20th Anniversary Collection: The male midwife working in Arnhem Land

Conversations

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23d ago 53:12

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Growing up south of Sydney as one of six boys, midwifery wasn't the occupation Christian Wright expected for himself. At the age of nine, he experienced a vision that gave him a sense of his future in a life of service.

As a qualified midwife, Christian spent time in the tiny town of Nhulunbuy, right on the tip of the Northern Territory.

He worked with Yolŋu women of remote Arnhem Land to help them birth their babies.

Further information

This interview was first broadcast in March 2021.

2025 update: Several years ago, Christian married his beloved, Caroline in Gove.

On the first day of their honeymoon, as they were driving up the track, their troop carrier rolled.

Christian's spine was broken, and he was airlifted to Royal Adelaide Hospital, where the doctors feared that he might not walk again.

Christian went back to work within six months of the accident and has since worked in the NT and Papua New Guinea.

He and Caroline now have a baby boy.

Discover more about Christian's research on pregnancy and childbirth.

Discover the Djakamirr program, training doulas to help Yolŋu women give birth on their own country.

Christian also recommends the book Why Warriors Lie Down and Die by Richard Trudgen as a valuable resource on Indigenous Australia.

You can hear Richard's full conversation with Nigel Newton on the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/publisher-nigel-newton-on-harnessing-the-harry-potter-effect/7788834

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

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#True Stories #Relationship #Conversations With Richard Fidler #Australia #ABC Radio #Society #Storytelling