The ANMF is pleased to announce funding for The FUCHSIA study: Future proofing the midwifery workforce in Australia.
There is a nationwide midwifery workforce shortage and increasing reports of midwives considering leaving the profession. A recent survey of 3000 midwives practising in Australia has revealed almost 40% of midwives have regularly thought about leaving the profession, and over one quarter are planning on leaving in the next five years[1]. Despite governmental promises to increase the number of midwives there were fewer in 2022 than in 2016.
Not dissimilar to the Victorian FUCHSIA study[2] (report released in 2022), The FUCHSIA study: Future proofing the midwifery workforce in Australia aims to gather accurate, up-to-date evidence regarding the health and wellbeing of the Australian midwifery workforce, and its sustainability.
Across 2023 and 2024 the ANMF have participated in a number of projects instigated by the Federal Government and the Nursing and Midwifery Board Australia (NMBA) that have reviewed the midwifery workforce and scope of practice of midwives.
The Midwifery Futures Project commissioned by the NMBA, released a report in October 2024 with 32 recommendations to address the midwifery workforce and professional crisis. A key theme was to “Improve data to support workforce planning”. The report notes “there is no nationally consistent approach to workforce planning. More granular data on the reasons midwives do not renew their registration would be helpful to track the future.”[3]
To achieve change for the midwifery workforce, we need quality data identifying the critical factors that affect the retention and attrition of midwives in the Australian maternity care sector. This data must also capture a significant number of midwives’ views and experiences across all contexts of midwifery practice.
Later this year, all midwives, regardless of their context of practice, will be given the opportunity to share their experience of being a midwife in the Australian health care system by completing an online survey led by researchers Professor Della Forster and Ms. Robyn Matthews at La Trobe University. This survey will be distributed via midwifery managers.
The insights provided by midwives in Australia will be extremely valuable to the advocacy efforts of the ANMF elevating the collaborative voices of midwives in all future maternity care workforce discussions.
References
[1] Homer CSE, Small K, Warton C, Bradfield Z, Baird K, Fenwick J, Gray JE, Robinson M. (2024). Midwifery Futures – Building the future Australian midwifery workforce. A research project commissioned by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, Burnet Institute, Curtin University and the University of Technology Sydney.
[2] Matthews, R., Forster, D., Hyde, R., McLachlan, H., Newton, M. et al. (2022). FUCHSIA Future proofing the midwifery workforce in Victoria: A state-wide cross-sectional study exploring health, wellbeing and sustainability. Access 24 June 2025 at https://opal.latrobe.edu.au/articles/report/FUCHSIA_Future_proofing_the_midwifery_workforce_in_Victoria_A_state-wide_cross-sectional_study_exploring_health_well-being_and_sustainability/21729068?file=38554289
[3] Ibid.
