A smoking ceremony held on Bundjalung country in northern New South Wales marked a significant event for the Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service. This ceremony was part of the Sistabirth initiative, which focuses on birthing on country. While some guests may not have fully grasped the event's importance, their parents and grandparents certainly did.

Relicca Kelly, a mother of four, attended the ceremony with her youngest child, Yarambati. "It's really nice … we can get a bit of our culture back," she said. Kelly emphasized the importance of such events in reconnecting with their heritage, stating, "People are raising their voice now just to show that our culture is still there, even though the majority of it got taken away. It's good to have these events just to feel connected."

Elder Fay Anderson expressed her pride in the occasion, noting the contrast to her own upbringing. "It's the first time I've ever experienced this on country," she said. Anderson added that the event would help future generations understand their roots, saying, "[It will mean] they will grow up knowing where they were born [and that] they come from this country."

Tarra Gordon, a support coordinator at Bullinah, highlighted the joy of the elders as they interacted with the younger children. "It is very significant for our elders and women who didn't get to do traditional practices back when they were having babies," she said. Gordon expressed hope that the next generation would be more connected to their culture and traditional practices.

Data from the federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing in 2023 revealed alarming statistics: Aboriginal women are three times more likely to die during childbirth, and their infants are nearly twice as likely to die within their first year. The birthing on country movement has gained momentum in Australia since its inception in 2012, aiming to establish Indigenous-led services that incorporate traditional birthing practices.

James Harrington, the Sistabirth program administrator at Bullinah, shared his personal experience with a birthing-on-country program in Queensland. He noted a stark contrast between that experience and the mainstream health system. "There was better communication, better transparency and better cultural care, where I felt like we were shown respect and dignity," he said. Harrington also pointed out ongoing issues of systemic racism within local healthcare systems, stating, "It seems like an ongoing matter for a lot of families we speak to."

The Sistabirth program is funded by the federal government for five years and is a collaboration between Southern Cross University, Bullinah, the Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation in South Australia, and Urapuntja Health Service near Alice Springs. Bullinah midwife Suzanne Weir and cultural advisor Deekeala Glew are actively involved in the program in the Northern Rivers region. Weir emphasized the importance of tailoring the project to community needs, saying, "The women want to be heard, they want to be respected, they want a safe place to get their care and to give birth."

The program aims to establish a birth house where women can feel secure. Michelle Jacquelin-Furr, who has been involved with the Sistabirth program at the Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation, shared her efforts to pass on cultural knowledge. She spent time at the Adelaide Museum to gather information for young women in the program. "I think a lot of these women feel like they are getting some cultural advice," she said. Jacquelin-Furr incorporates storytelling and cultural artifacts, such as her possum skin cloak, to enhance the connection to their heritage. "So it's just that cultural connection, and about bringing those things back into their journey," she added.