Inaugural Episode: An interview with Melanie Briggs

In this inaugural episode of Birth Time: the podcast, we have a yarn with Aboriginal midwife legend Melanie Briggs. For those who have seen Birth Time: the documentary, you will know that we interviewed Melanie about the Birthing on Country Project and Waminda. We catch up with Mel to find out where things are at since the release of the doco.  

Melanie is an Aboriginal woman, mother of two and midwife. She is a descendant of the Dharawal and Gumbaynggirr peoples, living on Wandandian country within the Yuin nation.  

Melanie is a senior midwife and Birthing on Country Project Officer at Waminda, which is a Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation. Waminda is Aboriginal-led and community controlled, and guided by the principles of self-determination.   

Melanie was the first endorsed Aboriginal midwife in NSW, and the second endorsed Aboriginal midwife in Australia.  

We talk with Mel about Birthing on Country (BoC), which is a continuation of thousands of years of knowledge and practice, which provides holistic maternal, child and family health care that embeds cultural integrity and safety during pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care.

BoC is about Aboriginal women from community led by Elders and Aunties, to taking back control for their Minga’s (mums) to birth healthy beautiful Gudjaga’s (children) in a safe space that is centred around culture and then throughout the continuation of Minga’s and Gidjaga’s life cycle.  

Links

Waminda 
Website: www.waminda.org.au 

Birth Time
Website: www.birthtime.world
Instagram: www.instagram.com/birthtimeworld
Facebook: www.facebook.com/birthtimeworld  

Jerusha
Website: www.jerusha.com.au
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jerushasutton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jerushasuttonphotography

Jo
Website: www.midwifejo.com.au
Instagram: www.instagram.com/midwifejohunter
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidwifeJo

Zoe
Website: www.kaftanmama.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kaftanmama 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kaftanmama

BIRTH TIME GIFT CARD: www.birthtime.world/watch-now

THE HANDBOOK: www.birthtime.world/the-handbook
MERCH: www.birthtime.world/shop

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