Federal Labor congratulates midwife Janie Nottingham on her ‘Drive for Maternity Reform’.
Ms Nottingham is using her ‘Drive for maternity Reform’ to raise awareness of the need for maternity reform, covering issues such as:
 |
postnatal depression; |
|
the high rate of caesarean births in Australia; |
|
the gap in health outcomes and services for non-Indigenous mothers and babies; |
|
poor rates of breastfeeding; and |
|
the lack of birth care options in many places in Australia. |
Federal Labor is strongly committed to improving maternity services:
|
we understand how important it is that women not only have a range of birthing services available in their communities, but also that women are provided with information about the options open to them; |
|
we appreciate the valuable role played by midwives in the delivery of maternal and child care services; and |
|
we recognise that midwives often do not receive the professional recognition they deserve, and that they are often restricted in their ability to practise as primary carers and provide continuity of care to women. |
Labor believes that a range of initiatives are required to improve the delivery of maternal and child health services.
Federal Labor is committed to:
|
Improving health outcomes for Indigenous mums and their babies, through our $260 million Indigenous early childhood package, which has a particular focus on greater investment in child and maternal health services including home visiting; |
|
Improving health services, including maternity services, for rural communities through the next Australian Health Care Agreements; |
|
Reviewing the Medicare Schedule to include midwives in the provision of maternity care and to facilitate the expansion of midwife-led care; and |
|
Developing a national maternity services plan to ensure national coordination of maternal services. |
Federal Labor is also strongly committed to promoting the value of breastfeeding and improving breastfeeding rates amongst mothers.
According to last week’s House of Representatives Committee on Health and Ageing report, breastfeeding rates in Australia fall well short of the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation and the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Labor will closely examine the recommendations of this report and work with state and territory governments to implement them.
Labor understands that providing quality care for mothers and newborns is the key to giving children the best start in life and midwives can play a central role in ensuring this is provided.
Contact: Rachel Allen 0418 488 295
