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Saturday July 30 2010
Dear Homebirth Australia Member
Firstly we would like to extend a welcome to our new and renewing members, your ongoing support is greatly appreciated.
HOMEBIRTH AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE
Thank you to all who came and celebrated Homebirth in Australia at the recent Homebirth Australia conference in Echuca. Shortly we will have some photos and hopefully, some of the presentations from the conference on our website.
Thank you to the organisers for organising such a wonderful conference.
SECONDARY REGULATIONS JUST RELEASED & THE ELECTION - WHAT YOU CAN DO
The Secondary Regulations which define "collaborative arrangements" have just been released and as feared they give doctors a veto over women's choices.
You can view the document here
With the election looming on 21st August we have 3 weeks when the politicians are listening a little more than usual to voters. It is time to pick up the pen, the phone or turn on your computer and once again, contact your Federal members.
1. Check which electorate you are in and who the candidates are in your electorate. The ABC election website has links to this information - click on the "Green Guide" link.
(Be sure to check back on the website as new candidates are announced)
2. Contact each of the candidates and ask them what their position is on the recently passed legislation forcing midwives into "collaborative arrangements" with doctors. Specifically we are pushing for:
3. There are a number of women standing as Independent candidates in marginal seats who are homebirth advocates. Lets give them all the support we can - including spreading the word to people you know in their electorates, or helping them out with leg-work for the campaign.
MICHELLE MEARES - Robertson (Central Coast NSW) - visit website
SALLY ANNE BROWN - Corangamite (Southern Vic/Geelong VIC) - visit website
AMY BELL - Macquarie (Blue Mountains NSW) - visit website
REBECCA JENKINSON - Dickson (Brisbane outer Northern QLD) - visit website
4. Email your contact details to federalphone2010@gmail.com and you will be notified by text message when Julia Gillard or Tony Abbott are close by so you can pull out your ready made protest sign and confront them about the issues.
HOMEBIRTH AUSTRALIA COMMITTEE
An enormous THANK YOU from all of Homebirth Australia for the tremendous effort that Justine Caines and Jo Hunter have put in over the last few years. Your tireless work is an inspiration to all of us.
We'd like to welcome a few new faces to the HBA Committee.
Renee Adair
Convenor & Treasurer
Australian Doula College
renee@australiandoulacollege.com.au
Justine Caines
Advocacy & Communications
Consumer Advocate
justine.caines@gmail.com
Beverley Walker
Minutes Secretary & Ordinary Member, Lobbyist and Activist
Mother of 4 Grandmother of 7; 6 (intervention free)
Midwife Ethicist; Health Scientist; Lactation Consultant; Homebirth Advocate; Senior Lecturer and Co-ordinator Midwifery Course RMIT 1989-1998
bevw1@bigpond.com
0517 501 688 5663 7648
Sonja MacGregor
Midwife
sonjamac@bigpond.com
Michelle Meares
Communications & Advocacy
Consumer Advocate
michelle@mercuryrising.com.au
Chris Wrightson
Secretary & Memberships
Consumer Advocate
cdwrightson@gmail.com
We look forward to a busy year ahead. Visit ourwebsite for more information and updates.
Please get in touch if you would like to get more involved.
Homebirth Australia
After one attempted Home birth and two successful ones in our family, having children welcomed into the world in your own peaceful environment with no intervention in the natural process, nothing beats a home birth and the nurturing ongoing support of a dedicated midwife and the lasting relationship with them that comes from sharing such an intimate and momentous moment.
And of course the food is better too!