COINN 2026 Darwin

Jabaru and the Circle of Care: The Story of Nurturing and New Beginning's

The black-necked stork (Jabaru) is pictured as a guardian of the waters, gliding over the billabongs and the reeds where the fish swim in the shallows. The Jabaru looks down at her 'baby' chick with love, knowing that her purpose is to nurture, protect, and guide its baby through its new life into the world.

The Hands That Nurture, the Hearts That Heal

The mother Jabaru was never alone in this journey. As she cares for her baby, she is joined by many hands, each playing a role in the life of the young one. The crosshatching patterns depicted on the burnt yellow background and on the mother and baby Jabaru’s speak of the people - elders, kin, and those who walked alongside the mother stork, offering wisdom, support, and love. These patterns show the weavers of knowledge, the protectors of new life, ensuring that every child has the chance to grow strong under the guidance of many.

The hearts of those who are devoted to caring for the newborn. They are the neonatal caregivers, the dedicated staff who are like family to nurture, comfort, and protect the most fragile lives. Their presence is represented by the sacred circle patterns on the Jabaru’s with their unbreakable bonds of care, unity, and endless dedication. Like the cycle of the sun and the turning of the tides, they are ever-present, ensuring that each newborn is given the best chance to thrive.

Innovation, Influence, and the Celebration of Life

The work of these caretakers is more than a duty - it is inspiration, a symbol of hope, of pushing boundaries, and of ensuring the future of the next generation. Innovation is in their hands, in the ways they find new paths to heal and protect. Their influence stretches further than one can imagine, touching the lives of families, shaping the stories of those who entered the world too soon, too small, or in need of a guiding light.

Beyond the care and the science, there is a something deeper and very powerful...the celebration of birth and life. Every new life is a gift, a story waiting to unfold, a spirit ready to take flight. The birth of each child is a moment to be honoured, a time to reflect on the beauty of new beginnings, the power of nurturing, and the strength of those who dedicate their lives to this sacred journey.

The Coolamon: A Vessel of Strength and Spirit

As the little 'baby' grows, it is carried within the coolamon, just as the ancestors had done for countless generations. This wooden vessel is more than just a cradle - it is a sacred symbol for life. The coolamon holds the baby gently, just as it carries harvested bush tucker, nourishing those who walk their path on the land.

The coolamon is also used in ceremony, where the elders light a small fire which is a symbol of life using a sacred cleansing smoke, letting it rise around the baby to wash away any ailments and fill the air with strength. The smoke, made from the sacred leaves of a special tree, swirl gently, clearing the breath, healing the body, and ensuring longevity in life. It is a breath of protection, a whisper of resilience, preparing the young one for the journey ahead.

The patterns carved into the coolamon tell the story of the child’s free-flowing spirit, how it would move with the wind, follow the rivers, and grow strong like the trees. Around them, the leaves that are in the midground bare their own markings, each one unique. These patterns represent the many hands of the caring staff and support workers, each bringing their own gifts, their own ways of nurturing, like the different trees that stood together to form a forest of care to show their different backgrounds and their heritage.

The Flight of the Young One

The sun paints the sky in ochres and blues, whilst the Jabaru brings the fish to the nest. She places it gently before her baby chick, watching as it pecks and pulls at it, learning the ways of survival. This act of feeding was more than just nourishment, it is the passing of knowledge, the sharing of love, the gift of life.

As the chick grows taller and stronger,  the Jabaru knows the time has come for her child to take flight, she is filled with pride and love as she watches the young stork spread its wings, soaring high above the billabong. But the young one does not fly alone, it carries the spirit memory of all who had nurtured it. The crosshatching of family, the circles of dedication, the smoke of protection.

The Story Lives On

When the people see a Jabaru feeding her young, they will remember the sacred bond of mother and child. The crosshatching that represents the community of caregivers, the strength of the coolamon, and the healing smoke that carries wisdom through the air. Raising a child, especially one born into delicate hands, is not done alone but through the hearts of many - through innovation, influence, and inspiration.

The story of the baby Jabaru lives on - painted in story’s, sung in the winds, and woven into the hearts of the people who have been blessed with the gift of knowing and the care they have given. A reminder that every new life is sacred, every journey is guided by many hands, and every child carries within them the spirit of resilience, strength, and the endless possibilities of the future.