Napranum babies will be celebrated next week at a special community day as part of Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service’s Growing Deadly Families program.
Welcoming Piccinini Day will be held on Tuesday 23 June, with information stalls, activities, baby, fishing and outdoor gift basket raffles and entertainment.
TCHHS Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Jacob Walsh said the event will be a community celebration, with food and entertainment, but also provided an important service.
“We will have a Birth Registration Champion on the day to support families with their registration,” he said.
“Birth registration is a crucial step in every baby’s life, and we want to make it as easy as possible for Napranum families to access this service.
“Creating a welcoming, fun community event will encourage families to bring their babies and engage with our health service.”
Families wanting to register their baby or children for a birth certificate can apply on the day, and will need to have current photo identification, mailing address and an 18-plus card as proof of identification.
TCHHS Indigenous Navigator Support Officer Elsie Mullings said Welcoming Piccinini Day will be about bringing newborn babies and families together for a water blessing by community elders, doing birth registrations and getting health information.
“This is a joyful first-time initiative for the community to enhance the culture and customs that have been lost in time,” she said.
“It’s about connecting with community and celebrating bubs and helping families have the best start they can for their new journey.”
Growing Deadly Families incorporates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural traditions and beliefs into maternal services and is producing positive results for First Nations families.
Welcoming Piccinini Day will run from 11.30am to 3pm at the splash park behind the Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council building at 320 Wa-Twyne Street.