The Wire

Indigenous women are more than two-and-a-half times more likely to die in childbirth than other Women. And for women in Papua New Guinea, the figures are even worse. Two projects at the University of Technology in Sydney are attempting to redress this imbalance.

One will see Indigenous midwifery courses held at the tertiary level, and the other – funded by AUSAID – will recruit midwives to train in childbirth education in PNG. UTS Midwifery course lecturer  Christine Catling-Paul says that students will not only be taught practical skills.. they’ll also be taught about the history of colonialism and its relevance to Indigenous women and maternal health.