MELBOURNE — A study led by La Trobe University found the Baggarrook Yurrongi model of care improved perinatal health outcomes for First Nations women and babies in Melbourne. The findings were published in The Lancet journal eClinical Medicine on July 9, 2026.

The program led to a 45% increase in healthy births, with babies 33% less likely to be born with low birthweight and 36% less likely to be born early. Additionally, infants were 30% less likely to require neonatal intensive care. Women participating in the program were 86% more likely to start breastfeeding.

The Baggarrook Yurrongi model ensures women expecting a First Nations baby receive care from a consistent midwife throughout pregnancy, birth, and the immediate postnatal period. This model was developed in collaboration with First Nations health units at each participating maternity service and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

The research team analyzed over 164,000 births, which included more than 2,000 First Nations babies, across three Melbourne maternity services: the Royal Women's Hospital, Mercy Hospital for Women, and Joan Kirner Women's and Children's at Sunshine Hospital. The study compared outcomes from before the model's introduction, between 2012 and 2017, with those after its implementation, from 2017 to 2022. More than 64% of eligible women received the Baggarrook Yurrongi model during the study period.

Evelyn Burns, a clinical midwife specialist, said: "I get to walk alongside women and their families during one of the most important times in their lives and that continuity really matters. You can see the difference when care feels culturally safe – women are more confident, more connected and more supported every step of the way."

Lead researcher Professor Della Forster from La Trobe University's Judith Lumley Center and the Royal Women's Hospital said: "Importantly, our before-and-after analysis demonstrates these improvements are not just incremental, they represent a meaningful step towards closing the gap in perinatal health."

Natalie Roberg, Continuity of Care Manager, said: "For some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, pregnancy takes place against a backdrop of previous poor experiences with healthcare systems, leaving women unsure if their cultural needs will be understood and respected." Roberg added: "Having a known midwife throughout pregnancy creates an opportunity to build trust over time, rather than having to start from the beginning at every appointment."

At Mercy Hospital for Women, the model is delivered through the Nangnak Baban Murrup program, providing care to over 700 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women since its implementation in 2018. Grace Arnold, a clinical midwife specialist, said: "Women are more likely to attend appointments, raise concerns and ask questions about their pregnancy when they feel safe in a trusted relationship with a known midwife." The Joan Kirner Women's and Children's at Sunshine Hospital has six midwives providing care to about 151 First Nations families each year through the Galinjera program.