2015 - petition in response to VERO withdrawing their insurance product from the market
Homebirth Australia Submission to the South Australia Department of Health and Ageing Proposal to Protect Midwifery Practice
Download Homebirth Australia Submission to the South Australia Department of Health and Ageing Consultation on the Proposal to Protect Midwifery Practice [PDF] March 2013
Homebirth Australia Submission to the Department of Health and Ageing Homebirth Roundtable
Download Homebirth Australia Submission to the Department of Health and Ageing Homebirth Roundtable [PDF] June 2012
Homebirth Australia Submission to Nursing and Midwifery Board Inquiry
Download Homebirth Australia’s Submission to the indemnity insurance Nursing and Midwifery Board Inquiry [PDF] May 2011
Homebirth Australia Submission to Senate Inquiry
Download Homebirth Australia’s submission to the Senate Inquiry into the administration of health practitioner registration by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) [PDF] April 2011
Submission from Homebirth Australia to ACM
Download Homebirth Australia’s submission to the Australian College of Midwives re the Interim Homebirth Position Statement and Guidelines for Privately Practising Midwives September 2011 [PDF]
Key points are:
Contraindications for homebirth
The list of contraindications for homebirth ignores what we know, that many women will continue to choose to birth at home who fit into these risk profile categories. And with good reason, Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) success rates for women choosing home as their place of birth in Australia are around 95% as compared to in hospital where success rates are as low as 6.7% The Position Statement must recognise this and explicitly respect a woman’s right to choose, and her midwife’s right to continue to provide care for her. A midwife cannot be placed in a position where she is forced by her own professional body to abandon the care of a woman if she and her family make their own well-informed decision to birth at home. These women will be left without a care-provider and that is completely unacceptable.
Mandatory Consultation with an Obstetrician
Mandatory obstetric consultations must be removed from the Interim Homebirth Position Statement and associated Guidelines.
To force a women into obstetric hospital based care against her will is a breach of the common law rights of a woman and established case law including St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust v S (1998) 44 BMLR 160 (CA) UK and Re MB (1997) 38 BMLR 175 (Court of Appeal) UK.
We refer you to the National Guidance on Collaborative Maternity Care commissioned by the Department of Health and Ageing and released in 2010 from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). In it’s discussion of collaboration this document states:
"A woman decides who she involves in this decision-making process, be it a health professional, partner, doula, her extended family, friends or community, and should be free to consider their advice without being pressured, coerced, induced or forced into care that is not what she desires (McLean and Petersen 1996). Women have the right to decline care or advice if they choose, or to withdraw consent at any time. Therefore, if a woman declines care or advice based on the information provided, her choice must be respected (UNESCO 2005). Importantly, women should not be ‘abandoned’ because of their choice (FPA Health and Read 2006, Faunce 2008; NHMRC consultations 2009)."
The Interim Homebirth Position Statement and associated Guidelines are in direct conflict with the recommendations in the National Guidance on Collaborative Maternity Care as they encourage midwives to abandon the care of a woman who makes their own choices and declines care/advice, and they enforce mandatory consultations with Obstetricians.
Legal Implications
Over the coming years, the impacts of the ACM Homebirth policy will become apparent if it is not modified to ensure private midwives can continue to provide care for all Australian women who make an informed choice to birth at home. The ACM Interim Homebirth policy is forcing midwives to do what is essentially illegal by insisting on treating women against their will. If the point of the ACM Guidelines is to improve safety, then in it’s current format it is going to be counter-productive. There will always be a core group of women who will continue to birth at home regardless of their designated ‘risk profile.’ The College is asking their members who are privately practising midwives to make impossible choices about whether to abandon a woman’s care or force medical treatment upon their clients. Compliance with the ACM Interim Homebirth Position Statement and associated Guidelines in their current format will result in midwives acting illegally as a direct result of ACM policy.
Australian Homebirth Consortium – Consensus Statement
In response to the ongoing threat to homebirth in Australia and the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) releasing the Interim Homebirth Position Statement and Guidelines for feedback, Homebirth Australia has consulted with stakeholder groups across the country. As a result, the Australian Homebirth Consortium (AHC) has been formed from interested stakeholder groups including consumers and midwives. The aim of the Australian Homebirth Consortium is to bring the groups working for homebirth together to share information and work together for the future of homebirth in Australia.
