, women and families are welcomed with open arms. There is no staff room, rather a kitchen table where everyone tucks in, sharing meals and experiences, BiOC works under a family-centred practice framework where care, like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander understandings of health, is holistic. BiOC has never had to promote its services: the Murri grapevine alone means it is in huge demand, a true community measure of success. Another important indicator is that nine out of 10 women in the program are referred to it by nine weeks into pregnancy, optimising the chances for great care and outcomes. • almost closing the gap altogether in comparison with non-Indigenous pre-term birth rates • halving the national rates of low birth weights and admissions to neonatal units (six per cent compared to 11 per cent, and 10 per cent compared to 22 per cent, respectively).18 A BiOC service is now being rolled out on the north side of Brisbane, with models also in development in two other locations across south-east Queensland. Transforming Power: Voices for Generational Change 11% 6% 22% 10% 29