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Darling Downs Health has been named a 2026 Every Week Counts Collaborative Champion for its outstanding work to improve maternity care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
The national recognition awarded by Every Week Collaborative, an initiative between Women’s Healthcare Australasia and the National Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance, was earned through continuing partnerships and culturally informed service redesign.
Among 44 participating health services across Australia, Darling Downs Health was one of four acknowledged as champions for their commitment to improving outcomes in key priority areas.
Darling Downs Health Assistant Director of Nursing and Midwifery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First 2000 Days, Natalie Hobbs said the award acknowledges the importance of listening to community.
“Receiving this award is incredibly meaningful. It recognises the importance of creating maternity care that truly meets the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families.”
Natalie Hobbs, Darling Downs Health Assistant Director of Nursing and Midwifery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First 2000 Days
A key achievement has been the creation of a culturally safe, community designed feedback process after recognising that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women did not have a platform where they felt heard in a way that reflected cultural preferences or communication styles.
The team introduced a yarning style feedback survey, allowing women to share their maternity care experiences in the way that felt most natural and respectful to them.
The results delivered insights such as women who received continuity of care throughout pregnancy were far more likely to recommend the service.
Ms Hobbs said this finding is now shaping how new models of care are being developed.
“When community know they will be cared for by people who understand their history and who they are today, they are far more likely to access healthcare,” Ms Hobbs said.
In the past twelve months, the team has worked to embed cultural leadership and representation across the Toowoomba service, including establishing the Boomagam Caring midwifery role and welcoming three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwifery cadets across Toowoomba and rural sites.
Darling Downs Health Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service Todd Williams said the progress being made in maternity care reflects the health service’s commitment under the Health Equity Strategy to strengthen representation and cultural voices across the workforce in areas where care has the greatest impact on families.
“Increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in maternity care is essential to creating culturally safe, trusted services for our women and families,” Mr Williams said.
“Our partnerships with local Aboriginal Medical Services are also central to this work and help guide us in delivering maternity care that respects culture and strengthens connection.
“Community voices cannot simply inform change - they must drive it. Our responsibility is to redesign services with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, not for them."