Scholarships

I am a Yolŋu woman from Matamata homeland, North East Arhnem Land, Northern Territory. I live in Galiwin’ku, a remote community in NE Arnhem Land. My language is Warramiri. I am an Elder and Cultural Authority for my mother, father and grandmother clans. I have many years of experience of women in my family giving birth on country with traditional midwives. 

I am a multilingual senior research fellow at the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre at Charles Darwin University. I am a passionate advocate of redesigning childbirth health services to meet the needs of Yolŋu. Recently, I co-authored and co-directed DJÄKAMIRR,a documentary that explores childbirth from the perspectives of Yolŋu women in Galiwin’ku. 

I have a background in primary school teaching and education, with 30 years’ experience in applying Yolŋu research methods and methodologies. I received an honorary doctorate in recognition of my work from Charles Darwin University and have an Associate Diploma in Teaching from Bachelor Institute of Indigenous Training and Education.

Sarah was born in July 1972 and was a devoted mother of three divine children when she died, way before her time in October 2006.

Renee and Sarah were two peas in a pod as they studied together to become doulas and childbirth and parenting educators with Marie Burrows.

Renee and Sarah were thick as thieves and had a lot in common and shared years of love, laughter, tears, challenges and joys.

It is with a great deal of love and respect for Sarah and her family that we honour her by offering this great Scholarship opportunity.​

“My mother was a pillar of strength, warmth and intuition. She was also the very meaning of crude, silly and raucously hilarious. Her passion for birthing, the woman and the relationship between mother and child was second only to her children themselves. Renee, or Aunty Nae as we call her, was one of my mum’s soul sisters. She would be beyond honoured to have a scholarship named after her that was about the very thing she loved with all her soul, put together by one of the people she loved most with her soul. With this gift, I hope the recipient takes a piece of my mum’s memory with them and kicks some serious ass. She’s cheering for you and so am I. I am woman hear me roar”

- Ashley-June (Sarah’s daughter)

The breadth and depth of Marie Burrow’s experience and dedication to this work spanned more than 40 years. Marie had an extraordinary amount of ‘hands on’ experience working with people across all walks of life in all kinds of life challenging situations.​

Marie, the mother of two great women, devoted her lifetime to teaching pre/post-natal classes, supporting mothers and partners in labour as a well as being one of the first to offer training for Doulas and Childbirth and Parenting Educators in this Country.

​She conducted thousands of therapy sessions for individuals, partners and families and was a senior facilitator for the Hoffman Process since 1990. We call her the mother of all Doulas and it is whom Renee Adair and Sarah Buck trained with. ​

Sadly, Marie passed away in June 2023. Vale Marie.

​“Marie holds a very big space in my heart and the hearts of my children. It is because of her amazing work and unwavering support, care and love of my myself and my children over the years that she gave me the courage to launch the Australian Doula College and continue this work. For that, her mentorship and friendship, I am forever grateful. I trust that the recipient of this scholarship will go on to a big bright future making a difference in the lives of others in Marie’s name.”

- Renee Adair (Founder and Director, Womb to Tomb)