Refugee Maternity Clinic launched at Mater

• Release Date: 14/11/2008
• For media enquiries please contact 07 3163 1524 or the afterhours on call media officer on 07 3163 8111.

Imagine being pregnant in a country where you didn’t speak the language and felt socially, culturally and clinically isolated.

In response to Brisbane’s growing refugee population and an unmet community need, Mater Mothers’ Hospitals (MMH) have launched a new Refugee Maternity Clinic which will develop into a service model of care over the next 12 months.

Mater Mothers’ Hospitals Director of Women’s Health Services Mish Hill said the service was based on a best practice model to support appropriate health care, psycho-social support and resources for women of a refugee background birthing at MMH.

“Pregnant women of a refugee background may have a range of pre-existing medical conditions, many of which have been shown to impact maternal, fetal and neonatal health,” she said.

“In recent years we’ve developed a women and family centred approach in designing holistic antenatal clinics that respond to the particular and diverse needs of women, as individuals and as part of groups.”

The number of women of a refugee background birthing at MMH has steadily increased over time with approximately 150 during 2007 and a similar number expected this year.

These numbers are set to rise as a result of Queensland’s general population growth and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Scheme, which is committed to accepting 1500 humanitarian refugees each year into Queensland.

Senior Social Worker MMH, Jeniffer Petty said the Refugee Maternity Clinic is staffed by a multidisciplinary team including a lead obstetrician, dedicated midwife, social worker and interpreter for continuity of care. This approach will facilitate the development of social support networks for women and their families.

“In addition to clinical care, it is planned that women will be facilitated to meet each other and develop social networks through culturally and linguistically appropriate group sessions in which we’ll also link them with resources, services and opportunities in the community,” she said.

While it is a midwifery-led service, women with complex health needs during pregnancy will have care from an obstetrician who will work in collaboration with their midwife and a dedicated social worker to address psychosocial needs.

The Refugee Maternity Clinic runs every Thursday and is located at the Antenatal Clinic on level 7 of the Mater Mothers’ Hospitals, South Brisbane. The service is generously supported by the Sisters of Mercy. For more information, contact the clinic on 07 3163 8823.