Indigenous Australian Women Research Articles

Raising Awareness of Gender Discrimination Against Indigenous Australian Women of the Stolen Generation Through Doris Kartinyeri’s Kick The Tin

In contemporary society, the persistent manifestation of gender discrimination continues to impede the advancement of women in their pursuit of gender equality. Within the historical context of the assimilation program, Indigenous Australian women confronted systemic gender disparities. This scholarly investigation endeavors to elucidate the nuanced facets of gender discrimination experienced by Indigenous Australian women affiliated with the stolen generation, as discerned through the lens of Doris Kartinyeri's seminal work, "Kick the Tin." Employing a qualitative research paradigm, this study uses a liberal feminist framework to scrutinize the gathered data meticulously. The findings underscore that Kartinyeri's "Kick the Tin" unveils the entrenched gender discrimination endured by Indigenous Australian women during the assimilation era, delineating their prescribed roles as domestic laborers within the prevailing white societal framework, thereby perpetuating the marginalization of this demographic. In its essence, the narrative challenges the systemic marginalization of Indigenous Australian women, concurrently advocating for their empowerment as a catalyst for fostering an equitable societal milieu. Consequently, this research augments scholarly discourse, serves as a poignant catalyst for heightened social consciousness, and catalyzes imperative shifts toward mitigating the pervasive impacts of gender discrimination on a broader scale.

Depicting areas of indigenous Australian women’s subjugation under imperialism: An indigenous feminist study of Jack Davis's No Sugar and Eva Johnson's Murras

This study aims to examine the portrayal of the oppression of Indigenous women in post-colonial drama focusing on themes of sexual violence, enforced sterilization and the Stolen Generation as depicted in Davis's No Sugar and Johnson's Murras. A qualitative analysis of these plays reveals the intertwining of sexual exploitation with colonial and imperial conquest. Rape and sexual abuse of Indigenous women are seen as metaphors for land exploitation and political subjugation. The findings of the study indicate a systemic violation of Indigenous women's rights. Indigenous women are sexually assaulted in both Murras and No Sugar which demonstrates imperialist control over their bodies. Another theme that develops is forced sterilization as shown in Murras in which indigenous young women are made sterile without their consent, symbolising a greater assault on aboriginal culture. The trauma of the Stolen Generation is outlined in both plays depicting the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families, severing cultural and familial bonds and originating a generational identity crisis. The preservation of Indigenous identity through women’s stories and traditional practices emerges as a significant aspect of resistance against colonial oppression. The selected plays underscore the role of Indigenous women in sustaining and transmitting cultural narratives and practices which is essential for preserving Indigenous identity and spirit. The findings of the research need a more in-depth understanding of the historical and ongoing oppression of indigenous women as well as a need for reparative justice.

Martuwarra Fitzroy River Watershed: One society, one river law

The paper is an account of the work undertaken within ‘Martuwarra’, the Fitzroy River Watershed, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is led by the sacred ancestral River, Martuwarra, who is given agency as a published author, and the creator of First Law, Warloongarriy Law. Poelina and Perdrisat come to this story through their lived experience as a Yi-Martuwarra marninil, Nyikina Warrwa Indigenous Australian women who belong to Martuwarra. McDuffie comes as a long-time non-Indigenous friend, family, filmmaker, who completed her doctoral research continuing her deep and enduring relationship with Nyikina people. Our work examines the colonial approaches still in use by government and industry, which are responsible for the ongoing injustices experienced by Indigenous Australians, our environment, and our non-human kin. It suggests implications for future research, education and policy, with a focus on watershed approaches, on moving from dis-ease towards health, through modelling economic and social well-being for the sustainability of the lifeways of everything and everyone around us. We see ourselves as ‘one society’ of planetary citizens, working to transform watersheds, globally, seeing cultural flows in all forms of living water as life, critical to sustain humanity within our common home, Mother Earth. We believe this can only be achieved by valuing the wisdom of Indigenous peoples, igniting our dialogic actions through an ethics of care, love, and peace.

