Mums and Bubs CHAC - Circular Head

Circular Head

Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation

New Directions – Mums and Bubs Program

CAPITOL SHOWCASE

Innovation in Action

Showcasing excellent community-based health and wellbeing initiatives

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Why was this program needed?

• Circular Head residents face challenges associated with socioeconomic disadvantage, including impacts from social determinants of health.

• Reduced access to good nutrition, physical activity and social inclusion may contribute to a range of conditions, including overweight and obesity.

• However, local programs focused on community strengths provide great opportunities for improved health and wellbeing.

• The Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation (CHAC) aims to address key community priorities, including increasing educational opportunities, health and wellbeing awareness, and health service availability and accessibility.

The New Directions Mums and Bubs Program engages Aboriginal people and the wider Circular Head community with a focus on maternal and child health, leading to better health and wellbeing.

• The New Directions Mums and Bubs program aims to engage Aboriginal people and the wider community, with a focus on supporting maternal and child health.

Mums and Bubs Program goals and activities

Positive outcomes for the Circular Head community

• The main goal is to support women and their families before, during, and after pregnancy.

• Many positive outcomes may eventuate from the program, particularly for mothers and babies in the Circular Head Community.

• The program is offered at the CHAC facility in Smithton, with in person visits to community members conducted regularly.

• Funding is provided by the Australian Government, Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme (IAHP) initiative, improving access to primary health care.

• Program personnel include staff from CHAC, TAZREACH Allied Health, Trawmanna, and numerous community organisations.

• The program currently includes 85 families on a regular basis, providing support across a range of areas.

• For Continuous Quality Control Improvement Measures, the program is assessed using the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) Standards and Performance Pathways Portal.

• Procedures are guided by IAHP Primary Healthcare Activity Work Plans, providing antenatal care before 13 weeks of pregnancy; accurate birthweight reporting; health assessments for 0-4 year olds; health assessments for women; and increased immunisation.

• Areas of focus include advice on parenting, nutrition, breastfeeding, starting solids, immunisation and growth monitoring.

• Regular CHAC reporting enables monitoring of program performance, assisting future funding requests, and workforce development.

• The program also facilitates the ‘Ladies Lounge’ and ‘New Parents Group’ creating supportive social networks for mothers, with activities often linked to education on general health and wellbeing.

• Expansion of maternal and child health services should lead to improved health and wellbeing for the Circular Head community.

Further information: https://utas.edu.au/health/community-programs/capitol http://www.chac.com.au/

CAPITOL (Critical Age Periods Impacting the Trajectory of Obesogenic Lifestyles) is a community-based and community-driven project which aims to build capacity in North-West Tasmania to more effectively prevent obesity. This content has been produced in collaboration with Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation staff.