Navigating natural disasters: Midwives are critical in every crisis
This year’s theme for International Day of the Midwife on 5 May is Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis. Midwives are trusted first responders within their communities who can prepare health systems for any crisis. For midwives to adequately respond, they must also ensure they are safe and are equipped with the training, tools, and resources […]
ANMF midwives supports the recommendations in the Midwifery Futures Project Report
On 23 October 2024, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the Burnet Institute released the Midwifery Futures Report, a document which outlines the major problems faced by the current midwifery workforce. The Report found that nearly one in three midwives are considering leaving the profession. Midwives have been reporting the workforce crisis in […]
Moral distress tool for midwifery practice
Moral distress occurs when individuals experience a compromise to their moral beliefs. While validated tools exist to assess moral distress in various health professions, none are specifically tailored for midwifery in the Australian healthcare system. Midwife, clinical educator and researcher Wendy Foster and her colleagues conducted a series of studies, including a pilot study The […]
Queensland’s inaugural First Nations Midwifery Director driving the change towards culturally safe care
Proud Gurindji woman and midwife Melina Connors has recently been appointed Queensland’s inaugural First Nations Midwifery Director, a historic first not only for Queensland, but for all of Australia. She talks with the ANMJ for International Day of the Midwife on 5 May. What is the role of the inaugural First Nations Midwifery Director for […]
Australian maternity models of care: A comprehensive overview
Around 1,000 maternity models of care were used across 251 maternity services in 2023, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AHIW). The report, Maternity models of care in Australia 2023, is the third national release of data on various maternity ‘models of care’ accessible to women across the […]
New group practice model promises better care for women of Castlemaine
A shift to a midwifery group practice model in regional Victoria will provide continuity of care and help deliver a better birthing experience for local families, according to Castlemaine health. After an extensive review of operations, planning, ongoing consultation with key stakeholders and consumer groups, a midwifery-led model was developed encompassing a remote, on-call group […]
My ‘first catch’ as a midwife
The ANMJ asked a few midwives to reflect on their first “catch” and share the highlights and emotions that were involved. Bree Green, ‘Clinical Resource Midwife’ at St Vincent’s Private Hospital Melbourne, and ANMF Federal Professional Officer The words that come to mind when I reflect on my “first catch” would be relief and gratitude. […]
International Day of the Midwife
International Day of the Midwife
Midwife-led care could reduce C-sections
Having a midwife providing continuity of care throughout pregnancy and childbirth has the most significant effect on reducing the number of planned caesareans and overall C-section rate, a new study has revealed. The study also found following a policy of seeking second opinions on elective caesareans helped to reduce numbers and that midwifery-led care lowered […]
Q&A with a male midwife
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), men made up just 1.6%, or 448, of the 28,211 employed registered midwives in 2015. The ANMJ spoke to New South Wales-based Clinical Midwifery Educator (CME) Daniel Evans about why he chose to pursue the non-traditional career path for men and what he loves about […]