“Everyone needs a Deb”: what Australian indigenous women say about breast cancer screening and treatment services

BackgroundBreast cancer continues to be the second most diagnosed cancer overall and the most diagnosed cancer for women in Australia. While mortality rates overall have declined in recent years, Indigenous women continue to be diagnosed at more marginal rates (0.9 times) and are more likely to die (1.2 times). The literature provides a myriad of reasons for this; however, the voices of Indigenous women are largely absent. This study sets out to understand what is happening from the perspectives of Australian Indigenous women with a view to charting culturally safer pathways that improve participation in screening and treatment by Indigenous women.MethodsThis co-design study was conducted using semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Recruitment of study participants was via snowball sampling. Participants were subsequently consented into the study through the Aboriginal Health Service and the research team. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim, and data coded in NVivo12 using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsA total of 21 Indigenous women and 14 health service providers were interviewed predominantly from the same regional/rural area in NSW, with a small proportion from other states in Australia. Six major themes were identified: Access, Awareness, Community and Family, Lack of control, Negative feelings and associations and Role of services.ConclusionTo improve access and participation of Indigenous women and ultimately improve mortality rates, breast cancer services must explicitly address cultural and community needs.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids during Pregnancy in Indigenous Australian Women of the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Cohort.

Higher dietary intakes of Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs) have been linked to lower rates of preterm birth and preeclampsia. The aim of this analysis was to describe dietary intake and fractions of red blood cell (RBC) membrane LC-PUFAs during pregnancy in a cohort of Indigenous Australian women. Maternal dietary intake was assessed using two validated dietary assessment tools and quantified using the AUSNUT (Australian Food and Nutrient) 2011-2013 database. Analysis from a 3-month food frequency questionnaire indicated that 83% of this cohort met national n-3 LC-PUFA recommendations, with 59% meeting alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) recommendations. No nutritional supplements used by the women contained n-3 LC-PUFAs. Over 90% of women had no detectable level of ALA in their RBC membranes, and the median Omega-3 Index was 5.5%. This analysis appears to illustrate a decline in concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) across gestation in women who had preterm birth. However, there was no visible trend in LC-PUFA fractions in women who experienced hypertension during pregnancy. Further research is needed to better understand the link between dietary intake of n-3 LC-PUFA-rich foods and the role of fatty acids in preterm birth and preeclampsia.

Computed Tomography Analysis of the Manufacture of Cast Head-Bust Figurines by Patricia ‘Pat’ Elvins (1922–2011)

The Alice Springs sculptor Patricia Elvins created a number of busts of Indigenous Australian men, women, and children, which were distributed as casts for the gift and souvenir market. Produced between the early-1960s and the early-1990s, these varnished casts exist with four different artists’ signatures, representing collaboration with different production potters who produced the casts. Macroscopic analysis shows significant differences in weight between casts of the same bust. CT scanning was carried out to understand the make-up of these casts and to illuminate differences in production techniques. The scanning revealed that all figurines were cast, but that casting techniques varied not only between production potters but also among figurines of the same potter. It revealed differences in the densities of the casting material, both between and within specimens, suggesting that production was not standardized but occurred in smaller batches, possibly on demand of low-volume sales stock. The study has shown the potential of non-destructive CT scanning to go beyond this and serve as a tool to examine the casting process itself as well as to contribute to an understanding of the nature of the plasters used.

Redefining Female Subjectivity in Australian Indigenous Women’s Poetry

This article discusses the poetry of Romaine Moreton and Lisa Bellear, particularly the poems in which they address the violence against Aboriginal women and girls. It demonstrates how the two poets’ representation of Australian historical and cultural memory destabilises the continuum of colonial power relations and confronts the ongoing stereotypes of Aboriginal women constructed on the basis of a decidedly racist and misogynistic colonial ethos.

Randomised clinical trial using Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring in Australian Women with Novel Cardiovascular Risk Factors (CAC-WOMEN Trial): study protocol

IntroductionCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women around the world. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (Australian Indigenous women) have a high burden of CVD, occurring...

The impact of social determinants of health of Australian Indigenous women on access and engagement in maternal child health services.

