What are the experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwifery students and midwives? A scoping review.

Hartz, DL; Coleman, R; Butcher, S; McGrath, L; Buzzacott, C; Williams, K; Coe, A; Kosiak, M

What are the experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwifery students and midwives? A scoping review.

Hartz, DL Coleman, R Butcher, S McGrath, L Buzzacott, C Williams, K Coe, A Kosiak, M

Permalink

Publisher:: ELSEVIER
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Women Birth, 2025, 38, (1), pp. 101856
Issue Date:: 2025-01

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Published versionAdobe PDF (839.58 kB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hartz, DL
dc.contributor.author	Coleman, R
dc.contributor.author	Butcher, S
dc.contributor.author	McGrath, L
dc.contributor.author	Buzzacott, C
dc.contributor.author	Williams, K
dc.contributor.author	Coe, A
dc.contributor.author	Kosiak, M
dc.date.accessioned	2025-08-06T03:51:06Z
dc.date.available	2024-12-01
dc.date.available	2025-08-06T03:51:06Z
dc.date.issued	2025-01
dc.identifier.citation	Women Birth, 2025, 38, (1), pp. 101856
dc.identifier.issn	1871-5192
dc.identifier.issn	1878-1799
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/189118
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives are underrepresented within the midwifery workforce and is likely compounded by lower graduate rates. This review is a part of the Midwifery Futures Project. It explores the experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives and midwifery students to illuminate issues impacting work and study and uncover successful strategies towards addressing current disparities. METHODS: A scoping review was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. Literature searching identified 1311 papers. Eleven papers, four qualitative research studies, and seven grey papers met the inclusion criteria: published academic journals, book publishers or key professional organisations; focused on the professional experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives or the learning experiences; written in English; and published 2004 onwards (inclusive). The papers were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three interconnected themes emerged: connection and kinship, racism and balancing responsibilities. CONCLUSION: Culture, connection and kinship are foundational in providing experiences for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives and midwifery students that are clinically and academically transformational, culturally safe and promote resilience for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives and midwifery students. Midwives and midwifery students need to connect with each other and value working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, clinicians and academics. Strategies that balance work, study and life responsibilities promote retention and resilience. Clinical, work and study contexts must be culturally safe by respecting and embracing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultures and actively opposing racism in the personal, Community and organisational interfaces.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER
dc.relation.ispartof	Women Birth
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101856
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
dc.subject.classification	3215 Reproductive medicine
dc.subject.classification	4204 Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
dc.subject.mesh	Cultural Competency
dc.subject.mesh	Health Services, Indigenous
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Nurse Midwives
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Racism
dc.subject.mesh	Students, Nursing
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Students, Nursing
dc.subject.mesh	Nurse Midwives
dc.subject.mesh	Health Services, Indigenous
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Cultural Competency
dc.subject.mesh	Racism
dc.subject.mesh	Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
dc.subject.mesh	Cultural Competency
dc.subject.mesh	Health Services, Indigenous
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Nurse Midwives
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Racism
dc.subject.mesh	Students, Nursing
dc.title	What are the experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwifery students and midwives? A scoping review.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	38
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-08-06T03:51:05Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	38
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives are underrepresented within the midwifery workforce and is likely compounded by lower graduate rates. This review is a part of the Midwifery Futures Project. It explores the experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives and midwifery students to illuminate issues impacting work and study and uncover successful strategies towards addressing current disparities. METHODS: A scoping review was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. Literature searching identified 1311 papers. Eleven papers, four qualitative research studies, and seven grey papers met the inclusion criteria: published academic journals, book publishers or key professional organisations; focused on the professional experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives or the learning experiences; written in English; and published 2004 onwards (inclusive). The papers were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three interconnected themes emerged: connection and kinship, racism and balancing responsibilities. CONCLUSION: Culture, connection and kinship are foundational in providing experiences for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives and midwifery students that are clinically and academically transformational, culturally safe and promote resilience for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives and midwifery students. Midwives and midwifery students need to connect with each other and value working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, clinicians and academics. Strategies that balance work, study and life responsibilities promote retention and resilience. Clinical, work and study contexts must be culturally safe by respecting and embracing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultures and actively opposing racism in the personal, Community and organisational interfaces.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/189118