Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives

19/06/2026

CATSINaM welcomes the formal acknowledgement (link 👇) by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) of the profound frustration and concerns raised by Indigenous delegates, including the CATSINaM CEO and CMO, on the plenary stage (image 2).

This protest was held in response to the unexpected withdrawal of the Position Statement (link 👇) on partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous midwives.

CATSINaM strongly supports women’s choices to involve Indigenous healthcare workers with cultural expertise in all aspects of their care during pregnancy, birth and beyond. Women-centred care includes centring cultural care and people with cultural expertise as central, not merely as an adjunct, to maternity care.

Supporting these choices and health care workers are particularly important in Australia, with poor access to existing mainstream services, mental health, su***de, and unacceptably high rates of infant separations from families being leading causes of morbidity and mortality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their babies.

Strong evidence demonstrates that self-determined Birthing on Country services (link 👇) and other birthing choices and innovations driven by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are highly effective in addressing the current harms, disparities and injustice experienced by too many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women accessing maternity care in Australia.

We support demands from Indigenous people across the globe to respect the UN rights of Indigenous people to self determination, including respecting birthing choices, and for much better collaboration in any changes or developments in statements and documents regarding partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous midwives.

🔗Read the full ICM acknowledgement here - https://internationalmidwives.org/statement-on-the-temporary-suspension-of-the-position-statement-on-partnership-between-indigenous-and-non-indigenous-midwives/

🔗Read the full ICM Position Statement on Partnership between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Midwives here -https://internationalmidwives.org/wp-content/uploads/Partnership-between-Indigenous-and-non-Indigenous-Midwives.pdf

🔗Birthing on Country article in the Lancet - https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00061-9/fulltext

16/06/2026

15/06/2026

🗣 CATSINaM marks this Men's Health Week with the first keynote announcement for our upcoming 2026 National Conference in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

We're excited to announce that Associate Professor Clinton Schultz will be joining us on Arrernte Country 🖤💛❤️

With over 15 years' experience in the social and emotional wellbeing field, Clinton is the Director of First Nations Strategy at Black Dog Institute and a Senior Researcher with UNSW.

Clinton has a keen interest in lore, culture, planetary health, and holistic wellness, particularly the wellbeing of workers in health and community services.

We hope you're able to join us in November, registrations are still open so head over to the conference site - https://agentur.eventsair.com/catsinam-national-conference-2026/

04/06/2026

You are invited to take part in a Photo-Yarning research project called:

Achieving True Representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Nursing and Midwifery

If you choose to participate, we would invite you to:

💻Meet with us online via Zoom.
📸Take photos that represent the care you or your family have received from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives.
🗣Have a Yarn with us about the photos.

Your involvement would be greatly valued and appreciated.

To register, please scan the QR code in the image or alternatively email Lalie Rivers: [email protected]

31/05/2026

🚭This World No To***co Day the World Health Organization (WHO) is shining a light on the ways in which big to***co aggressively markets new products - hello vapes - to secure a new generation of addicts.

Recently our CEO Ali caught up for a yarn with Associate Professor Raglan Maddox to discuss his work in tackling big to***co through his research with Yardhura Walani for the latest episode of our Knowledge Cafe series.

👉Have a watch over on our website - https://catsinam.org.au/watch?videoId=53

***coExposed

27/05/2026

All In is more than a theme - it’s a commitment.

A commitment to truth.
To community.
To showing up for each other in ways that create real change.

This year hasn’t been easy. We’ve felt the loss of members, and the weight of decisions made to sustain our work. But at the heart of it is something bigger - the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery, and the communities we serve.

Being all in means backing that future.
It means investing, where we can, in strong, community-controlled leadership so the work doesn’t just continue, but grows.

If you can, walk with us:
🤝Join or renew - https://catsinam.org.au/Web/About-Us/CATSINaM-Community.aspx
🫴Lift up and pay attention to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices - https://agentur.eventsair.com/catsinam-national-conference-2026/about
👨‍⚕️Keep pushing for culturally safe care - https://catsinam.org.au/Web/Members/Murra-Mullangari.aspx

Because reconciliation lives in what we do next.
And it takes all of us, all in.

27/05/2026

Students, this one's for you!

26/05/2026

Today, we honour the strength and truth of Stolen Generations survivors.

We stand with the call to move from Sorry to Action and to finally deliver the change that has been too long in waiting.

Congratulations to The Healing Foundation on the release of this important work, and thank you to Shannan again for joining us a little while back to talk about the ongoing challenges faced by Stolen Generations.

If you missed the session, CATSINaM members can watch it back on our website here - https://catsinam.org.au/watch?videoId=45

15/05/2026

CATSINaM and national nursing and midwifery peak bodies are standing together to say: racism in healthcare must end.

Together with Australian College of Midwives (ACM), Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, Australian College of Nursing, Australian College of Nurse Practitioners, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council - ANMAC, APNA - Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association, Council of Deans of Nursing & Midwifery (Australia & New Zealand) and CRANAplus - our joint submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry exposes how systemic racism drives unsafe care and inequity - and calls for bold reform grounded in cultural safety, accountability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership.

Please be aware before reading that some of the content may cause distress - prioritise your wellbeing.

You can find the submission on our website here - https://catsinam.org.au/resource?resource=131

If you need to speak with someone, support is available.
You can contact:
13 YARN
Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636

14/05/2026

📣We are pleased to announce on behalf of the CATSINaM Board that CEO Dr Ali Drummond has been reappointed for another term.

CATSINaM President, Vanessa Browne, had the following to say:

💬Congratulations to Dr Ali Drummond on your continued journey with CATSINaM. We are proud to have you continue this important work with us.

Your passion and commitment are a testament to your outstanding contribution, strong leadership, and unwavering advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives. Your dedication to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continues to make a meaningful difference in our communities.

We look forward to the impact you will continue to create and the leadership you will bring into the future.💬

👏Please join us in congratulating Ali on his reappointment.