There is significant concern amongst many midwives and consumers as the ‘interim’ statement is already being used to regulate the care that women can receive and being cited in disciplinary proceedings for midwives. The ACM Interim Homebirth Position Statement has been endorsed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), before feedback has been received from consumers and private midwives.
We the undersigned request:
• That the Australia College of Midwives immediately withdraw the current position statement on homebirth as it is currently negatively impacting on women and midwives, and formally consult widely with midwives, consumers, their representative groups and others affected by this regulation before reformulating this statement.
• That the Australia College of Midwives formulate a guideline whether part of the ACM Interim Homebirth Position Statement and associated Guidelines or separate, that clearly and unequivocally endorses and documents the process for a woman’s right to informed refusal and the midwife’s right to provide care for her in pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum irrespective of the woman’s risk status and without regulatory or legal consequence for the midwife or the woman.
Download the consensus statement here. [PDF]
Download Homebirth Australia Submission to the South Australia Department of Health and Ageing Consultation on the Proposal to Protect Midwifery Practice [PDF] March 2013
Homebirth Australia Submission to the Department of Health and Ageing Homebirth Roundtable
Download Homebirth Australia Submission to the Department of Health and Ageing Homebirth Roundtable [PDF] June 2012
Homebirth Australia Submission to Nursing and Midwifery Board Inquiry
Download Homebirth Australia’s Submission to the indemnity insurance Nursing and Midwifery Board Inquiry [PDF] May 2011
Homebirth Australia Submission to Senate Inquiry
Download Homebirth Australia’s submission to the Senate Inquiry into the administration of health practitioner registration by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) [PDF] April 2011
Submission from Homebirth Australia to ACM
Download Homebirth Australia’s submission to the Australian College of Midwives re the Interim Homebirth Position Statement and Guidelines for Privately Practising Midwives September 2011 [PDF]
Key points are:
Contraindications for homebirth
The list of contraindications for homebirth ignores what we know, that many women will continue to choose to birth at home who fit into these risk profile categories. And with good reason, Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) success rates for women choosing home as their place of birth in Australia are around 95% as compared to in hospital where success rates are as low as 6.7% The Position Statement must recognise this and explicitly respect a woman’s right to choose, and her midwife’s right to continue to provide care for her. A midwife cannot be placed in a position where she is forced by her own professional body to abandon the care of a woman if she and her family make their own well-informed decision to birth at home. These women will be left without a care-provider and that is completely unacceptable.
Mandatory Consultation with an Obstetrician
Mandatory obstetric consultations must be removed from the Interim Homebirth Position Statement and associated Guidelines.
To force a women into obstetric hospital based care against her will is a breach of the common law rights of a woman and established case law including St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust v S (1998) 44 BMLR 160 (CA) UK and Re MB (1997) 38 BMLR 175 (Court of Appeal) UK.
We refer you to the National Guidance on Collaborative Maternity Care commissioned by the Department of Health and Ageing and released in 2010 from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). In it’s discussion of collaboration this document states:
"A woman decides who she involves in this decision-making process, be it a health professional, partner, doula, her extended family, friends or community, and should be free to consider their advice without being pressured, coerced, induced or forced into care that is not what she desires (McLean and Petersen 1996). Women have the right to decline care or advice if they choose, or to withdraw consent at any time. Therefore, if a woman declines care or advice based on the information provided, her choice must be respected (UNESCO 2005). Importantly, women should not be ‘abandoned’ because of their choice (FPA Health and Read 2006, Faunce 2008; NHMRC consultations 2009)."
The Interim Homebirth Position Statement and associated Guidelines are in direct conflict with the recommendations in the National Guidance on Collaborative Maternity Care as they encourage midwives to abandon the care of a woman who makes their own choices and declines care/advice, and they enforce mandatory consultations with Obstetricians.
