Yolŋu Country, Northern Territory. 18 November, 2024.
This week our team was excited to host a visit from the Honourable Assistant Minister Ged Kearney who was keen to join us for lunch and learn more about Yolŋu aspirations for returning childbirth back to the island. Earlier in the year (then Assistant) Minister Malarndirri McCarthy attended our project’s Yuta Dok’jik Knowledge Exchange Showcase in Galiwin’ku.
Photo credit: Simão Moreira. New shoots.
A metaphor for childbirth, the Yolŋu Matha words yuta dok’jik mean fresh shoots emerging from the Earth.
During the event Professor Elaine Ḻäwurrpa Maypilama hand delivered to Minister Malandirri a Business Case for a Yolŋu Birthing and Healing Centre to deliver comprehensive on-Country culturally-informed miyalk (women’s) health service including birthing, sexual, reproductive and neonatal healthcare.
Professor Maypilama requested that the Business Case be carefully escorted back to Parliament House and strongly advocated for with Balanda Government officials. Minister Ged Kearney's visit was in response to our event and this advocacy work.
Photo credit: Sarah Ireland. (L-R) Professor Elaine Ḻäwurrpa Maypilama hand delivers the Business Case for a Yolŋu Birthing and Healing Centre to Honourable Minister Malandirri McCarthy, June 2024.
With a heatwave warning issued, the day of the Ministerial visit went a bit like this:
0800hrs
The orange fuel light warning comes on in the Prado.
We attend the fuel shop to buy some diesel at $3/Lt using the self-service Fuel Pump Machine.
The card reader is a little fickle so we spend some time trying and retrying the University Credit Card with no success. We explore different options such as alternative purchase amounts and still no luck.
The sun is feeling hot and its already around 33 degrees. Another credit card is tried with no success and all transactions are declined. I try another card – no luck – and then fourth time I use my own personal card with EFTPOS savings and bingo it works!! We request the machine to print a receipt. It spits one out but without ink its a blank piece of paper. This will make our University record keeping challenging and be marked as a policy violation.
Finally we have some fuel in the tank and feel a little more comfortable about offering Ministerial transport.
Photo credit: Sh'ana Constable & Sarah Ireland. Fourth time lucky success at the Fuel Pump Machine.
0900hrs
We return to the small office we rent at the Galiwin'ku Red Cross Baby Hub to prepare a space for hosting the Minister.
Our 5 person team and 12 djäkamirr work from one very small office room.
The Red Cross kindly gives permission for us to use the Baby Hub's back deck area - all hands are 'on - deck' to clear the space, sweep and hose it clean.
Photo credit: Sarah Ireland. (L-R) Professor Sue Kildea and Sh'ana Constable cleaning up the deck.
0915hrs
We collect Professor Maypilama and make our way to the airstrip.
We are smelling sweet with frangipanis behind our ears!
On arrival to the airstrip we meet Steve Rossingh the CEO from Miwatj Aboriginal Health Corporation who is a partner on our research. It's great to connect with Steve on Yolŋu Country and share passions for making positive differences for women, babies and families in Galiwin'ku.
Photo credit: Sarah Ireland & Sue Kildea. Getting ready for the Minister's arrival.
0930hrs
The Ministerial Party touches down and taxis to the airstrip gate. The Party emerges from the plane but they are unable to exit the strip because the gate code supplied to the pilot does not work. Through the six foot barbed wire fence, we offer greetings and welcome the Honourable Minister Ged Kearney.
With some bush improvisation and assistance from a credit card, the gate is unlocked and the Ministerial party finally emerges!
Thankfully the credit card worked better with the gate lock than it did with the Fuel Pump! Professor Maypilama joins Steve Rossingh to escort the Minister to Miwatj clinic.
Photo credit: Sarah Ireland. The Ministerial party arrives and (L-R) Honourable Minster Ged Kearny, Professor Elaine Ḻawurrpa Maypilama and Professor Sue Kildea.
