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MID213 - First Nations Australian Women's Health

2025

Sector

Higher Education

Discipline

Midwifery

Credit Points

Equivalent Units

Prerequisites

Incompatible

Assumed Knowledge

Unit Description

The key principles and interconnected cultural capabilities underpinning The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework, The National Schemes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety Strategy 2020-2025 and The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework are adopted in this unit and adapted to midwifery practice. The unit assists students to understand the history and ongoing impacts from the Western colonisation of Australian First Nations. An emphasis is placed on understanding the experiences of women, families, and communities. Students will discuss strengths-based, woman/community centred, and solution focussed strategies to optimise maternal, newborn and women's health for First Nations Australian women and those living in rural and remote areas of Australia. The impact of intergenerational trauma and women being evacuated from their local community to birth is explored, as well as strategies to reduce negative impacts.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.	Acknowledge the impact of colonisation and systemic racism, social, cultural, and economic factors on First Nations Australian women's maternal and newborn health.
2.	Critically reflect on, acknowledge, and address individual racism, their own biases, assumptions, stereotypes, privilege and prejudices and the impact of these on providing holistic midwifery care, free of bias and racism.
3.	Critically evaluate the importance of self-determined decision-making, partnership and collaboration in maternity and women's health care which is driven by each individual woman, her family and community (as identified and negotiated by the woman herself).
4.	Advocate for Australian First Nations governance, the role of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and privileging the voice of First Nations Australian women as a strategy to reduce inequities that negatively impact their rights and dignity.
5.	Discuss strategies to enable the implementation of safe 'Birthing on Country' services for First Nations Australian women.

Assessment Overview

	Assessment Task	Value (of total mark)	Related Learning Outcome/s
1.	Reflection on Written Education Resource (500 words)	10%	1,2,3
2.	Discussion Board (1000 words)	40%	1,2,3,4,5
3.	Reflective Essay (2000 words)	50%	1,2,3,4,5

Unit Availability

Year	Semester	Att Mode	Location	Learning Method	Timetable*
2025	Semester 1	Internal	Casuarina Campus	OLR	View
2025	Semester 1	External	External Studies	OLR	View

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OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.

Critical Dates

Important Dates for Students

Fee Information:
Fees and Payments
Student Services and Amenities Fees
2025 Domestic Unit Fees (PDF)