Maternity Services Review
Maternity Services Reform - Overview
The Australian Government is strongly committed to improving maternity services and it understands the importance to women of having a range of birthing options available.
The Government has undertaken a Review of Maternity Services (the Review). The Review was led by the Commonwealth Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, Ms Rosemary Bryant.
Ms Rosemary Bryant, Commonwealth Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer
The Review was the first step in developing a comprehensive plan for maternity services into the future.
The Review :
- canvassed a wide range of issues relevant to maternity services, including antenatal services, birthing options, postnatal services up to six weeks after birth, and peer and social support for women in the perinatal period;
- ensured that all interested parties had an opportunity to participate; and
- will inform the development of a National Maternity Services Plan.
A large number of submissions were received during the consultation process.
Thank you to all those who have contributed to the consultation process.
The Report of the Maternity Services Review is now available, including an online readable version of the report. If you would like a printable copy and are unable to access the PDF, please send an email to Maternity.Services.Review@health.gov.au and an alternative copy will be provided.
The Australian Government has responded to the recommendations of the Report with the $120.5 million Budget package Providing More Choice in Maternity Care – Access to Medicare and PBS for Midwives. This Budget package will provide Australian women with more choice in maternity care whilst maintaining our strong record of safe, high quality maternity services.
Specifically, the maternity reform legislation will provide MBS and PBS benefits, as well as professional indemnity insurance, for services provided by appropriately qualified and experienced midwives. These arrangements will not cover planned homebirths, which are exempted from the need for midwives to have professional indemnity insurance until July 2012. The Budget package will also deliver more services for rural and remote communities through an expansion of the successful Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program, and extra scholarships for GPs and midwives, particularly in rural and remote Australia. Additionally, the existing National Pregnancy Telephone Counselling Helpline will be expanded and improved to deliver a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week telephone helpline and information service.
The new MBS arrangements are subject to complementary commitments from the states and territories through the National Maternity Services Plan (the Plan). Arrangements are underway through Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council to develop the Plan. It is anticipated that the Plan will be developed by mid-2010.
A Maternity Services Advisory Group with a broad membership has also been established to provide advice to the Department in relation to maternity services reform, including development of the Plan.