WE’RE HEADING TO THE OUTBACK
We are going to the Northern Territory to film and shed some much-needed light on the issues and challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women during their pregnancy and birthing time.
Through discussions and interviews with Indigenous women and midwives we will focus on the issues that matter to them and highlight the importance of the integral connection between birthing, land and place of belonging.
In doing so we will show why culturally appropriate care that supports social, emotional, spiritual and physical needs is of utmost importance and leads to better outcomes for Indigenous women and their babies.
Through focusing on the maternity care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the Birth Time Documentary, and by educating the wider public about what is actually going on, we hope this documentary will be a major catalyst for change.
We know that Indigenous babies are almost twice as likely to be born at low birth weight compared to non-Indigenous babies and infant mortality rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders stand at 6.4 infant deaths per 1000 live births, compared with 3.6 per 1000 live births for non-Indigenous people.
We will show how ‘Birthing on Country’ models of maternity care will work to improve health outcomes and ‘close the gap’, as well as provide an appropriate transition to motherhood and parenting for Indigenous Australians.
We will explore how the ‘Birthing on Country’ model offers care that is integrated, woman centred, holistic and culturally appropriate.
We are passionate to shed some much needed light on the challenges and issues faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within our maternity system.
We are looking forward to working beside Indigenous women and midwives to showcase in our documentary the amazing work they are doing and how ‘Birthing on Country’ models will provide not only care that is culturally appropriate but that also has a range of health benefits for Indigenous women and their babies.
"I’m so thrilled Birth time is diving into this. These women need a voice more than anyone. ❤️" @clancy_allen_empowered_birth
OUR MATERNITY SYSTEM IS BROKEN
We have a postnatal depression epidemic, with suicide being the leading cause of maternal death in the developed world. Birth trauma is rampant.
We have incredibly high intervention rates, yet this is not leading to better outcomes for mothers and babies.
We are losing connection from one of the most powerful, primal and pivotal things we will ever do in our lives. We live in a time where it is has become normal to disregard the importance of a woman’s experience of birth. Our birth and birthing experience largely impacts the way we navigate the world.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women there are deeper issues that they face within our maternity system. Institutional racism and discrimination within health services is rife, there is an absence of culturally appropriate services and a distinct lack of local services, as well as a shortage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clinicians and health care workers.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR WOMEN TO EMERGE FROM THEIR BIRTHS FEELING INNATELY POWERFUL, PHYSICALLY WELL AND EMOTIONALLY SAFE?
Isn’t it time that women felt powerful and trusting around their bodies and the birthing process rather than afraid?
Isn’t it time that we opened conversations and shared information that meant that women and their partners didn’t go into birth in the dark and full of fear?
Isn’t it time that women were guided more confidently towards choosing natural birth as their first port of call? Whether they choose to birth at home or in a hospital.
What would it mean if all women, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status, could choose to work in partnership with one midwife who provided them with continuity of care throughout their whole pregnancy, birth and postnatal period? And for the birth to take place in the venue of their choice and one that suited them and their individual circumstances.
What will it take for women to emerge from their births feeling innately powerful, physically well and emotionally safe? Isn’t it time for women’s needs in birth to be heard!
In practice, in politics, in funding and in policy.
IT'S TIME!
BIRTH TIME.
WHY WE'RE GOING TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Birth Time team are just over half way through their self-funded production of the Documentary Feature Film, 'Birth Time', a film that is taking a deep look into what is really going on in our maternity systems around Australia.
As part of the filming schedule, we will travel to the Northern Territory to spend time filming within some urban, rural and remote Indigenous communities and examine what is happening amongst the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their babies during their pregnancy and birthing time.
Your contribution can help us do this, as well as fund a free short film that we will share with you, showing you the experience and the ‘behind the scenes - making of’ from this section of the Birth Time production.
Our fundraising trailer for the full Birth Time documentary which is in production can be viewed here: www.birthtime.world
BONUS – Birthing on Country – Behind the Scenes Short Film
We will offer a FREE 5-minute short film that will share the experience and a ‘behind the scenes - making of’ from this section of the Birth Time production. It will be made available on our website and promoted through our social media platforms.
THE ‘BIRTHING ON COUNTRY’ FILMING AND EDITING BUDGET
We estimate the trip to the outback, filming and editing will cost $15,000, broken down as follows:
- $6,000 Travel to outback ($1,200 each return x 5 people including film crew)
- $600 Car Hire for 3 days
- $300 Petrol
- $800 Accommodation ($130/night x 2 rooms x 3 nights)
- $1,500 Food ($100/person/day x 3 days)
- $5,800 Filming and Editing
Total Required $15,000
MEET THE ‘BIRTH TIME’ TEAM
Our own birth experiences have been the catalyst to creating this documentary.
After experiencing firsthand the many benefits of one to one midwifery care, Jo, Jerusha and Zoe were supported in achieving uninterrupted, non-medicalised, exhilarating and powerful childbirth.
This is where our collective passion began.
Our team is from a diverse background and we each bring very different skills to the table that compliment each other.
A midwife in private practice, a doula and photographer, an actress and an IT whizz who is an Olympian - our collective backgrounds and skills and our passion for this project is what has prepared us for taking on this challenge.
Jo Hunter – HOMEBIRTH MIDWIFE
A midwife in private practice serving women and their families in the Blue Mountains and Sydney area. Jo was first a mothercraft nurse in the UK, then a birth and postnatal doula and childbirth educator, and now a midwife in private practice supporting families who choose to birth at home.
Jerusha Sutton – DOULA / PHOTOGRAPHER
An actress, a birth and postnatal doula since 2006, and a birth and family photographer, Jerusha supports families through their pregnancy and births, as well as capturing their memories with her lens, as a way of holding up a mirror to reflect their magnificence. She chose a homebirth for her first baby in 2016, best decision she ever made.
Zoe Naylor – ACTRESS
Former McLeod’s Daughters star, Zoe is a mum of 2 beautiful children. Her first birth started in the private hospital system, and her second was born at home. Zoe is passionate about supporting and inspiring women on a journey of awakening and to her mind, birthing consciously is one of the most profound experiences a woman can know.
Selina Scoble – ONLINE SPECIALIST
An Olympian and now mum, Selina is currently going through all the things first time mums go through. With a passion for helping people leverage their knowledge online via websites and videos, Selina has joined the Birth Time team to help get this important documentary out to the world.The Birth Time team, from left - Zoe, Jo, Jerusha, Selina
