- $16 million will be invested over four years in midwife-led and midwife supported models of care in regional communities
- The investment is the biggest investment in midwifery models of care
- A new role of Chief Midwife Officer will also be created to drive reform
A major boost to maternity services, with $16 million invested into models of care in regional, rural and remote communities, over the next four years.
Women across the state have expressed they want choice, continuity of care and services closer to home and this funding will support services to be able to deliver that.
These initiatives are also the direct result of feedback from the Maternity Roundtable held in June.
The Queensland Government has led the way nationally on midwifery group practice and this investment will allow the expansion into more locations and bolster the capacity of current services.
The money will be provided to Hospital and Health Services for initiatives including:
- expanding locally co-designed multidisciplinary models of care
- strengthening midwifery leadership and
- building the workforce pipeline by supporting midwifery scholarships.
The funding is part of the government’s $42 million investment in regional, rural, and remote maternity services.
And for the first time a new Chief Midwife Officer role has been created, to drive maternity reforms across Queensland.
The appointment aims to help improve maternity services across the state, especially those in regional communities, and build a skilled and sustainable talent pipeline.
Recruitment is underway to find candidates for the Queensland-first role, which will lead and support a more than 3,000-strong midwifery workforce.
Both the Chief Midwife Officer role and $16 million investment are the result of feedback and ideas generated at the Women’s Health Workforce Forum in March and the Ministerial Maternity Roundtable in June.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman:
“Improving maternity services, especially in regional Queensland, was one of my top priorities when I changed portfolios, and I am delighted to announce both of these initiatives.
“These initiatives are the direct result of feedback from our hard-working frontline staff and women, who want to ensure Queensland remains one of the safest places in the world to give birth.
“I have heard loud and clear, from my Maternity Roundtable in June and my visits across the state, that women want choice, continuity of care and services close to home.
“Our $16 million investment in midwife-led and midwife-supported models of care will offer a wealth of benefits including, most importantly, better outcomes for mums and their babies no matter where they live.
“While there is already a Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, it makes complete sense to have a dedicated role for midwifery, especially given the size of the workforce.
“The person appointed to this position will be responsible for leading improvements in the maternity space, including increasing access to care for regional Queensland women and ensuring we have a highly skilled and stable workforce now and in the future.”
Quotes attributable to Women’s and Newborns Consumer Care, Leah Hardiman:
“The women, babies and families celebrate the announcements made by Minister Shannon Fentiman today.
“Women need access to continuity of midwifery carer and expansion of this model will provide women and babies with the best care during pregnancy, birth and during their postnatal period.
“Access to a known midwife is crucial for women as it is grounded in relationship based care and provides an opportunity for women to build trust with their primary midwife.
“We have waited a long time for an announcement like this and we look forward to working with the Queensland Government to embed continuity of midwifery carer for every pregnant woman.”