To explore the impact of social determinants of health and health outcomes of Australian Indigenous women on their access and engagement in maternal child health services. A qualitative study, guided by the methodological principles of narrative inquiry integrated with the Indigenous philosophy 'Dadirri', and thematic analysis of the data. Interviews of 35 Aboriginal mothers with children aged birth to 5 years in December 2021, to explore factors that influence their access and engagement in maternal child health services. Enabling factors that influence access and engagement of Indigenous women in maternal child health services include service models or interventions that are culturally sensitive and effective. Models that recognize the social determinants of health and well-being, are timely, appropriate, culturally strong, flexible, holistic and effective community-based services that support continuity of care and communication and encourage earlier identification of risk and further assessment, intervention, referral and support from the antenatal period to the child's fifth birthday (the first 2000 days), also support access and engagement. Barriers to access and engagement include an ineffective service model built on mistrust and poor communication from cultural differences between client and provider, a lack of continuity of care between services, limited flexibility of service delivery to suit individual needs and a healthcare model that does not recognize the importance of the social determinants of health and well-being. Nurses' understanding of Indigenous culture, and the impact of the social determinants of health and health outcomes on the well-being of Indigenous women, is critical to improve their access and engagement in maternal child health services. The findings of this research support the benefit of models or interventions that recognize the interactions and effects of the social determinants of health and health outcomes of Indigenous women and their healthcare access. Data from Indigenous mothers residing in the Glenelg Shire with at least one child aged birth to 5 years were collected through face-to-face, in-depth semi-structured discussion ('yarning') at the Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service and the Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Organizations (ACCHO's) in December 2021, co-facilitated by key staff from the ACCHO's. To ensure cultural safety and an Indigenous lens to the research, consultation with traditional owners residing in the Glenelg Shire was sourced to assist with the development of the research guide and to develop interview questions. A panel of experts was then consulted to clarify the relevance and clarity of each question/discussion prompt on the indicative interview schedule and establish face validity. The panel of experts comprised of the research project team, an experienced Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurse researcher and key representatives from the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization (VACCHO) and the ACCHO sites. A small number of the target group, independent of the research, piloted the questions. Any valid suggestions from the expert panel and pilot testing were incorporated into the interview schedule design and clarifications were made to the questions/prompts where appropriate. Following full approval of the research, the Chief Executive Officers (CEO's) of the two ACCHO's were provided with an overview of the project and timeframes, and an Indigenous employee within each ACCHO was appointed by the CEO as a 'site coordinator' to act as the chief point of contact with the project team and assist with recruitment of discussion participants. Women who met the inclusion criteria were then invited to participate in the research. To ensure procedural and interpretative rigour, and to gain a deeper, comprehensive insight and understanding of First Nation women's access and engagement in MCH Services, the ACCHO Site Coordinators, key staff from VACCHO and an Indigenous academic consultant with research experience interviewing Indigenous mothers in 'the first 1000 days' of their child's life, also participated in the analysis of the data.

Maternal asthma in Australian indigenous women and perinatal outcomes: A whole population-linked study.

To assess the association between maternal asthma and adverse perinatal outcomes in an Australian Indigenous population. This prospective cohort study included all Indigenous mother and baby dyads for births from 2001 to 2013 in Western Australia (n= 25 484). Data were linked from Western Australia Births, Deaths, Midwives, Hospital, and Emergency Department collections. Maternal asthma was defined as a self-reported diagnosis at an antenatal visit or hospitalization or emergency visit for asthma during pregnancy or less than 3 years before pregnancy. Associations with birth, labor, and pregnancy outcomes were assessed using generalized estimating equations. Asthma exacerbation during pregnancy and stratification by remoteness was also assessed. Maternal asthma was associated with placental abruption (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.59 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07-2.35]), threatened preterm labor (aOR, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.39-1.79]), and emergency cesarean sections (aOR, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.13-1.44]). These risks increased further with an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy or if the mother was from a remote area. No associations were found for low birth weight, preterm birth, small for gestational age, or perinatal mortality. Maternal asthma in Indigenous women is associated with an increased risk of emergency cesarean sections, placental abruption, and threatened preterm labor. These risks may be mitigated by improved management of asthma exacerbations during pregnancy.

