Strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternal Health and Preventing Infant Removals: The Potential of a Health Justice Partnership.

The Jajumbora BiOC (Birthing in Our Community) Hub is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led service for mums, bubs and families in Logan, southeast Queensland.

The BiOC model of care was established in 2013 in the South Brisbane region, the BiOC program began as a partnership between the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS Brisbane) and the Mater Mothers’ Hospital.

Developed and implemented under First Nations leadership, Jajumbora BiOC Hub delivers a unique model of maternity care that provides comprehensive and culturally informed maternal and infant health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. The program is integrated within a family services model grounded within a culturally intrinsic parenting model which supports connection, belonging and cultural growth. 

Griffith University has been working together with IUIH and ATSICHS to fund a Health Justice Partnership within the Jajumbora BiOC Hub, which provides expectant mothers with access to legal advice and family support during pregnancy, to help reduce the risks and likelihood of infant removals at birth.

This work formed the basis of the collaborative grant application for the Medical Research Future Fund Indigenous Health Research funding to support the Health Justice Partnership and to conduct important research around its effectiveness.

Our research team comprises researchers and leaders from IUIH, ATSICHS Brisbane and Moreton, and Griffith University. A majority of the researchers are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The Chief Investigators (CIs) are:

Professor Andrew Harvey - Director, Pathways in Place, Griffith University (Lead CI)

Emerita Professor Cindy Shannon - Griffith University

Ms Keryn Ruska - Legal Services Manager, Institute for Urban Indigenous Health

Professor Shaun Ewen - Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), Griffith University

Ms Kristie Watego - CEO Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service - Moreton

Dr Kerry Hall - Lead, Learning and Teaching (Indigenous), Griffith University

Mr Alfred Davis - Child and Youth Services Advisor, Institute for Urban Indigenous Health

Mr Dylan Nelson - General Manager, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service - Brisbane

Dr Claire Brolan - Senior Policy Adviser Institute for Urban Indigenous Health

Ms Tanisha Springall - First Peoples Midwifery Lecturer, Griffith University

Dr Lucy Campion - Researcher - Legal Focus - Pathways in Place, Griffith University

Ms Rebecca Wren - Researcher - Child Protection Focus - Pathways in Place, Griffith University

This research is funded via a grant provided by MRFF (MRF2040818) for a period of 2 years.

Our research will investigate the effectiveness of the Health Justice Partnership project located within the Logan Jajumbora BiOC.

The Health Justice Partnership provides embedded legal and social support through a First Nations lawyer and family support worker.

By providing timely legal and social support the Health Justice Partnership aims to reduce the number of First Nations infants entering into out-of-home care and strengthen the health and wellbeing of mothers and families birthing First Nations infants. The aim of the research is to investigate the effectiveness and potential scalability of the First Nations-led Health Justice Partnership pilot program.