Portraits of impact
Find out what our work means to people involved in some of our projects around the world, and the impacts it has had for them and their families
The SMARThealth Pregnancy project – improving life-long health by taking an integrated approach
Pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and anaemia increase risks to mother and baby during pregnancy the world over, but the burden is particularly great in certain contexts, including many parts of rural India.
In these films, women describe how being connected to health services by community health workers, or ASHAs, has transformed their ability to manage their own health, bringing benefits to both them and their families. The ASHAs themselves describe how being part of the project brings recognition, respect and pride in their work.
Rajitha’s story – overcoming anaemia
Sravanthi’s story – managing high blood pressure
Navaneetha’s story – gaining confidence as an ASHA
The Safe Pathways project – addressing barriers to care for burn injuries in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Having access to culturally responsive and respectful care is essential for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children present with burn injuries covering larger body surface areas, suffer full thickness burns and have hospital admissions more often and for longer than other Australian children. Lack of cultural safety, communication gaps between service providers and family members, and institutional racism have been identified as major barriers to accessing appropriate aftercare.
In these films, families of children who have experienced burn injury describe how the involvement of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker creates a culturally safe environment for families to navigate the health system thereby facilitating communication with health staff and enabling aftercare.
Providing high-quality burn care for communities in remote locations
Addressing institutionalized racism, lack of cultural safety and communication gaps
Providing a patient-centred discharge and follow-up model of care
The Sundarbans project – addressing the high burden of child drowning in West Bengal, India
Children in some coastal regions of India such as the Sundarbans in the northern state of West Bengal are at a high risk of drowning, due to poor infrastructure, rurality, the presence of unregulated open water, a lack of safety awareness and inadequate health systems.
In these films, children and their communities describe the impact of interventions such as installing playpens and fencing to control access to water, providing safe spaces with capable childcare, teaching school-aged children basic swimming and rescue skills, and training adult bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation.
Mriganka’s story – teaching children in his community to swim
Mangala's story – working at a day care centre after losing her son
Suparna's story – keeping children in her community safe
