News

MDAS program gets international recognition

Tue, 10 Jun 2014 15:06:00

An award-winning Mildura program aimed at improving outcomes for Koori mothers and their babies is being recognised internationally this week.

The Bumps to Babes and Beyond initiative focusses on pregnant Aboriginal women aged 14 to 25 and was introduced in 2012 by Mallee District Aboriginal Services with support from one of the leading parenting centres in Australia, the QEC Early Parenting Centre. 
Bumps to Babes and Beyond’s success has since been recognised at a local and State level and has resulted in an invitation to MDAS officials to present at the World Association for Infant Mental Health International conference later this week.
MDAS Early Years Manager Danielle Dougherty, president Keith Hampton, board member Steven Portelli and Manager for Housing and Community, Ada Peterson are attending the conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.
“The program began out of the realisation that we needed to do something innovative and something holistic if we really wanted to change outcomes for this most vulnerable group of young mums and babies,” Mrs Dougherty said.
“Perinatal death rates are 1.6 times higher for Aboriginal babies, and maternal mortality rates are five times higher for Aboriginal women.  Koori babies are twice as likely to be born with a low birth-weight.
“Bumps to Babes and Beyond was developed in conjunction with the Queen Elizabeth Centre as a holistic, intensive and whole-of-family model of care and support for pregnant Koori women – and it really has worked.”
Bumps to Babes and Beyond engages  highly vulnerable and at-risk young women during their pregnancy and through the first 18 months of their child’s life.
“We believed there was a window of opportunity during pregnancy when parents are highly motivated about their unborn child – we thought that presented an opening for a childbirth and early parenting preparation program that helps vulnerable parents to prepare for the future relationship with their child.”
Bumps to Babes and Beyond helps new parents to learn infant cues and the expected behaviour patterns of their infant and explore issues around being a parent as well as building that vital early attachment.
“The mums begin to hold their baby in mind while they are still in the womb, and we use that as the foundation for a healthy relationships between mother and child and their family,” Mrs Dougherty said.
Mrs Dougherty said positive indicators coming from the program included 90% of the women carrying their babies to full term and attending ante natal services.  Program participants have also recorded an increased attendance at key Maternal and Child Health Services and increased breast feeding and immunisation rates.