Smoking and quitting characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women of reproductive age: findings from the Which Way? study.

ObjectiveTo describe smoking characteristics, quitting behaviour and other factors associated with longest quit attempt and the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and stop‐smoking medication (SSM) in a population of Indigenous Australian women of reproductive age.Design, setting and participantsA national cross‐sectional survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged 16–49 years who were smokers or ex‐smokers was conducted online during the period July to October 2020.Main outcome measuresQuitting experience: attempt to cut down, time since last quit attempt, longest period without smoking, attempt to cut down during last quit attempt, any use of NRT and/or SSM.ResultsMost of the 428 participating women (302 [70.6%]) reported using an Aboriginal health service. Younger women (16–20‐year‐olds) smoked fewer cigarettes daily (24/42 [57.1%], 0–5 cigarettes per day), waited longer to smoke after waking (20/42 [47.6%], > 60 minutes after waking), and were categorised as low smoking dependency compared with those aged 35 years and over. One‐third of women (153 [35.7%]) had ever used NRT and/or SSM. A greater proportion of older women (35–49‐year‐olds) had sustained a quit attempt for years (62/149 [45.6%]) and reported trying NRT and/or SSM (78/149 [52.4%]) than women in younger age groups. Quitting suddenly rather than gradually was significantly associated with sustained abstinence (prevalence ratio, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.10–1.48]). Among women who had never used NRT or SSM, most (219/275 [79.6%]) reported reasons for this in the category of attitudes and beliefs. NRT and SSM use was also more likely among women who were confident talking to their doctor about quitting (odds ratio, 2.50 [95% CI, 1.23–5.10]) and those who received most of their information from a health professional (odds ratio, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.11–2.63]).ConclusionAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women want to quit smoking and are making attempts to quit. Quitting suddenly, rather than reducing cigarette consumption, is associated with increased sustained abstinence. Health providers can enable access and uptake of NRT and/or SSM and should recognise that NRT and/or SSM use may change over time. Consistent messaging, frequent offers of smoking cessation support, and access to a range of smoking cessation supports should be provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to enable them to be smoke‐free.

Addressing adverse breast cancer pathobiology in indigenous Australian women

Indigenous women in Australia diagnosed with breast cancer are twice as likely to die of the disease, even after remoteness of residence, socioeconomic factors and higher stage are accounted for. No research to date has identified any underlying cause.

“I want to create change; I want to create impact”: Personal-activism narratives of Indigenous Australian women working in public relations

The role of activism is important in the field of Indigenous Australian public relations as a strategy for creating change and giving back to Indigenous people and communities. However, there is a dearth of information on how, when, and why Indigenous women employed in public relations engage in activist practices. This paper aims to help fill this gap by exploring the activist practices used by Indigenous women working in public relations in their personal lives. By considering personal activism from the perspectives of Indigenous women in public relations, we can further conceptualize activism within the profession. Through the critical lens of Indigenous women’s standpoint theory, and utilizing an Indigenous yarning method, five Indigenous women discuss their definitions of activism and the various ways in which they engage in activism within their personal lives. This paper builds upon the ideas of activism within public relations and demonstrates the power of public relations in terms of influencing social change for Indigenous people and others.

A silent burden-prolapse, incontinence, and infertility in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: A systematic search and narrative review.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), urinary incontinence, and infertility are all prevalent conditions associated with considerable reduction in quality of life. As a group, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women may be at higher risk of these conditions, but studies are scarce. To review the literature pertaining to the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of these conditions in Indigenous Australian women. Medline, Embase, and Scopus were searched for articles published between 1980 and 2021 pertaining to these conditions in Indigenous Australian women. Studies that did not directly address the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of these conditions were excluded. It was possible to identify only 11 papers dealing with these conditions in Indigenous Australian women. Only one dealt with POP and was a retrospective audit of a health outreach program in the Northern Territory concluding that there was significant underreporting of the condition. Five papers dealt with urinary incontinence and, again, described significant underreporting and poor referral pathways. Five papers reported small studies about infertility, one reporting poor engagement from clinical directors. It was concluded that despite the importance of these conditions, there is almost no body of research and this is an urgent national problem.

