Senate Inquiry into Chilbirth Legislation--Submissions due Mon 20th July!

You may have heard about the Federal Government's 120 million package to improve maternity services. These changes are set to make a huge difference for women birthing after caesarean by improving access to private midwives in the hospital system. However, not all choices have been supported. Despite the fact that a woman can get a funded, indemnified practitioner for every other choice, including elective caesarean for no medical reason, homebirth has been left out of the equation. CANA supports a woman's right to choose where, with whom and how she births. Please read the following important message from Maternity Coalition in relation to current actions to help save homebirth.

Kind regards,

Cas McCullough
National Spokesperson
CANA

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Women's right to choose homebirth with a midwife in Australia is currently under threat. 

As you will be aware, three bills have been introduced to our Commonwealth Parliament to implement the Government's maternity reform agenda.  These Bills give Medicare (government healthcare funding) and subsidised insurance to eligible midwives - a huge breakthrough for Australian women.  It means that from November 2010, Australian women will be able to choose a midwife in private practice to provide them with continuity of care through pregnancy, labour and birth.

The problem is that the Government doesn't intend the funding or insurance to cover homebirths, at this stage.   And under proposed National Registration rules, midwives will need insurance covering every aspect of their practice, in order to be registered.  Effectively this will prevent midwives in private practice attending women birthing at home from 1 July 2010.

A Senate Committee is investigating all the facts relating to insurance for homebirth so our politicians can make an informed decision. This committee is seeking submissions on the issue.

Please consider writing a brief submission telling them that it is essential that women retain the right to choose homebirth, with a midwife in private practice.  Please include your own experiences of accessing/not being able to access this choice.

http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/health_leg_midwives_nur...

PLEASE NOTE: SUBMISSIONS CLOSE MONDAY 20 JULY

Go to our updated website for more information and to see other ways you can help:
www.maternitycoalition.org.au

Please forward this email far and wide amongst your networks.

See attached:

    * Maternity Coalition’s fact sheet about the issues as we understand them (www.maternitycoalition.org.au)
    * Homebirth Australia’s info sheet on how to make a submission to the Senate Review committee (http://www.homebirthaustralia.org/)

Lisa Metcalfe
National President
Email: president@maternitycoalition.org.au
Web: www.maternitycoalition.org.au