The company was founded by three midwives, Nafiza, Benash and Sundas after discussions relating to issues witnessed, and situations experienced in the workplace and within their own South Asian networks. The Association of South Asian midwives is a platform that was created to support the South Asian maternity workforce and the birthing community. Over the years ASAM has supported midwives and student midwives from many marginalised communities and continues to do so.
Visions:
ASAM aims to explore and address the following to provide equitable maternity care for the South Asian community:
- To raise awareness and understanding of South Asian cultural behaviours and taboos within a maternity and birthing setting.
- To open dialogue regarding stereotypes and preconceptions concerning the South Asian community.
- To encourage more individuals from the South Asian community to consider Midwifery as a vocation.
- To mentor and support the South Asian Midwifery Workforce in the UK.
- To work with unions to raise concerns and challenges faced by the South Asian Community.
Values:
- ASAM will endeavour to maintain integrity and ensure that what we do aligns with our visions.
- ASAM will always strive towards making constant improvement to the communities that need representation.
- ASAM will ensure that they always maintain respectful and open interactions with those they seek to serve.
Professional Experience, Highlights and Distinctions:
Training/Specialities/Experience:
- Support with Midwifery applications (personal statement, interviews)
- Career development
- Pastoral support
- Coordinating healthcare related events
- Addressing health inequalities
- Diversity informed care
Training Offered:
Staff Wellbeing and Support
The ASAM team have spent the last three years supporting midwives and student midwives from marginalised communities. They have also developed a programme to support Internationally Recruited Midwives (IRM) who are working in the UK. They first ran this programme in 2022 and now are in the process of redeveloping this using learning from the first cohort. ASAM hope that this programme can be developed to support not just midwives, but other healthcare professionals as well. The team are offering this as a training package for organisations to be able to better support internationally recruited staff. It focuses on the wellbeing of staff, career and personal development all whilst using a culturally safe lens.