1030hrs
We are back at the Baby Hub office where our staff have been busy preparing, catering and collecting Yolŋu guests. We hold a very special group meeting to implement some strategic directions for the Djäkamirr Project (and are excited to reveal more about that very soon). Slowly a group congregates on the deck and we are looking forward to sharing lunch with the Honourable Minister.
Photo credit: Sarah ireland. Milo a beloved camp dog rests in the shade on the deck while waiting for the Minister to arrive.
1200hrs
The Honourable Minister has been visiting other community organisations but finally joins us on the deck for a delicious lunch organised by our team. Steve Rossingh also pops in and joins the gathering. Professor Maypilama welcomes the Minster and alongside senior community researcher Rosemary Gundjarraŋbuy, they talk about the grassroots community activation that drives our project.
Together they explain the urgent need for a Birthing and Healing Centre in Galiwin'ku
Djäkamirr mala introduce themselves and we share stories about the djäkamirr training. Helen Guyupul Wugumurra, djäkamirr extraordinaire, stands in front of the Minister and speaks passionately from her heart about the role, scope and value of Yolŋu to Yolŋu djäkamirr support. Steve Rossingh helps explain the brutality of the current maternity system where most women travel to birth alone in a regional hospital.
Photo credit: Sarah Ireland. (pics L-R). Helen Guyupul Wugumurra speaks passionately about the djäkamirr; the Djäkamirr and team members gather; and Steve Rossingh CEO Miwatji Aboriginal Health.
1300hrs
We squeeze the Honourable Minister into our office to explain more detail about the Business Plan for a comprehensive miyalk (women's) health service in Galiwin'ku. Professor Maypilama and Gundjarraŋbuy explain their vision including the Yolŋu governance and ancestral knowledge linage that guides the return of birthing to Yolŋu community and control.
The breadth of their vision is remarkable.
Yes - a birth centre is important, but so too is community healing, Yolŋu employment, a Yolŋu knowledge and training hub combining Yolŋu and Western knowledges, a robust training pathway from Certificate II - IV - and to a Western midwifery degree. A Centre able to provide comprehensive Level II reproductive health services on- Country delivered by a skilled culturally competent workforce. Galiwin'ku will pioneer the journey to being the first Birthing on Country very remote demonstration site in Australia.
Photo credit: Sarah Ireland. Discussing the Business Case with the Honourable Minister Ged Kearney,
1400hrs
In the peak heat of the day, we escort the Honourable Minister to the preferred site for the Yolŋu Birthing and Healing Centre.
Tucked away from the the noise and busyness of downtown Galiwin'ku on a nearby coastal headland, Traditional Land owner, Joanne Buduklawuy orientates us to the site and shares ancestral stories. Joanne gives strong support and encouragement to use the site for birthing and women's business.
Photo credit: Sarah Ireland. Professor Maypilama, traditional land owner Joanne Buduklawuy, Professor Sue Kildea and the Honourable Minister Ged Kearney visit the preferred site for the Yolŋu Birthing and Healing Centre.
1500hrs
We seek air conditioning relief in the Prado and drive the back to the airstrip. The drive provides time to quietly contemplate the immense challenges but amazing opportunity that the Australian Government has to support Yolŋu intergenerational transformation. As Professor Maypilama says
When a baby is born on country the earth will shake. The blood and water make a pathway and the land will recognise that child.
We drop the Ministerial Party at the airstrip and are relived as the pilot has an updated gate code. Without need for a credit card, they walk through the open gate, board the small plane and take off. They have open hearts but carry the pressing responsibility and obligation to advocate for Yolŋu.
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Great work & pics showing how much more needs to be done for indigenous women's birthing rights & health in remote communities.
Wonderfully to read such inspirational work with Yolnu to improve birthing experience - clearly needs to be better supported by the Federal Government - keep up this great work
What a great read about this visit and inspirational discussion of the need and desire to get this happening. I am so sorry I missed the visit but look forward to working with you all now I am settled on community.
Great work by everyone involved.
Incredible Sarah! Love the photos as always and I hope this all helps the project move forward. Best of luck. Katherine xx