What do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers do?

An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Health Practitioner can support you throughout pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. They understand both healthcare and the importance of culture, family and community, helping you feel heard, respected and supported.

They can provide health information, answer your questions, help you understand your care and connect you with services that meet your family's needs. They also work alongside doctors, midwives, nurses and other healthcare professionals to help make your care as smooth and coordinated as possible.

Having an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Health Practitioner involved in your care can help you feel more confident using health services and make it easier to get the support you and your baby need.

Culturally safe care means receiving healthcare in a way that respects your:

• culture
• values
• identity 

You should feel that your healthcare team listens to you and respects you. You will be listened to, included and involved in decisions about your care.

Healthcare professionals should provide care that is safe, accessible and responsive to your needs. They should also recognise and address racism, reflect on their own attitudes and biases, and work to build respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

When healthcare is culturally safe, people are more likely to feel comfortable accessing services, asking questions and getting the care they and their families need.

Feeling safe, respected and supported during pregnancy can make it easier to access the care you and your baby need. Regular antenatal care (care during pregnancy) from early pregnancy is linked to better health outcomes for both you and your baby and gives you the opportunity to ask questions, understand your options and prepare for birth.

Research shows that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who receive pregnancy care through an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service are more likely to:

• start antenatal care early
• have 5 or more antenatal visits

Their babies are also more likely to have better health outcomes, including:

• fewer premature babies
• less need for care in a neonatal nursery
• lower planned caesareans
• higher rates of breastfeeding when leaving hospital

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers are an important part of this care. They can provide information and support throughout your pregnancy, help you understand your care and work with your healthcare team to make sure your care is culturally safe and responsive to your family's needs.

Birthing on Country

Birthing on Country is a model of culturally safe maternity care developed and delivered in partnership with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families and communities. It brings together maternity care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, connection to Country, family support and continuity of care to help improve outcomes for parents and babies.

What's the difference between Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners?

Both Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners can support you and your family throughout pregnancy and after your baby is born.

The main difference is their qualifications and registration.

Health Practitioners have completed additional training and are registered with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia.

You may meet an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker at an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO), an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS), hospital, community health service or other healthcare setting.

They work alongside doctors, midwives, nurses and other healthcare professionals to support you throughout pregnancy and after your baby is born.

They can help you understand your care, answer your questions, connect you with local services and make sure your care is respectful of your culture, values and family's needs.

Some Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners have specialist roles, such as supporting maternal and child health, community health, health education and social and emotional wellbeing.

You may see an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Health Practitioner during your pregnancy, depending on where you receive your care. They work alongside doctors, midwives and other healthcare professionals to support you throughout pregnancy and after your baby is born.

They can:

• help you understand your care and answer your questions
• explain health information in a way that's easy to understand
• help you communicate with your healthcare team
• connect you with local health and community services
• support you with breastfeeding, caring for your baby and understanding your baby's health and development

If you have your baby in hospital, an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer (also called an Aboriginal Liaison Officer or Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer) can support you and your family during your stay.

They can help you:

• understand what to expect during your stay in hospital
• talk to your doctors and other health professionals
• understand your treatment and ask questions
• involve your family in your care, if you choose
• arrange support and services before you go home 

If you would like to speak with an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer, ask your midwife, nurse or other hospital staff.

Find an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) (Opens in new tab) near you using the national ACCHO finder on the NACCHO (Opens in new tab) website.

View the map of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health/medical services at the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (Opens in new tab).

The Gidget Foundation Australia (Opens in new tab) website has information and links to First Nations pregnancy, birth and parenting support services across Australia.

In New South Wales, Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Services (AMIHS) (Opens in new tab) support families and communities during pregnancy and after birth.

Find out about Koori maternity services (Opens in new tab) in Victoria.

Queensland Health (Opens in new tab) provides information about culturally safe pregnancy care for First Nations families, including support available through local hospitals, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers.

In Western Australia (Opens in new tab), the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA) can help you find pregnancy, maternal and child health services, and can connect you with culturally safe maternity care in your local area.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) (Opens in new tab) provides services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families and communities. The service has offices located in Devonport, Launceston, Burnie, Bridgewater and Hobart.

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (Opens in new tab) can help you find culturally safe health services in your local community. 

The Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (Opens in new tab) supports culturally safe health service delivery, including programs to help you quit smoking during pregnancy to have healthier, stronger babies.