Malabar Midwives Midwifery Group Practice (MGP)
The Malabar Midwives was established in 2006 after community consultation identified the need to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes, and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families planning to give birth at the Royal Hospital for Women. The service is committed to improve the health of mothers and babies by providing seamless, accessible, and culturally safe care.
The team includes:
- A Consultant Midwife
- Four Clinical Midwife Specialists
- An Aboriginal Health Education Officer
- A Social Worker
- And, in partnership with the Sydney Children’s Hospital
- A Child and Family Health Nurse
- Community based Paediatrician and
- Speech Pathologist
The midwives work alongside the Aboriginal Health Education Officer in a continuity of care model in which women get to know the midwives during pregnancy. Research has demonstrated that building a trusting relationship with a midwife can result in a more positive birth experience for women.
Pregnancy visits can take place at the Malabar Clinic, at the hospital, at the La Perouse Aboriginal Community Health Centre or any other convenient location for the woman. The midwives are then on-call for labour and birth at the hospital and, after the birth, will visit the family at home.
The Child and Family Health Nurse aims to meet women during the pregnancy to make a connection prior to providing ongoing support for you and your baby. The Child and Family Health Nurse conducts clinics at Malabar and La Perouse and offers some home visiting. The partnership with Sydney Children’s Hospital also provides clinics with a community Paediatrician and Speech Pathologist conveniently located at La Perouse.
The Malabar Midwives also provide care for non- Aboriginal women from the 2035 and 2036 postcodes.
Clinical Midwifery Consultant
Shea Caplice
Midwifery Unit Manager
Olivia Becker
Aboriginal Health Education Officer:
0410 344 766
How to find us
Malabar Midwives MGP, Level 0, Royal Hospital for Women (Building 17 on our campus map)
-33.919034795558, 151.23821135768
Women's and Gynaecological Services
The Royal Hospital for Women offers a comprehensive range of specialised gynecological clinics and services dedicated to women's health. These services encompass menopause management, oncology care, including radiation and chemotherapy treatments, as well as advanced surgical procedures. Additionally, the hospital provides expert fertility services, ensuring a holistic approach to women's healthcare needs.
-33.919032468304, 151.23822666662
Staff Wellbeing
Staff wellbeing is of paramount importance to us here at the Royal Hospital for Women, and we are fully committed to fostering a healthy and content workforce. Wellbeing goes beyond mere happiness, financial success, or physical health.
True wellbeing encompasses our daily enjoyment in our work, the quality of our relationships, financial stability, physical vitality, our sense of accomplishment in making a meaningful contribution to the world, and the profound sense of purpose and personal growth we experience in our lives. Crucially, it is the interplay of all these elements that defines wellbeing.
For more information (including dates and times for our regular yoga classes!), visit the SESLHD Wellbeing page, or view any of the following topics and related resources:
Wellbeing Ambassador Royal Hospital for Women
Corinne Dubourdieu
-33.919024559438, 151.23822216543
Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Service
We recognise the significance of caregivers in promoting the well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and offering support. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their caregivers have the opportunity to engage with Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers, who can offer assistance and guidance in navigating the healthcare system. These officers frequently serve as advocates, helping bridge communication gaps in clinical settings and addressing both health-related and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural concerns for patients and their caregivers.
We welcome all people requiring care and their families, carers and friends to our hospital.
We ask all people coming to our hospital ‘Are you living as or known as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in your community?’ If you answer yes, we will contact Marni, our Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer (AHLO) and let her know you are here.
Coming to hospital can be a difficult time. Marni is available to have a yarn if you are finding it difficult being away from your home and family, if you are dealing with sorry business or feel a bit lonely or anxious.
Marni is part of our Social Work team and is available to provide you the following support:
- Provide you with and your family with emotional, social and cultural support
- Advocate and liaise with other staff on your behalf
- Provide information about hospital services
- Provide information on your rights and responsibilities
- Organise referrals to other services (eg Aboriginal, Legal, Child Care Protection)
- Help you get financial assistance if you need it (eg pensions, benefits, IPTAAS (Isolated Patient’s Travel and Accommodation Scheme))
- Help you with finding accommodation if you are travelling to Sydney from the country
- Help you to fill in an application for housing
- Organise nursing, hospice or respite care if you need it
- Organise for you to get help if you need it when you get home. This includes help with housework, shopping, meals on wheels or any equipment you might need.
Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer
If you cannot contact Marni on the direct mobile telephone number above, call the switchboard on 9382 6111. Ask them to page Marni the Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer.
Social Work
02 9382 6670
How to find us
Social Work Department, Level 0, Royal Hospital for Women (Building 17 on our campus map)
-33.919022415062, 151.23823365803
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Services
How we can help you
There are a range of services that help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families to stay healthy. If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person or family member you can access all of the general services plus the services below.
RHW Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer
- An Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer can help you understand ways to manage your health care. They can organise and take you to your appointments. They can also speak with your doctors and go to appointments with you to offer support.
