Key messages
- Aboriginal model of care shaped by the wisdom, leadership and expertise of Aboriginal communities.
- Embraces an Aboriginal understanding of health that extends beyond physical wellbeing to include social, emotional, spiritual and cultural wellbeing.
- Flexible, responsive and tailored care for improved health outcomes and early and sustained service engagement.
- With 25 sites across Victoria, Koori Maternity Services are an integral component of Victoria’s maternity service system.
Koori Maternity Services
Koori Maternity Services have been delivering high-quality and culturally safe maternity and newborn care for more than 2 decades.
This care is guided by the wisdom, leadership and expertise of Aboriginal communities, Elders, workers and ACCOs across Victoria.
Service design and delivery are locally tailored to community priorities and individual needs. The Koori Maternity Services model provides continuity of carer throughout pregnancy and the early postnatal period (up to 6 weeks). Midwives and Aboriginal health workers/practitioners work in partnership with ACCO, general practitioners, hospitals and other relevant community-based services.
Victorian Koori maternity services locations
| Local health service network | Koori maternity service | Sites |
|---|---|---|
| North Metro | Victorian Aboriginal Health Service | Fitzroy and St Albans |
| Northern Health (The Northern Hospital) | ||
| First Peoples' Health and Wellbeing | Thomastown and Frankston | |
| West Metro | Western Health (Sunshine Hospital) | |
| South Metro | Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-operative | |
| Bayside | Peninsula Health (Frankston Hospital) | |
| Barwon | Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative | |
| South West | Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-operative | |
| Hume | Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative | |
| Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation | ||
| Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Services | Wodonga and Glenroy (NSW) | |
| Gippsland | Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative | |
| Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association | ||
| Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland Inc | ||
| Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation | ||
| Grampians | Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative | |
| Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative | Horsham and Stawell | |
| Loddon Mallee | Bendigo and District Co-operative Ltd | |
| Mallee District Aboriginal Service | Mildura and Swan Hill | |
| Njernda Aboriginal Corporation |
Koori Maternity Services guidelines
Developed in partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and Koori Maternity Services, Koori Maternity Services guidelines: delivering culturally responsive and high-quality care gives voice to the wisdom and expertise of the Koori Maternity Services workforce regarding the provision of culturally safe and high-quality pregnancy and postnatal care for Aboriginal women, babies and their families.
The principles of care described in the guidelines provide a shared foundation for the delivery of Koori Maternity Services.
Reviewed 02 April 2026