The NSW Budget released today announces funding for a Maternity Care and First 2,000 days package.
The $83.8 million package includes provision to grow and advance the maternity workforce and increase midwifery continuity of care and parenting support in regional areas. There is a further $21.9 million allocation for the Aboriginal Families First 2,000 Days package to provide culturally responsive care during pregnancy and the first five years of life.
An increase of midwifery led continuity of care services in regional areas is a welcome approach to providing accessible, evidence based care to women, including additional wrap around services that a midwife can provide such as sexual and reproductive health, which ACM have long advocated for. It also speaks to the need to grow and advance the maternity workforce in these areas, by ensuring that midwives can work in models of care that are flexible and professionally satisfying, allowing them to work to their full scope of practice and remain in the profession long term.
Absent from today’s Budget announcement however is provision for a NSW Chief Midwife, to provide high level leadership to this vital maternity workforce, drive innovation and implementation at a state level and ensure the needs of women are being met.
Alison Weatherstone, Chief Midwife from the Australian College of Midwives said, “Whilst we applaud the significant investment in midwifery led care in this budget, ACM is disappointed that a Chief Midwife position is not included. This role was created in QLD more than 12 months ago and we’ve seen first hand the advancement in maternity care and consequent impact on women and families this role has had in this time. ACM will continue to advocate for this role as we strive to build the midwifery workforce and continue delivering evidence based care to the women of NSW.”