- An Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer can talk with you about other services that may assist you. They can help you make contact with these services.
You can contact our RHW Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer, Marni on: 0455 276 031 or at the Social Work office on 02 9382 6670.
La Perouse Aboriginal Community Health Centre
La Perouse Aboriginal Community Health Centre provides services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families. Various health services provide clinics at the Centre where you can see specialist Doctors and allied health staff. The services provided include:
- Endocrinology - For if you have problems with your hormones e.g. Diabetes.
- Cardiology - For problems with your heart or blood vessels.
- Respiratory - For problems with your lungs, airways and blood vessels that help you breathe.
- Geriatrics - If you are an older Aboriginal person, this clinic helps with preventing and treating disease and disability.
- Podiatry - For problems with your feet, ankles or lower limbs.
- Eye clinic - If you have problems with your eyes.
- Oral Health Services - For problems with your teeth, gums and your mouth and face that allows you to smile, speak or chew.
- Midwife Service - Supports pregnant women in their health care.
- Early Childhood Services - Carries out health checks for young children and provide information on parenting.
- Children’s Services - For children under the age of 16 years.
- Mental Health Services - Helps if you are experiencing problems with how you are feeling, thinking, behaving or interacting with others. Mental illnesses are of different types and severity. E.g. depression and anxiety.
- Drug and Alcohol Services - Supports you if you have addiction to alcohol or other drugs.
The Centre at La Perouse is open from Monday to Friday. To make an appointment or you can contact the Centre directly on 02 8347 4800 or alternatively you can contact one of the AHWs to make you an appointment.
Location of La Perouse Aboriginal Community Health Centre
1 Elaroo Ave, Phillip Bay
RHW Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer
Phone: 0455 276 031
-33.982193016755, 151.22990190983
Physiotherapy
How we can help you
Our Physiotherapy department can help you improve your bladder, bowel and sexual health. We work with you to assess your needs, set goals and provide treatments and exercise programs to help you reach your goals. Our services are accessible to women, men and gender diverse people living with:
- Breast and gynaecology cancer treatment and common symptoms/side effects
- Prostate cancer treatment and common symptoms/side effects
- Bladder, bowel and sexual disorders
- Conditions specific to pregnancy & childbirth
- Symptoms of menopause
- Lymphoedema of the arms and legs
We do this by:
- Finding out what the problem is when you come to your first appointment
- Understanding your needs and concerns
- Working with you to come up with a plan of how exercise can help you both in the short and long term
- Providing support for self-management
We offer both individual services as well as group based programs.
Randwick, NSW 2031
Manager
Hannah Graetz, Head of Department
Opening times
8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday
Referrals
Send your referral to us e:SESLHD-PhysioRHW-Refer@health.nsw.gov.au or self-refer here
How to find us
Physiotherapy Department, Level 0, Royal Hospital for Women (Building 17 on our campus map)
-33.918985810091, 151.23821843381
We can help you if you have problems with bladder or bowel function, sexual health, pain or movement caused by injury or disease. We look after patients staying at The Royal Hospital for Women and those in the community who have been referred to one of our outpatient clinics. We also see patients referred from outpatient clinics on campus, for example:
- RHW gynaecology oncology outpatients
- POWH/RHW Breast Service
- POWH Urology department
- RHW gynaecology outpatients
- UNSW Lifestyle Clinic
- RHW/POWH pain clinics
Our outpatient clinics are for those living in the community. Our clinics include:
- Physiotherapy outpatient service: We care for people living in the community with problems with their bladder, bowel and sexual health. We also support people as they recover from or plan to have surgery for example, breast, prostate and gynaecological surgery.
- Cancer Prehab and Rehab: We help people having cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery) by providing exercise plans, education, social support and self-management advice to improve response to cancer treatment, reduce cancer-related fatigue and manage side effects.
- Gestational diabetes GYM: We run exercise programs in the physiotherapy gymnasium to support people with diabetes in pregnancy improve their glucose control; provide follow-up after birth via our postnatal lifestyle session and prevent a diagnosis of diabetes for pregnant people who might be at risk.
- EMBODY: We provide virtual weekly group physiotherapy during pregnancy and after birth. The EMBODY program has been designed to be completed weekly during pregnancy and for up to 3-6 months after having a baby. The program combines movement with education to prevent common pelvic floor problems and improve the health of childbearing people. It’s a great way to get your pelvic floor exercises done!
Our team includes trained pelvic floor physiotherapists, student physiotherapists and visiting physiotherapists completing training in pelvic health who will be responsible for your assessment and physiotherapy treatment plan.
We work in partnership with specialist nurses, midwives, medical and surgical specialists and your local doctor (GP).
Our administration officers can help you with bookings, referral management and telephone enquires.
We provide options to attend physiotherapy appointments and exercise programs via telehealth. This means that we communicate with you through a video link on your computer screen. We recommend attending your first appointment in person. If you would like to attend subsequent appointments via telehealth, you can discuss whether this option is suitable for you with your physiotherapist.
