VOLUNTEERS on Hamilton Island came together last Saturday to assemble kits that will save the lives of women in disadvantaged countries.

The Birthing Kit Foundation of Australia provides birthing kits to pregnant women who do not have the resources to give birth safely.

Birthing Kit coordinator Wendy Downes said being involved was an extremely rewarding experience.

"I've been involved with it since the foundation took off about 10 years ago," she said.

"It's so satisfying to know that you're helping women to have a safe birth and preventing infection."

More than 385,000 women die during childbirth every year and 33 women die every hour because of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Since the introduction of birthing kits these statistics have significantly lowered with the number of deadly infections reduced.

Ms Downes said in just a few hours they had assembled 200 birthing kits that would be delivered to women around the world.

"Up to 800 kits can be assembled in a day and depending on how many volunteers are involved it can be done in a matter of hours," she said.

Local schools and groups can get involved in assembly days and Ms Downes said it was a great way to remind everyone how lucky they were to have midwives in Australia.

A small plastic sleeve holds the contents of a birthing kit, which includes a plastic sheet, sterile wipes, a gauze, cord, scalpel, rubber gloves and soap.

Ms Downes said since the foundation was established in Australia, countries such as Zimbabwe and Ethiopia had started developing kits of their own.

She said the kits allowed anyone to perform the same procedures as midwives in a sterile environment.

"It's really amazing what they can do," she said.

"It saves a lot of lives."