Nurse and Mid-Wife Nichole Callan and her team are transforming women’s lives in Warren and Trangie through a project called ‘New Bellies for Life’, from pregnancy to birth.

Her team won a NSW Nurses and Midwives Award recently and was a finalist in the Western NSW Local Health District’s awards.

The NSW Nurses and Midwife Award is for every nurse and mid-wife in rural and remote in NSW.

As part of the Bellies and New Life program, expectant mothers at around 36 weeks gestation are offered the opportunity to have a plaster cast made of their belly which is then designed and decorated.

Community Aboriginal partners such as Warraan Widji arts and Trangie LALC and Wungunja cultural centre also provide holistic, cultural women’s business teachings, fostering connection to community, culture and health as one.

Activities like art, language, music and culture help build trust and connection.

Nichole Callen. [IMAGE: NSWNMA]

The result is earlier detection of health issues, increased referrals, improved vaccination rates and stronger engagement with health services.

The work provided by Nichole and her team has come from their ability to engage mothers in a positive safe space.

Working in partnership with community has also created an opportunity for mothers to create an everlasting memento of their pregnancy and to tell their stories and their journey of motherhood.

Nichole has been nursing for over 30 years with most of that time being community rural and remote based.

By continuing to work in partnership with the communities and services of Warren and Trangie especially Chris Letton, practice nurse from RFDSSE, a paediatrician clinic for the children of Warren and Trangie has been established with all appointments bulk-billed with nil cost to families.

New Bellies for Life designs. [IMAGES SUPPLIED]

Little Wings under the Medical Wings Model flies Dr Mary Iskander to Warren to provide face to face appointments, the gold standard of health delivery. 

“Seeing Dr Mary fly in to commence her first clinic was the proudest moment of my career. This journey has nearly broke me both personally and professionally but sometimes we are just meant to do something”.

Warren Rotary is holding a fundraiser event on 27 August with guest speaker Bernard Salt to assist in supporting the paediatric services to continue.

''When we work together as a community we are stronger," said Nichole.

"When we work in partnership magic happens, it just does.''

Tickets are available through Warren Rotary.