Here is a great article about the Global Grant VTT our club is the International Host club for. Our support has enabled these midwives from Timor Leste to get valuable training and experience.
‘A cross-cultural exchange of birthing expertise and information was on the agenda last week when a group of 12 Timor Leste midwives visited Mackay Base Hospital as part of a five-week CQU vocational training experience.
The training focus was maternal and child health, with the group touring the Birth Centre, the Special Care Nursery, antenatal clinic, postnatal ward, simulation lab and labour ward.
While doing so they enjoyed informal presentations from Womens Health Unit (WHU) staff including Maternity Group Practice registered midwife Brooke Barnes, Birth Centre midwives Julie Pratt and Marion Fazakerley, and SCN nurse Lynda Kerr.
WHU midwifery educator Judith March said the tour was very well received.
“The Timor Leste midwives were especially interested in the ‘continuity of care for women’ model as a measure to improve mortality and survival rates of their women and babies,” Ms March said.
“Many of the women in Timor Leste birth at home rather than go to hospitals, and this results in a very high mortality rate.
“A visit to the SCN was very well received and Lynda Kerr gave an excellent demonstration of neo-resuscitation techniques as well as explaining the equipment used.
“The midwives were also very interested in the quality boards and they have been learning quality standards as part of the CQ University course.
“I also want to thank the operating theatre’s nurse unit manager Susannah for allowing theatre nurse Mok to spend the morning with her team.”
The hospital’s WHU also donated training aids to assist in birthing demonstrations of normal and emergency situations in Timor Leste.
The vocational training team’s visit was sponsored by the Rotary clubs of Mackay, with education and accommodation provided by CQ University. Their course concludes on February 12.’
7NEWS at 6pm. More local news: 7news.com.au/news/mackay-whitsundays
