For the past 13 years, young Aboriginal women in Moree have been having their pregnant bellies cast as part of a program which promotes relationships between midwives, healthcare workers, young Aboriginal mothers and Aboriginal elders.
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The Mubali (which means pregnant in Gamilaroi language) project, run by Beyond Empathy, began in Moree in 2004 as a way to encourage young Aboriginal mothers-to-be to make positive connections with local midwives.
In the past, young women would only be seen by the midwives at the time of birthing in the hospital, but the Mubali program encourages women to make contact with midwives during their pregnancy, giving them a chance to develop a relationship with the midwives at the hospital, familiarise themselves with the birthing suites, and receive pre-natal care.
“It’s a way for them to get over this thing about hospitals being a big institution,” Mubali lead artist and project coordinator, Jo Davidson said.
When the women are between 36 and 40 weeks pregnant, the midwives will make a mould of their bellies using plaster bandage.
They will then give the moulds to Beyond Empathy’s plasterer, Skyela Gillon, who will make the cast.
Once it’s dry, local Aboriginal elder artists will come along to the Mubali workshops to paint the mould.
“They’re present in the workshops and they can share their stories with the young women,” Ms Davidson said.
“Sometimes the women want to paint their own cast, but the elders will be there to guide them.”
Beyond Empathy runs three-day Mubali workshops two times each school term.
During the three-day workshops, the women bring along their children and not only work on their belly casts but do a range of other different activities, such as making moulds of their babies’ hands and feet and other craft activities.
Midwives will attend the workshops, offering post-natal care and advice, while other service providers might also attend to connect with the women and provide them with information on various issues that might affect them.
The children also have the opportunity to play and participate in craft activities.
Lucky door prizes and lunch is provided each day, and transport is also available.
Ms Davidson said the workshops are a way for young women to connect with each other, elders, and service providers.
Lisa Duncan has been attending the Mubali workshops since they first began in 2004, when she was pregnant with her first child.
She has recently given birth to her sixth child and plans to paint the cast from her latest pregnancy herself.
“I look forward to it,” she said.
“You get to make some nice things, meet other mums, share food and meet local service providers.
“It’s a good experience, good connecting with the other mums and I enjoy bringing my other kids down with the group.
“The kids enjoy playing with other kids and we get to connect with other mums.”
The latest Mubali workshops were held this week and had a special NAIDOC theme to celebrate the upcoming NAIDOC week.
The kids painted boomerangs and the women learnt to make dream catchers with local artist Moana Fernando.
They also ate traditional food such as emu egg omelette, yellow belly fish, kangaroo skewers and damper and curry.
