Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives

20/08/2026

We're really pleased to announce our final keynote speaker as a long-term member and former Board Director of CATSINaM, current Director of the Rhodanthe Lipsett Midwifery Scholarships and deadly midwife academic, Karel Williams.

As a sessional academic in the fields of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, perinatal mental health, knowledges, with a particular interest in Birthing on Country.

Karel has a wealth of expertise and experience to share with us all.

If you've not yet registered, there's still time!

🔗https://agentur.eventsair.com/catsinam-national-conference-2026/

20/08/2026

20/08/2026

20/08/2026

Congratulations to Professor Aunty Gracelyn Smallwood AM, MSc PhD, on your recognition of QNMU Lifetime Membership 🎉

A pioneering leader, passionate advocate and tireless champion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, Aunty Gracelyn's contribution has left an enduring mark on our profession and communities.

Thank you for your leadership, wisdom and lifelong service. ❤️🖤💛

QNMU Life Membership for QNMU legend Professor Aunty Gracelyn Smallwood! 🩷🌟

Aunty Gracelyn Smallwood has dedicated her career to advancing the health and human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

One of the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to qualify in general, midwifery and psychiatric nursing, she helped establish the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service, where she became its first Registered Nurse and Midwife, while championing culturally safe health care and the elimination of racism.

Her incredible contribution is also recognised through one of our QNMU Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards, the Aunty Dulcie Flower & Aunty Gracelyn Smallwood Award for First Nations members 🏆

Congratulations Aunty Gracelyn, and thank you for everything you have done for our members, our professions and our communities.

🏆 QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman had the honour of presenting Aunty Gracelyn with her Life Membership at our Awards night ✨

11/08/2026

🏆This year we're recognising the organisations that are showing leadership in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations!

Introducing the Collaborative Leadership award, we're looking for organisations that demonstrate respectful and effective collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations, and stakeholders.

Help us out by heading over to the Awards page on our website to nominate an org that you know is taking the right approach to working with mob!

🔗 https://catsinam.org.au/Web/Members/CATSINaM-Awards.aspx

10/08/2026

Katie Kiss - Social Justice Commissioner Today, on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives and their vital role in supporting mothers, babies, families and communities through culturally safe, community-led care.

“Indigenous midwives protect life and wellbeing in ways that are deeply connected to culture, family and community.

When Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families can access culturally appropriate care, supported by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives and health workers, trust grows and health systems become more responsive, respectful and effective.” – Karl Briscoe

This year’s theme, Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being, recognises the knowledge, leadership and care that Indigenous midwives have carried across generations.

“Traditional practices passed down through generations are not separate from health care, they are central to wellbeing. Honouring Indigenous midwives means recognising their knowledge, listening to communities, and investing in the workforce needed to provide culturally safe maternity care now and into the future” -

Commissioner Katie Kiss.

Closing the gap in health outcomes means investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives, strengthening the Indigenous health workforce, and ensuring every family can access culturally safe maternity care.

Today, and every day, we celebrate Indigenous midwives and call for sustained investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led health care.

07/08/2026

📣We're excited to announce that the CATSINaM National Conference 2026 program is now live, and we will be joined by another of our keynotes, Professor Yvonne Cadet-James!

Prof Yvonne Cadet-James has some 50 years’ experience in the fields of health and education starting as a registered nurse and midwife then as an academic.

Prof Cadet-James devotes time to working with Indigenous organisations and communities to support Indigenous control over research through education, training and community developed and led research strategies, policies and agreements.

Head over to the Conference page to read Prof Cadet-James' full bio and conference program 👇

🔗 https://agentur.eventsair.com/catsinam-national-conference-2026/

07/08/2026

Happy National Day of Recognition to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Health Practitioner peers!

06/08/2026

CATSINaM welcomes the release of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy and is pleased to see a strong focus on cultural safety and anti-racism as essential foundations for a stronger nursing workforce.

The Strategy also recognises the urgent need to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses, of course a critical step towards improving health outcomes and ensuring the workforce reflects the communities it serves with clear recommendations to:

✔️ Grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing workforce
✔️ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and communities design workforce initiatives that suit local conditions and community situations
✔️ Grow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurse leadership
✔️ Adopt anti-racism initiatives in nursing
✔️ Foster a diverse, inclusive and culturally safe nursing workforce

We look forward to working with Australia's Chief Nurses and Midwives and other key leaders to help turn the Strategy's commitments into meaningful action.

Thank you to all CATSINaM members who contributed to this work, particularly our Nursing Advisory Group, whose insights through our yarning sessions informed CATSINaM's submission and helped shape the final Strategy.

Let’s now turn to implementation, to enhancing initiatives that aspire to build a nursing workforce that is more culturally safe, and more representative of and safer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

🔗 https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-nursing-workforce-strategy

05/08/2026

Yesterday was National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day, with the theme of “Living Our Truth” - calling us to focus on truth-telling, intergenerational knowledge sharing, and children as future leaders.

This is of particular relevance now, as the Northern Territory government removes protections from keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids within their communities and kinship networks.

CATSINaM CEO and CMO, Dr Ali Drummond and Prof Cath Chamberlain, got together for a yarn the other week about the practice of nurses and midwives reporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families for choosing not to engage with antenatal care.

Head over to our website to hear more about the practice, the implications and other ways to support the self-determination of families 👇

🔗https://catsinam.org.au/watch?videoId=56