Psychological Distress, Stressful Life Events and Social Disadvantage in Pregnant Indigenous Australian Women Residing in Rural and Remote NSW: a Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Pregnancy can be a stressful time for many women. Australian Indigenous women of childbearing age (18-44years) have been found to experience high or very high rates of psychological distress. However, few studies have examined the burden of or any associations between stressful life events, social disadvantage and psychological distress for pregnant Indigenous women in Australia. Two hundred sixty-one rural and remote women, pregnant with an Indigenous infant, from New South Wales in Australia were invited to provide data regarding social disadvantage then complete the Kessler-10 and Stressful Life Events surveys via self-report during each trimester of their pregnancy. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to determine the burden of and any associations between the variables of interest. High rates of psychological distress were reported by participants with 16.9% scoring severe distress levels during their pregnancy. Participants also reported high rates of stressful life events with almost 25% experiencing the death of a family member or friend, almost 14% living in overcrowded accommodation, 11% having someone close to them jailed and 8% experience separation from their partner, during their pregnancies. Distress was associated with numerous stressful life events (e.g. witnessing violence, a family member in jail and overcrowding) and one aspect of social disadvantage (smoking status). Immediate attention needs to focus on the development of interventions to address the high levels of psychological distress and provide appropriate support services during periods of major life events for pregnant Australian Indigenous women.

Critical Co-Design and Agency of the Real

This article explores research that was undertaken in a PhD project that investigated the creation and effectiveness of Critical Co-Design as a methodology. In particular, it explores how this methodology enabled successful outcomes from a workshop that was conducted with young Indigenous Australian women. The methodology and workshop aimed to create a platform for the researcher to work alongside Indigenous peoples in Australia in order to create mutually beneficial ways of working. Here, the authors reflect upon this research and postulate the importance of privileging Indigenous ways of knowing as a way of shifting approaches to design thinking. By examining the interconnectedness between these Indigenous ways of knowing and design thinking epistemology, the authors offer a paradigm for design thinking that engages the politics and the broader promise of (de)coloniality. This article reconfigures how design scholars and creative practitioners ascribe value to Indigeneity and practice by positioning Indigenous ontologies at the forefront of design thinking in general.

Gestational diabetes is associated with postpartum hemorrhage in Indigenous Australian women in the PANDORA study: A prospective cohort.

To assess associations of hyperglycemia in pregnancy with the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in a prospective cohort of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, compared with normoglycemia. Data were from 1102 (48% Indigenous) women of the Pregnancy And Neonatal Diabetes Outcomes in Remote Australia (PANDORA) Study. Age-adjusted associations of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obstetric and demographic covariables with PPH (blood loss ≥500ml) were assessed using logistic regression. Multivariable-adjusted models included Indigenous ethnicity, diabetes type and their interaction. A higher proportion of Indigenous women developed PPH than non-Indigenous women (32% versus 22%; P<0.001). Compared with non-Indigenous women with normoglycemia, risks of PPH for Indigenous women with GDM or T2DM were higher (odds ratio [OR] 1.83, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.11-3.02, and OR 1.72, 95% CI 0.99-3.00 after age adjustment, OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.06-3.19, and OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.70-2.54 after adjustment for school education and delivery mode, and OR 1.62, 95% CI 0.95-2.77, and OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.53-1.86 after adjustment for birth weight). Importantly, Indigenous women without hyperglycemia in pregnancy were not at increased risk of PPH. The significantly higher rates of PPH experienced by Indigenous women compared with non-Indigenous women may be explained by a greater effect of GDM among Indigenous women that was only partly accounted for by birth weight.

Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, intentions and behaviours of Australian Indigenous women from NSW in response to the National Cervical Screening Program changes: a qualitative study

Background: Indigenous women in New South Wales Australia are nearly four times more likely to die from cervical cancer than non-Indigenous women due to lower screening rates. We aimed to understand Indigenous women's cervical screening awareness, behaviours, knowledge, perceptions, motivators and barriers since the December 2017 National Cervical Screening Program changed to HPV testing, new screening age and screening interval, and introduced the new self-collection test.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with 94 Indigenous women 25 to 74 years of age across metropolitan, regional and remote New South Wales. A team of six specialist researchers conducted the fieldwork, analysis and reporting. All data were coded thematically.Findings: Participants showed limited awareness of the renewed cervical screening program and the role of cervical screening in cervical cancer prevention, with most having a strong negative attitude towards cervical screening. Several motivators and behavioural barriers to screening were identified into four audience segments based on key characteristics. Most participants eligible to self-collect were unwilling to, due to concerns they would administer it incorrectly, injure themselves or have to return for a more invasive test.Interpretation: This study demonstrates the complex and heterogenous nature of attitudes and behaviours, among Indigenous women and highlights the intrinsic negative attitudes and social norms that are currently shaping community discourse and ultimately limiting screening. Our findings support the need for enhancing positive sentiment and community advocacy.Funding: Cancer Institute NSW Cervical Screening Program

“We’re not treated equally as Indigenous people or as women”: The perspectives and experiences of Indigenous women in Australian public relations

This paper argues that the public relations sphere needs to have better understanding and more representation and acknowledgment of Indigenous women’s contemporary experiences and contributions. Indigenous Australian women experience multiple oppressions, such as Eurocentric and patriarchal control and, within the broader areas of Indigenous, women’s, and feminist public relations scholarship, their voices are largely absent. To address these issues, this paper, based on Indigenous women’s standpoint theory and an Indigenous yarning method, presents the narratives of five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women employed in public relations. These narratives reflect experiences of marginalization by the Australian mainstream culture of whiteness and patriarchy; they also suggest the incidence of work induced mental distress for the women participants. This study of female Indigeneity within public relations aims to promote understanding of intersectional identities, the long-term effects of whiteness and racism, and may suggest how public relations can play a role in decolonizing efforts.

Maternal Diet Influences Fetal Growth but Not Fetal Kidney Volume in an Australian Indigenous Pregnancy Cohort.

Suboptimal nutrition during pregnancy is recognised as a significant modifiable determinant in the development of chronic disease in offspring in later life. The current study aimed: (i) to assess the dietary intakes of pregnant Indigenous Australian women against national recommendations and (ii) to investigate the associations between maternal nutrition during pregnancy and the growth of the offspring, including kidney development in late gestation in the Gomeroi gaaynggal cohort (n = 103). Maternal dietary intake in the third trimester was assessed using the Australian Eating Survey Food Frequency Questionnaire. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) and kidney size were obtained by ultrasound. Birth weight was retrieved from hospital birth records. Of the five key nutrients for optimal reproductive health (folate, iron, calcium, zinc and fibre), the nutrients with the highest percentage of pregnant women achieving the nutrient reference values (NRVs) were zinc (75.7%) and folate (57.3%), whereas iron was the lowest. Only four people achieved all NRVs (folate, iron, calcium, zinc and fibre) important in pregnancy. Sodium and saturated fat intake exceeded recommended levels and diet quality was low, with a median score of 28 out of 73 points. After adjusting for smoking and pre-pregnancy body mass index, only maternal intake of retinol equivalents and the proportion of energy from nutrient-dense or energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods were associated with fetal growth. EFW decreased by 0.13 g and birth weight decreased by 0.24 g for every µg increase in maternal dietary retinol intake. Interestingly, EFW, but not actual birth weight, was positively associated with percentage energy from nutrient dense foods and negatively associated with percentage energy from EDNP foods. Dietary supplement usage was associated with increased birthweight, most significantly iron and folate supplementation. Current dietary intakes of pregnant Australian women from this cohort do not align with national guidelines. Furthermore, current findings show that maternal retinol intake and diet composition during pregnancy can influence fetal growth, but not fetal kidney growth in late gestation. Strategies that aim to support and optimise nutrient intakes of Indigenous pregnant women are urgently needed. Future studies with long-term follow-up of the children in the current cohort to assess renal damage and blood pressure are imperative.