YOTHU Basket Project

First Nations birthing women and their babies need our support. 

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Yothu is the Yolgnu word for baby. Yolngu (or Yolŋu) are Australian First Nations people who live in north-eastern Arnhem Land of Australia. Yolngu means “person” in the regions Yolŋu Matha languages. Yolngu culture is among the oldest living cultures on earth, stretching back more than 50,000 years.

In March 2019, Renee was approached by Dr Sarah Ireland and Associate Professor Elaine Lawurrpa Maypilama from Charles Darwin University to take Accredited Doula Training to Galiwin’ku, a remote Aboriginal community in East Arnhem Land as part of a pilot training under their Caring for Mum on Country research program. 

Renee, excited to collaborate, presented the Accredited unit: Promote Positive Birth Outcomes, 13 women started the program and 11 successfully completed the program in Nov/Dec 2019. 

As women in remote First Nations communities are forced to birth off Country away from family, support, culture and language, the vision is that those trained, aptly named Djakamirrs’ (caretakers) will escort and support the pregnant women when birthing off Country. 

The time in Galiwin’ku deeply affected Renee.

 “Many of us want to understand the journey of our first nations people but we have no idea. We treat our Indigenous brothers and sisters like second class citizens and I was shocked to witness firsthand how we as a nation have degraded and disempowered the traditional owners of the land on which we live. Womb To Tomb Foundation is committed to continuing to provide much needed training and products for Yolgnu women and babies, and hope to do so for all First Nations communities across Australia”.

​The Yothu Basket Initiative supplies basic newborn baby and new mother care products to Yolgnu mothers who do not have access or cannot afford what most of us take for granted.  We are looking to supply 40-50 baskets a year to Galiwin’ku, as this is the average birth rate per year in that community. We then hope to replicate this project in all remote First Nations Communities across the Country. 

Please help us to gather these much-needed products. Please see below for a list of items. 

Please reach out via email using the button below, if you would like to offer assistance for this life-changing project.

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For Baby:

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  • Wraps 

  • Baby blankets 

  • Onesies

  • Baby clothes (new & secondhand, 00000-6 months) 

  • Wipes (bio degradable) 

  • Bath

  • Baby Towel

  • Nappy Rash Cream

  • Face cloths 

  • Baby wash 

  • Nail clippers 

 

For Mum:

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  • Nipple Cream

  • Maternity Pads

  • Body wash 

  • Moisturiser (face and body)

  • Shampoo and conditioner  

  • Hair ties

  • Hair brush 

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste

This organisation is a humanitarian, not-for-profit, non-government organisation & as such, is not required to quote or hold any government registrations such as an ABN. This organisation is exempt from and not registered for GST. We are not a registered charity.

Womb To Tomb Foundation also provides the Djakamirrs with their ‘Doula’ bags and its contents, along with fresh toiletries for each time they fly off the island to support a pregnant client who is forced to birth off country.

If you can offer a donation to help us to continue these offerings we would be grateful

Doula Heart Network

'The power of Doulas in underserved communities'

 

The Doula Heart Network (DHN) supports and serves underprivileged, marginalized and or disadvantaged women, families and individuals. Since its inception in 2004, the DHN has provided goods, care, respect and support to over 500 women and children.

The DHN was created by WTTF founder Renee Adair, who had worked in a young women’s refuge, part of the Australian Red Cross, for almost four years. ​The DHN believes that no one should ever birth or die alone, unless they want to and no one should ever be judged or receive any less care because of their race, colour, religion, age or personal situation.

 Not only do we provide support, information and education during one of life's many transitions but we also offer a variety of other services, including but not limited to:

  • Transport

  • Attending appointments

  • Supplying practical goods like baby clothes, bedding, furniture and kitchenware

  • Extended family support during times of need

  • Food parcels

  • Community referrals

  • Brokerage for items like getting a birth certificate issued and needed medications

​The DHN encourages the words of love and non-judgment for anyone seeking and needing support at the first or last breath and any transition in between.

This organisation is a humanitarian, not-for-profit, non-government organisation & as such, is not required to quote or hold any government registrations such as an ABN. This organisation is exempt from and not registered for GST. We are not a registered charity.

“I first met Renee Adair when I was 15 years of age and she was working with the Red Cross. Once leaving that service I continued working with Renee and she supported me through some very tough times and another two pregnancies.

Every need I had was fulfilled and Renee and her team were there whenever I needed extra support. 'I felt loved and like someone cared about me and my kids.

It's six years since I first worked with Renee and I still call on the services of the Doula Heart Network cause it feels like family now and I know they will not judge me and they are always there.

There are no words to say what the service and Renee mean to me”.

R. Wilson