SWH Aboriginal Liaison Officers can support you during your pregnancy, birth and follow up care of your baby. We have a cultural and holistic approach to your care, working with SWH staff to provide culturally safe care for you and your family.
Ngatanwarr
We understand that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people’s health and care must incorporate connections to:
- Physical,
- Mental and emotional wellbeing,
- Family,
- Culture,
- Community,
- Land, and
- Spirituality/ancestors.
Parts of our service can include shared care with your medical service ACCHO or mainstream. Gunditjmara Co-Op offer Koori Maternity Services (KMS). KMS cover Hamilton, Portland, Warrnambool and surrounds.
Koori Maternity Service
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South West Healthcare offers shared care with the Koori Maternity Service (KMS).
The objective of the KMS program is to improve pregnancy journeys through:
- Increasing access to, and participation in, antenatal services and postnatal support.
- Facilitating relationships between women and birthing hospitals.
The KMS program also strives to improve health outcomes and specifically aims to:
- Optimise the health and wellbeing of women and their babies.
- Identify and manage maternal and foetal risk factors, particularly early in pregnancy.
- Reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality, including incidence of preterm birth and low birth weight.
- Cultural birthing plan are available, these are a deadly resource for understanding your rights to a cultural safe space for the birth of you Poopoop/Boorai.
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What KMS do
- Provide culturally sensitive care in a safe environment.
- Provide education, support and care for girls, women, fathers and families regarding family planning care before and after Poopoop (Baby) arrives.
- Provide Antenatal & Postnatal Midwifery care.
- Labour & Birth support provided if required.
- Provide Breast feeding support and advice.
- Provide parenting supports
- Provide social supports.
- Assistance with referral and linking into other services as needed.
- Support with hospital visits.
- Assistance with transport to and from appointments
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Who KSM care for
Women & families planning to have a Poopoop- (Baby)
Women & families who are having or just had a Poopoop- (Baby)
Koori families—this also includes Grandparent, Single Mum’s/Dad’s or any other family combination who are caring for Poopoop -(Baby)
Women & families not planning to have a Poopoop- (Baby)
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How to access this service
- You can self-refer by dropping in or phoning your local ACCHO.
- Your doctor can refer you.
- Your maternal child health nurse can refer you.
- Any worker from your local Aboriginal Cooperative or health service can refer you
- Your hospital Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO) can refer you.
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Confidentiality
This is a confidential service. Your details and information will be kept strictly confidential and shared only with your doctor or people you have given permission for us to share this information with.
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Continuity of Care
We aim to provide continuity of care where possible, while tailoring our service to meet you and your families individual needs; be that in our clinics, your home or preferred setting. We aim to strengthen local partnership and service networks to help us provide you and your family the appropriate care.
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Koori Maternity Service contact details
Visit Us: 3 Banyan St
Warrnambool, Vic 3280
Call:(03) 5564 3344
Toll Free: 1800 629 729
Midwife Details:
Fiona O Sullivan
Call: 0429 669 920
Email: Fiona.Osullivan@gunditjmara.org.au
Page last updated: 13 February 2024
