Current Actions
Tell Your MP What the PII Exemption Ending Will Mean for You and for Australi
image courtesy of Natural Focus Photography
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
From 1 January 2027, the current Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) exemption for midwives will end, with the newly created PII product a legal requirement for any midwife working at a birth outside of a hospital. Unless the Commonwealth Government acts urgently, many registered midwives who currently attend births as second midwives will no longer be able to do so.
The problem isn't that second midwives are unqualified. To continue attending homebirths, many would need to complete an additional prescribing qualification and purchase an expensive insurance policy designed for midwives running a full private practice. Yet most second midwives don't prescribe medicines or run their own practice - they attend only a handful of births each year in a supporting role. For many, the cost and effort simply won't stack up, meaning many second midwives are likely to stop attending births altogether.
If second midwives disappear, so too does access to professionally attended homebirth for thousands of Australian families.
Without second midwives, Australia risks:
YOUR VOICE MATTERS
Homebirth Australia recently heard from 1,023 consumers, midwives and student midwives from every state and territory. The message was overwhelming: Australians want Government to act before women lose access to safe, professionally attended homebirth.
Now we need Members of Parliament to hear directly from the people they represent.
Politicians need to understand that this isn't an abstract insurance issue. It is about real women, real families, and real communities who stand to lose access to care.
WE'VE MADE IT EASY
With just a few clicks, you can send a message to your local Federal MP asking them to support urgent action before 1 January 2027.
You can send our suggested message as it is, or personalise it by sharing why access to professionally attended homebirth matters to you or your family.
Every email helps show Parliament that Australians expect action before families lose access to care.
Women who are already pregnant need certainty now.
Your story and your voice can help demonstrate why this issue cannot wait.
REQUESTING A MEETING - DON'T WORRY, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED
We know it can sound scary or intimidating to meet with politicians, but they meet with the public all the time. It is their job.
To make it easier, we have created a guide to follow for writing to your Federal MP to request a meeting.
There is strength in numbers. Connect with your local homebirth group and meet with your MP together.
HBA is here to support you through this process. We can give you a pre-meeting brief, help you connect with others in your local area or even dial into your meeting via Zoom for additional support where we have availability.
It's time for us to use our voices to fight for our birth choices!
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
From 1 January 2027, the current Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) exemption for midwives will end, with the newly created PII product a legal requirement for any midwife working at a birth outside of a hospital. Unless the Commonwealth Government acts urgently, many registered midwives who currently attend births as second midwives will no longer be able to do so.
The problem isn't that second midwives are unqualified. To continue attending homebirths, many would need to complete an additional prescribing qualification and purchase an expensive insurance policy designed for midwives running a full private practice. Yet most second midwives don't prescribe medicines or run their own practice - they attend only a handful of births each year in a supporting role. For many, the cost and effort simply won't stack up, meaning many second midwives are likely to stop attending births altogether.
If second midwives disappear, so too does access to professionally attended homebirth for thousands of Australian families.
Without second midwives, Australia risks:
- women losing access to their chosen model of maternity care;
- more women feeling forced to freebirth because no acceptable alternative remains;
- fewer midwives entering private practice, worsening Australia's maternity workforce shortages;
- reduced access to Birthing on Country and continuity of care in rural and regional communities; and
- higher costs to the health system as demand shifts back into already stretched hospital services.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS
Homebirth Australia recently heard from 1,023 consumers, midwives and student midwives from every state and territory. The message was overwhelming: Australians want Government to act before women lose access to safe, professionally attended homebirth.
Now we need Members of Parliament to hear directly from the people they represent.
Politicians need to understand that this isn't an abstract insurance issue. It is about real women, real families, and real communities who stand to lose access to care.
WE'VE MADE IT EASY
With just a few clicks, you can send a message to your local Federal MP asking them to support urgent action before 1 January 2027.
You can send our suggested message as it is, or personalise it by sharing why access to professionally attended homebirth matters to you or your family.
Every email helps show Parliament that Australians expect action before families lose access to care.
Women who are already pregnant need certainty now.
Your story and your voice can help demonstrate why this issue cannot wait.
REQUESTING A MEETING - DON'T WORRY, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED
We know it can sound scary or intimidating to meet with politicians, but they meet with the public all the time. It is their job.
To make it easier, we have created a guide to follow for writing to your Federal MP to request a meeting.
There is strength in numbers. Connect with your local homebirth group and meet with your MP together.
HBA is here to support you through this process. We can give you a pre-meeting brief, help you connect with others in your local area or even dial into your meeting via Zoom for additional support where we have availability.
It's time for us to use our voices to fight for our birth choices!
Last updated: 10/7/27
Past Actions
HBA Instagram post 3rd September 2024 - Write to your MP
As part of our Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) campaign, we are asking everyone to get in touch with their Federal MPs and share your concerns about the proposed changes to PII for PPMs. Find out more about this issue here.
We encourage you to also request an in-person meeting with your MP, preferably as a group of local parents who share the same concerns. You can connect with your local homebirth group to find parents local to your area.
The Homebirth Australia team are here to help if you feel like you need extra support with organising a meeting, a pre-meeting brief or even to join the meeting with you via Zoom.
Please get in touch with us at [email protected].
We encourage you to also request an in-person meeting with your MP, preferably as a group of local parents who share the same concerns. You can connect with your local homebirth group to find parents local to your area.
The Homebirth Australia team are here to help if you feel like you need extra support with organising a meeting, a pre-meeting brief or even to join the meeting with you via Zoom.
Please get in touch with us at [email protected].
On the 6th of June we launched our survey of PPMs, past and future homebirth parents. The survey closed on the 22nd of June and received 5,917 responses!
HBA Instagram post 6th June 2024 - Complete our Survey
Page last updated 3rd September 2024