Legal Implications
Over the coming years, the impacts of the ACM Homebirth policy will become apparent if it is not modified to ensure private midwives can continue to provide care for all Australian women who make an informed choice to birth at home. The ACM Interim Homebirth policy is forcing midwives to do what is essentially illegal by insisting on treating women against their will. If the point of the ACM Guidelines is to improve safety, then in it’s current format it is going to be counter-productive. There will always be a core group of women who will continue to birth at home regardless of their designated ‘risk profile.’ The College is asking their members who are privately practising midwives to make impossible choices about whether to abandon a woman’s care or force medical treatment upon their clients. Compliance with the ACM Interim Homebirth Position Statement and associated Guidelines in their current format will result in midwives acting illegally as a direct result of ACM policy.
Australian Homebirth Consortium – Consensus Statement
In response to the ongoing threat to homebirth in Australia and the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) releasing the Interim Homebirth Position Statement and Guidelines for feedback, Homebirth Australia has consulted with stakeholder groups across the country. As a result, the Australian Homebirth Consortium (AHC) has been formed from interested stakeholder groups including consumers and midwives. The aim of the Australian Homebirth Consortium is to bring the groups working for homebirth together to share information and work together for the future of homebirth in Australia.
There is significant concern amongst many midwives and consumers as the ‘interim’ statement is already being used to regulate the care that women can receive and being cited in disciplinary proceedings for midwives. The ACM Interim Homebirth Position Statement has been endorsed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), before feedback has been received from consumers and private midwives.
We the undersigned request:
• That the Australia College of Midwives immediately withdraw the current position statement on homebirth as it is currently negatively impacting on women and midwives, and formally consult widely with midwives, consumers, their representative groups and others affected by this regulation before reformulating this statement.
• That the Australia College of Midwives formulate a guideline whether part of the ACM Interim Homebirth Position Statement and associated Guidelines or separate, that clearly and unequivocally endorses and documents the process for a woman’s right to informed refusal and the midwife’s right to provide care for her in pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum irrespective of the woman’s risk status and without regulatory or legal consequence for the midwife or the woman.
Download the consensus statement here. [PDF]
Save HBAC in Australia
Urgent Call to Action Women’s rights to choose where and how they give birth are once again under threat. In Western Australia in late June, a private midwife attended a HBAC (Homebirth after Caesarean). Her case is currently under investigation. The information we have is that she operated within her scope of practice and followed the ACM guidelines completely and the woman birthed beautifully at home. However the hospital where she was booked into in case of the need to transfer, reported the midwife. She has since had restrictions placed on her registration. She was given only 36 hours to respond to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Women in her care, who are due to birth in the coming weeks are left without a midwife, and her livelihood has been taken away. This sets an extremely serious, and worrying, precedent. This is not an isolated incident. Read more here about how you can take action today to protect HBAC in Australia. |
Feedback to Australian College of Midwives
27 May 2011
Homebirth Australia was asked to provide feedback to the Australian College of Midwives draft Homebirth Position Statement.
We have engaged with homebirth and maternity interest groups from across the country and our united position was that our organisations are unable to endorse the ACM draft document. Key stakeholders developed a homebirth position statement in October 2009, namely, Homebirth Australia, Maternity Coalition, Australian Private Midwives Association and the Australian College of Midwives. As this document was developed together and drafted in a spirit of consensus we believe this document adequately reflects appropriate midwifery practice, based on the ICM definition and the rights and responsibilities of women who chose to give birth at home.
Our combined position is that the October 2009 document (along with contemporaneous flow-chart) remains the agreed position until all parties, through consensus, draft another document.
• Homebirth Australia
• Maternity Coalition
• Australian Private Midwives Association
• The Australian Society of Independent Midwives
• Midwives Australia
• Homebirth Access Sydney
• Dunedin Homebirth Association
• Blue Mountains Homebirth Group
• Hunter Home and Natural Birth Support
• Caesarean Awareness Recovery Education Support SA
• Homebirth Network of SA
• Midwives in Private Practice
• Nimbin Birth and Beyond
• Birth Choices South West WA Inc
Download the letter from the organisations above. Download the flow chart agreed to in October 2009.
27 May 2011
Homebirth Australia was asked to provide feedback to the Australian College of Midwives draft Homebirth Position Statement.