Health professional referral:
To come to the Physiotherapy Outpatient Department you will need to have your local doctor (GP) or treating specialist write you a referral letter explaining your relevant surgical and medical history. The referral may then be mailed, emailed or faxed to us or you can bring it into our department in person.
To make or cancel an appointment please telephone 9382 6540.
We try to see all of our patients as quickly as possible. However, we have a large number of patients seeking treatment. Appointments are offered based on urgency. Urgent conditions are generally given an appointment within a few days of receiving the referral. Non-urgent conditions may need to go on a waiting list. It can take up to 2 months for non-urgent conditions to receive an appointment.
Can I chose the day and time I attend appointments?
We will try to find appointment times that suit your availability. Our hours of operation however are 8:30am - 4:00pm Monday to Friday. We do not offer weekend treatments.
Self-referral for Physiotherapy services:
We are a teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research or for a student to be present at your appointment. You have a right to say no. If you do so, this will not impact in any way on the services we will provide. All physiotherapists in our team are committed to achieving the best possible health outcome for you and complete regular supervision with a senior or specialist physiotherapist. You can ask your physiotherapist if your care can be reviewed with a senior or specialist physiotherapist and your physiotherapist might suggest this from time to time.
Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.
Read about other women's experiences of Physiotherapy by following the link below.
Care Opinion
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Care Opinion
Cross Cultural Worker in Maternity plus Child & Family Health Services
The Cross Cultural Worker in Maternity & Child & Family Health Services provides a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL service for women and families from migrant and refugee backgrounds, and International students who are birthing and/or using child and family health services in Royal Hospital for Women and or live in South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
The Cross Cultural Worker provides:
- Support and education during pregnancy and for children 0 to 5 years
- Support to access and navigate services during pregnancy and into parenting
- Culturally appropriate pregnancy, birth and parenting information and education e.g. antenatal or postnatal classes
- Links to community support and networks e.g. playgroups or library
- Support transition from pregnancy and birth to child and family health services e.g. Child and Family Health Nurse in the local Early Childhood Clinic
Women and families can self-refer, be referred by a health professional or community organisation.
Interpreters will be arranged as required.
Contact: Galuh Sapthari
- Phone: 0439 510 697
- Email: galuh.sapthari@health.nsw.gov.au
- Available: Tuesday - Friday
Click here to book your pregnancy at The Royal Hospital for Women:
Click here for information regarding FREE online pregnancy education:
Barker St, Randwick NSW 2031
Workdays:
Tuesday to Friday
-33.918958208965, 151.23823453117
- Pregnancy Information
- Pregnancy, birth and baby website and hotline
- Early pregnancy care – planning a pregnancy and becoming pregnant
- Maternity care in Australia
- Smoking and pregnancy
- Pregnancy and healthy mouth
- Pregnancy protection and vaccination from preconception to birth
- Hepatitis B Vaccination for your Newborn Baby
- Vitamin K for newborn babies
- When to come to hospital in Labour
- Having a baby
- Reducing third and fourth degree perineal tears
- What to bring to hospital when having a baby
- Baby’s movement, what is normal
- Protect your baby from whooping cough. Vaccinate for free when pregnant
- Protecting your baby against influenza starts when you’re pregnant
- Safer Baby Booklet
- Edinburgh Depression Scale
- Continence Health: Expecting a Baby
- Continence Health: Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises for Women
- Pregnancy Screening GBS (Group B Streptococcus)
- Newborn (0 - 3 months)
- Babies (3 – 12 months)
- Toddler (1 – 3 years)
- Preschool (3 – 5 years)
- SUDI/safe sleeping recommendation
- Reducing SUDI and SIDS risk: in pictures
- Breastfeeding tips for new mothers
- How breastfeeding works
- Contraception after you have had a baby
- NSW Statewide Infant Screening – Hearing (SWISH) Program fact sheets
- The Blue book (Health record of the baby)
- Milestones matters
- Newborn Bloodspot Screening - Tests to protect your baby
- Cot to bed, Tummy time, Safe Sleeping, Safe Wrapping, Safe co-sleeping
- Jaundice in newborn babies
- Breastfeeding videos
- Love, Talk, Sing, Read, Play. Available on the Apple app.
- Love, Talk, Sing, Read, Play. Available on the Google app.
- Continence Health: One in Three Women Who Ever Had a Baby Wet Themselves
You can contact us by calling the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak, and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.
For more information about Cross Cultural Workers in Maternity & Child & Family Health Services in the district, see the SESLHD Multicultural Services page.
Factsheets
Our factsheets are user-friendly guides covering a range of women's healthcare topics, including pregnancy, women's health, and newborn care. These categorised factsheets are tailored for the general public, offering valuable information to help you make informed decisions about your health and the health of your newborn.
Maternity and Neonatal Service Capability Levels factsheets
MotherSafe factsheets - Expert advice and information on the safety of medications and chemicals during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Labour and Birth factsheets
Gynaecological Oncology factsheets