The research was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, and aimed to inform improvements in maternal and infant health care for Aboriginal families in two large remote communities in the Top End of the Northern Territory. The three-stage project consisted of:

The study used a mixed-methods approach including health record audits as well as observation, ethnography, qualitative interviews, epidemiological data and an economic evaluation of a Midwifery Group Practice model, which includes continuity of care where one known midwife provides pregnancy, birth and post birth services.
 

At baseline, the research team found that local women were seen by numerous carers across pregnancy and birth, receiving inconsistent advice and not developing rapport with a care provider. The changes to maternity care implemented through the study were based on feedback and ongoing discussions between NT Health and researchers. They included designated midwives employed to work in both communities, and establishment of a Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) with midwives together with Aboriginal Health Workers/midwifery students and an Aboriginal "senior woman" based at Royal Darwin Hospital who cares for women who are transferred to Darwin for birthing. The research team found that the MGP helped improve clinical effectiveness and quality of care for women, with a saving of around $700 per mother-infant cohort.

  

The results of this research led to a range of improvements in the provision of birthing services in remote communities in the NT, the most significant being the implementation of the MGP model.

  

This long term project used a participatory approach based on regular communication between all stakeholders, Steering Committees and working groups. The research team worked very closely with communities and with government, and engaged with all the relevant people to ensure translation into policy and practice. The partnership between researchers and health system leaders made a significant difference. One of the reasons the project was one of the ten best was because the processes to ensure translation were so well embedded.

  

The rollout of the model of care implemented through this research is delivering significant benefits for Aboriginal mothers and their babies in remote communities in the Northern Territory. Papers continue to be published from this work.