Key Messages
PREGNACY AND ALCOHOL
DON’T MIX
No alcohol during pregnancy is best.
Everything a mother puts into her body during pregnancy can impact the growing pakata (baby).
Alcohol during this time can impact a baby’s growing brain, body, and development, which could lead to your child having health, learning and wellbeing challenges that can continue throughout their life. The effect of alcohol during pregnancy is called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
When we say Alcohol and Pregnancy Don’t Mix, we share this message with care. Supporting our communities to have alcohol free pregnancies is important for our ngayapi rrala / Strong Born babies to grow up with a clear spirit, strong bodies, and ready to strengthen our Culture and community into the future.
WE ARE PALAWA.
WE ARE STRONG BORN
As Palawa peoples, the custodians of Lutruwita, our ways of understanding and practices are rooted with deep connection to Country, Culture, and Community.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Community understand that the strength of our people, past, present, and future, is the essence of the health and well-being of our children. For over 65,000 years, these traditions and ways of living have guided Aboriginal communities to nurture strong born babies, ensuring that each generation thrives.
We Are Palawa. We Are Strong Born is a powerful reminder that Lutruwita Aboriginal cultural practices and connections to Country have always been the foundation of healthy pregnancies, thriving babies, and nurturing parents.
These ways of understanding practices are not just stories of the past; they are the living traditions that empower our community today. We are Palawa, a strong community with the power to shape our mob’s future, one healthy,
ngayapi rrala pakata/Strong Born Baby at a time..
These ways are not just stories from long ago—they are living traditions that give power to our community today. We are Palawa, a strong community with the power to shape our mob’s future, one healthy, ngayapi rrala pakata / Strong Born Baby at a time.
STRONG BORN. STRONG FUTURES
A healthy, supported ningi/mother is the foundation for a thriving, healthy pakata/baby. Ngayapi Rrala/Strong Born, Strong Futures emphasises the essential health needs for both ningi/mother and pakata/baby with a holistic approach to health and well-being.
Strong Born, Strong Futures is a call to action for the community to ensure every Aboriginal child receives proper nutrition, regular prenatal care, a safe environment and that mothers are supported in avoiding harmful substances like alcohol before and during pregnancy.
Strong Born, Strong Futures also highlights the importance for ningi/mothers to stay active, manage stress, and prioritise self-care. Building a strong bond and connection with pakata/baby during pregnancy and after is crucial for the health and well-being of every child.
When ningi/mothers receive wrap-around holistic and culturally safe support throughout pregnancy, our pakata /babies are born strong and healthy. ngayapi rrala/Strong born pakatas/babies shape the way for a strong future, empowering takarilya/families and communities to thrive.
OUR CULTURE, OUR COMMUNITY.
THE LUTRUWITA WAY
Our Culture, Our Community, The Lutruwita Way is the heart of the Strong Born campaign. Aboriginal knowledge and ways of doing things will keep guiding us to raise strong children and support alcohol-free pregnancies.
Sharing of knowledge is our call to come together as a respected community to grow strong healthy babies.
The Lutruwita way is based on respect for our culture and our connection to the land. This will help us build a strong future, grounded in our culture and community.
SAFE PREGNANCIES
ARE MENS BUSINESS TOO
The Strong Born Campaign knows that the health and well-being of mothers and babies is a shared responsibility. Men have a very important role in giving support and care.
The message “Safe Pregnancies Are Men’s Business Too” encourages men to be involved in helping make sure pregnancies are healthy, and that strong babies are born and grow well.
In our culture, men are an important part of the family’s support. Their involvement helps create a healthy and safe place for mothers, babies, and families.
When we work together as a strong, united community, no matter our gender, we all share the responsibility to care for the health of our future generations.
By celebrating the role of men, we support parents and the whole community to raise strong-born babies with care and respect.
CONNECTED TO COUNTRY, NURTURING THRIVING CHILDREN
Country is very important when caring for mothers, babies, and families. Everyone’s connection to the land helps build a strong base for raising strong-born babies and keeping our community well.
We encourage healthy breastfeeding and support the message that fed is best. Families and the community are given the right information to make good choices about caring for babies. This helps babies get the best nutrition for their health and growth.
Healthy habits like spending time connected to Country helps every child grow strong in body, mind, and spirit.
Behind the scenes:
Aboriginal Health Worker Trainees
Take on Strong Born
Campaign Overview
The Strong Born Campaign is a national initiative launched by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) in collaboration with the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) in 2023. The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre will launch the ngayapi rrala/Strong Born communications and engagement campaign this year in June. This will initially be a three-month campaign, with long-term and sustainable actions embedded into health promotion practices that deepen community knowledge and understanding of safe pregnancy practices throughout Lutruwita. The ngayapi rrala campaign will aim to sensitively raise community awareness and create culturally safe spaces to promote open discussions, void of stigma, about the critical importance of safe pregnancies, the risks associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and the vital role of safe breastfeeding practices to ensure every child is born strong and healthy.
This campaign has been designed by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre’s Health Workers as they seek to empower and educate communities to nurture healthy pregnancies and positive parenting practices within the Aboriginal community. The campaign utilises soft messaging techniques within health promotion and community engagement activities to address the implications of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Through rich discussions, engagement, and communication strategies, families will continue to be supported and empowered to make informed decisions about maternal and child health. Community, culture and collective responsibility are grounded within the campaign, and will ensure the opportunity for stigma-free, meaningful conversations that create action and drive community-driven solutions across Truwana/Cape Barren Island and Lutruwita/Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal community has embedded ways of knowing and doing, intergenerational knowledge that continues to inform women and their families of optimal pregnancy, birth, and child healthy practices that ensure each child within Lutruwita has the best start to life. By integrating Aboriginal art, traditional crafts, photography, community members, palawa kani, and images of Country, the Strong Born campaign will strengthen a powerful video narrative that celebrates We are Palawa. We are Strong Born.