We have engaged with homebirth and maternity interest groups from across the country and our united position was that our organisations are unable to endorse the ACM draft document. Key stakeholders developed a homebirth position statement in October 2009, namely, Homebirth Australia, Maternity Coalition, Australian Private Midwives Association and the Australian College of Midwives. As this document was developed together and drafted in a spirit of consensus we believe this document adequately reflects appropriate midwifery practice, based on the ICM definition and the rights and responsibilities of women who chose to give birth at home.
Our combined position is that the October 2009 document (along with contemporaneous flow-chart) remains the agreed position until all parties, through consensus, draft another document.
• Homebirth Australia
• Maternity Coalition
• Australian Private Midwives Association
• The Australian Society of Independent Midwives
• Midwives Australia
• Homebirth Access Sydney
• Dunedin Homebirth Association
• Blue Mountains Homebirth Group
• Hunter Home and Natural Birth Support
• Caesarean Awareness Recovery Education Support SA
• Homebirth Network of SA
• Midwives in Private Practice
• Nimbin Birth and Beyond
• Birth Choices South West WA Inc
Download the letter from the organisations above. Download the flow chart agreed to in October 2009.
Thursday September 23 2010
Homebirth Australia’s Committee Position to the National Health (Collaborative arrangements for midwives) Determination 2010
Read here: PDF
Saturday July 30 2010
Homebirth Australia Newsletter – July 2010
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 ere
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 AB C 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:
• A guarantee that the medical veto over women’s choices will be removed
• A commitment that women’s rights to informed consent (including the right of refusal) will be expressly recognised in all codes, guidelines and frameworks relating to midwifery practice
• Ensure that privately practising midwives have visiting rights in hospitals across the country
• A commitment to funding and insurance for homebirth to ensure equity for all Australian women
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 [email protected] 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.
Thursday June 10 2010
Homebirth Rights and Responsibility – A response to Susie O’Brien from Justine Caines
Read here: PDF
Wednesday June 9 2010
Media Release: Will Women’s issues be the election slow burner? First of many electorate protests in Macquarie – the most marginal
Today women will gather in protest outside the Springwood Sports Club challenging Minister for women, Tanya Plibersek to do her job and protect the rights of women and candidate Susan Templeman to work to ensure safe maternity care that meets the needs of local women.
“This is the first of many protests demonstrating to both major parties that there is a Mums Army out their angrily demanding their basic rights.” said Justine Caines Homebirth Australia spokesperson. Read Full Article»
Tuesday May 25 2010
Response from Homebirth Australia: Safety and Quality Framework guiding Midwifery Care provided by Privately Practising Midwives attending homebirths from Homebirth Australia
Read response here (PDF)
The Maternity Services Review Report: No more Homebirth?
Bruce Teakle 8 March 2008
Read here: PDF
Homebirth Australia’s Committee Position to the National Health (Collaborative arrangements for midwives) Determination 2010
Read here: PDF
Saturday July 30 2010
Homebirth Australia Newsletter – July 2010
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 ere
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 AB C 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:
• A guarantee that the medical veto over women’s choices will be removed
• A commitment that women’s rights to informed consent (including the right of refusal) will be expressly recognised in all codes, guidelines and frameworks relating to midwifery practice
• Ensure that privately practising midwives have visiting rights in hospitals across the country
• A commitment to funding and insurance for homebirth to ensure equity for all Australian women
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 [email protected] 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.
Thursday June 10 2010
Homebirth Rights and Responsibility – A response to Susie O’Brien from Justine Caines
Read here: PDF
Wednesday June 9 2010
Media Release: Will Women’s issues be the election slow burner? First of many electorate protests in Macquarie – the most marginal
Today women will gather in protest outside the Springwood Sports Club challenging Minister for women, Tanya Plibersek to do her job and protect the rights of women and candidate Susan Templeman to work to ensure safe maternity care that meets the needs of local women.
“This is the first of many protests demonstrating to both major parties that there is a Mums Army out their angrily demanding their basic rights.” said Justine Caines Homebirth Australia spokesperson. Read Full Article»
Tuesday May 25 2010
Response from Homebirth Australia: Safety and Quality Framework guiding Midwifery Care provided by Privately Practising Midwives attending homebirths from Homebirth Australia
Read response here (PDF)
The Maternity Services Review Report: No more Homebirth?
Bruce Teakle 8 March 2008
Read here: PDF