Graduation week. 💫🪐🤱🏼☄️☁️ I am at the end of three life-changing years of midwifery training. Today at a special ACU ceremony, I was presented with the Essence of Midwifery award. What an honour that is - to ever be seen as embodying the woman centred profession I’ve longed to be a part of since 15 years old.

In my three years as a student midwife I completed over 1000 hours of placement, caught 54 bubs, ran many events with the Melbourne Midwifery Society, worked on call with The Women’s caseload midwives, and was a doula for Birth for Humankind. I have cared for women having babies as refugees, seeking asylum, experiencing homelessness, escaping family violence... I have supported women through miscarriage, and terminations, and labours where it is known child protection will take her baby after birth.

Now working in the public health system, where the essence of midwifery is challenged constantly - I am more grateful than ever for these relationships and the experiences I got to have. I am using the next two years to improve in suturing, emergency responses, waterbirth, homebirth, lactation support, newborn exams, etc. knowing that these skills bring me more independent practice, and therefore closer to systemic freedom.

I hope in this time the essence of midwifery stays with me, no matter how much I miss continuity, no matter how overstretched the system is, and no matter how exhausted I am. #midwivesmatter.