Yolŋu Country, Northern Territory. 24 August, 2024.
This week we are celebrating deeper connections with one of our research partners, the Australian Doula College! We are proud to announce that the Australian Doula College (ADC) is now contracted to provide staffing for the project's Djäkamirr Coordinator. As an Industry education leader and service provider of the unique Groundwork Program, the ADC is well positioned to assist us in staffing this innovative role based in Galiwin'ku. We are so excited to be joining forces!

Photo credit: Sarah Ireland. Molly and Australian Doula College joining forces! (L-R) Sarah Ireland (Molly Institute), Renee Adair (Australian Doula College) and Res McCalman (Molly Institute) waiting for the plane.
Are you familiar with the ADC's Groundwork Program?
Are you familiar with the ADC's Groundwork Program? The ADC runs this family focused support service with a child centred approach giving families the best chance possible to remain together. The program services families with complex needs, that are otherwise un-met by standard services. The Groundwork Program provides unique in-home education and support tailored to each individual client and their needs. Doula's working in this program have skill sets and experience working in complex settings, which makes them well aligned to the djäkamirr program. We hope that deeper connections with ADC will allow the project to benefit by drawing on these doula experts, to fill the Djäkamirr Coordinator role.
We were fortunate to meet Gem Agua who is stepping into the first 3 month stay as the Djäkamirr Coordinator.
At the end of last weeks djäkamirr training, we were fortunate to meet Gem Agua who is stepping into the first 3 month stay as the Djäkamirr Coordinator. Birthed on Gadigal-Wangal land to a mixed race family, Gem is an ally and advocate for women of all Nations, and is passionate about bringing birth back into the hands and homes of women across the globe.

Photo credit: Sarah Ireland. (L-R) Gem Agua, Professor Elaine Ḻäwurrpa Maypilama, Ms Rosemary Gundjaraŋbuy, Res McCalman, Dorothy Yungirrŋa, Renee Adair and Sh'ana Constable.
]Following a Bachelor of Indigenous Studies, Gem became a doula with the Australian Doula College, and worked on the Groundwork Program in Sydney. She has also spent time abroad sitting and listening in circles with women from many cultures and practices. Gem said 'I am grateful for the opportunity to sit on this land, and be part of this progressive project'.
Ongoing sustainability for the role is compromised by a lack of secure long-term accommodation on the island.
While this is big step forward for the project, ongoing sustainability of the role is compromised by a lack of secure long-term accommodation on the island. Despite being a basic human right, a crucial social determinant for health and a staffing requirement for service provision, a lack of housing continues to be an entrenched inequity in remote First Nations communities.
We recognise the immense challenges faced by Yolŋu experiencing insecure and crowded housing; and sympathise with other service providers struggling to accommodate and retain staff. Our project is working towards short-term infrastructure that will include staff accommodation but this is still some time away, requiring complex alignment of systems and process beyond our control.

Photo credit: Sarah Ireland. Almost front seat.
I had an almost front seat with the pilot in a Grand Caravan EX model 208b small plane.
When leaving Galiwin'ku last week, I had an almost front seat with the pilot in a Grand Caravan EX model 208b small plane. The view of Country and water was spectacular. Naturally I started reflecting on Gaṉma - a Yolŋu water metaphor with multiple meanings centred on the mixing of fresh and salt water systems. Looking from afar, I contemplated the complex tidal processes occurring at the river mouth: resistance, friction, yielding and transformation. It reminded me of the complex work djäkamirr are undertaking in weaving Yolŋu and Western birthing and reproductive knowledge systems. What a privilege it is to be supporting their work.
Photo credit: Sarah Ireland. Views from the plane.
Learn more with these links:
Articles
The ‘invisible homeless’ – challenges faced by families bringing up their children in a remote Australian Aboriginal community
Welcome Gem