title: Culturally capable and culturally safe: Caseload care for Indigenous women by Indigenous midwifery students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence is emerging of the benefits to students of providing continuity of midwifery care as a learning strategy in midwifery education, however little is known about the value of this strategy for midwifery students.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore Indigenous students' perceptions of providing continuity of midwifery care to Indigenous women whilst undertaking a Bachelor of Midwifery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indigenous Bachelor of Midwifery students' experiences of providing continuity of midwifery care to Indigenous childbearing women were explored within an Indigenous research approach using a narrative inquiry framework. Participants were three Indigenous midwifery students who provided continuity of care to Indigenous women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three interconnected themes; facilitating connection, being connected, and journeying with the woman. These themes contribute to the overarching finding that the experience of providing continuity of care for Indigenous women creates a sense of personal affirmation, purpose and a validation of cultural identity in Indigenous students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Midwifery philosophy aligns strongly with the Indigenous health philosophy and this provides a learning platform for Indigenous student midwives. Privileging Indigenous culture within midwifery education programs assists students develop a sense of purpose and affirms them in their emerging professional role and within their community. The findings from this study illustrate the demand for, and pertinence of, continuity of care midwifery experiences with Indigenous women as fundamental to increasing the Indigenous midwifery workforce in Australia. Australian universities should provide this experience for Indigenous student midwives.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, First Peoples Health Unit Griffith University, Australia; Griffith Health Centre (G40) 8.36 School of Medicine, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia. Electronic address: r.west@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Griffith University, Australia. Electronic address: j.gamble@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Dentistry and the Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. Electronic address: jenny.kelly@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, First Peoples Health Unit Griffith University, Australia. Electronic address: t.milne@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery & Indigenous Health, Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: elaine.d7@bigpond.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Griffith University, Australia. Electronic address: m.sidebotham@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sidebotham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Education; Health services; Indigenous; Midwifery; Students