Midwives improving outcomes: Diversity in action:

AMC WA Branch presents: Midwives improving outcomes: Diversity in action:

Friday 4th May 2012 0830-1630 City West Function Centre
45 Plaistowe Mews, City West, West Perth

Join us for a celebration of Midwifery in both National and international settings.
Share the experiences and challenges for midwives who are striving in diverse environments to improve outcomes for childbearing women and infants in local and international contexts.

Finish the day networking with friends and colleagues at the sundowner enjoying drinks and nibbles.

Midwifery in Tanzania – Jen Shannon
Gestational Diabetes-Addressing risk with Indigenous women and their families – Dr Christine Kenney
Aboriginal Group Practice- Providing holistic and culturally secure midwifery care – Andrea Loftus
Using technology to improve outcomes – Belinda Barnes
Promoting Normal Birth Discussion Panel - Midwives from diverse settings including both private and public hospital settings and midwives from CMWA
Childbirth and Mental Illness Clinic – Yvonne Hauck and Suzi Allen

REGISTRATION 08.30 - 09.00
Registration includes refreshments & lunch
Sundowner drinks and nibbles 16.30 - 17.30

Free parking all day
REGISTRATIONS CLOSE 2nd MAY 2012
EnquirIes: Elizabeth Ashton Liz.Ashton@health.wa.gov.au
To Register admin@midwives.org.au
ACM NATIONAL OFICE (02) 6230 7333 (freecall)1300 360 480

Register and pay online go to the ACM Website www.midwives.org.au

FUL DAY COST (GST INCLUSIVE)
MEMBERS $100 / NON-MEMBERS $120
STUDENTS $70 / GROUP BOOKING
(4 OR MORE) DISCOUNT $10 PP
ACM CPD points apply
*Program subject to change

See you all at the conference.

General Meeting for all members of the WA ACM

Members of the Australian College of Midwives WA Branch are invited to attend a

General Meeting

Thursday 21st July 2011
Agnes Walsh House Lounge
1600 – 1700

RSVP: acmwabranch@gmail.com (for catering purposes please)

to vote for the Australian College of Midwives WA Branch Constitution

Come along and network and discuss the new constitution

The Executive Committee WA Branch

A year in reflection:

A reminder of the College Vision:

Our vision is to be the leading organisation shaping Australian maternity care for the benefit of women and their families
The Australian College of Midwives (ACM) is the peak professional body for Australian midwives, which strives to maximize the quality of midwifery and maternity care for Australian women and their families through:
• Providing a unified voice for the midwifery profession.
• Supporting midwives to reach their full potential.
• Ensuring all childbearing women have access to continuity of care by a known midwife.
• Setting professional practice and education standards

This has been an amazing year with many highs and lows.... everyone working hard for the College and the greater good ..... above all working to improve the choice for childbearing women and the midwives who work with women.


As I summarise the year from the blog entries I am in two minds as to how well we have done over the year....If I examine the word "well", skilfully, expertly, effectively, efficiently, adequately, admirably, conscientiously and proficiently - then I think as a Branch we have achieved this.... however as I read between the lines there has been some misfortune for me personally: as you can imagine writing a blog for the College I have to be mindful of confidentiality, defamation, ethics, conduct and my own professional standing....there is no such thing as freedom of speech.... however still offering news, honesty, general information etc.... therefore I have to be mindful of what is published.


I have to say that this rule has not been applied to myself and I am in the process of taking legal action against information wrongly published about me threatening my integrity and professional standing... this is a sad reflection of the times and soul destroying. Therefore this is a timely reminder to be mindful of what you publish on the Internet & email...... defamation is the fastest growing litigation....

The blog to date has had over 4500 hits...the blog posts have almost doubled and is up to date with current issues:

January was meeting the then Prime Minister & the Honorable Nicola Roxon, the Big Picture tour of the proposed changes for midwives; Februry.... new midwifery students and Homebirth rallies..... March... GoGirlAustralia... April.... ANMC here to stay as the "appointed accreditation body"... submissions for the "eligible midwife"... May... IMD celebrations...24hr Virtual IMD ..... and the farewell to Jill Banks....June... came the insurance debate, options and collaboration...July was D-Day for National Registration....and Collaborative arrangements... Determination 2010; concern for private practice, fear, stress, tears, it was a nightmare....


August...Australian Election....the nightmare continues; a hung Parliament... Homebirth...Collaborative arrangements...ACM National meeting & Breathing New life Conference Alice Springs....Sept... Determination still dominated the midwifery world... lobbying, emails...meetings with politicians...etc... GoGirlAustralia leaves Fremantle.....


October.. WA joins National Registration... APHRA comes alive for us.... Victorian conference and AGM also AGM for National.... November... History is made... Medicare Provider Numbers for eligible midwives..to date there are approximately 15 eligible midwives throughout Australia...December... first Midwife to get collaborative agreement.... lets hope this continues....
Trail Blazers, the inaugural Bachelor of Midwifery for WA prepares to enter the workforce as Midwives (who are not nurses), Barb Vernon EO of the ACM resigns and change is in the air..... i have always said as a College we need to be united... "united we stand divided we fall" I am going to pinch a quote from Obama's State Union address " we face big and difficult challenges, we do not give up, we do not quit. We do not allow our fear or division to break our spirit".


Xmas dinner
Thank you to a wonderful executive team we have in WA.... the whole team has worked very hard and continue to work hard for the WA members and women of the State....wishing you all a happy and successful 2011.

My wish for the College & the year ahead:

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results."~ Andrew Carnegie

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." Henry Ford

signing of for 2010, see you in the New Year, wishing you all a safe, happy, successful 2011. Pauline Costins

KEEPING BIRTH NORMAL:

Thanks Carolyn (Thinkbirth)for this link: and yes Carolyn you are correct in saying every item could be a blog on its own......

The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of normal birth is: ‘Spontaneous in onset, low-risk at the start of labour and remaining so throughout labour and delivery. The infant is born spontaneously in the vertex position between 37 and 42 completed weeks of pregnancy. After birth mother and infant are in good condition’.

It is a pity not every State and Territory in Australia adopts this policy TOWARDS NORMAL BIRTH: NSW is leading the way: the policy is aimed to increase normal birth and decrease surgical intervention. Western Australia needs to take a leaf out of the NSW book: I may even suggest it to our Minister of Health and our Chief Nurse and our Midwifery Advisor to see if we could not adopt this proactive lead to ensure that Normal Birth is the focus; even better I might give them Carolyn's 21 strategies to keep birth normal........

10 Steps
1. Have a written normal birth policy/guidelines, along with other
relevant policies, that are routinely communicated to all health care staff

2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to
implement this policy

3. Provide or facilitate access to midwifery continuity of carer programs in collaboration with GPs and obstetricians for all women with appropriate consultation, referral and transfer guidelines in place

4. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits of normal birth and
factors that promote normal birth

5. Have a written policy on pain relief in labour that includes the use
of water immersion in labour and birth

6. Have a written postdates policy/guideline that is routinely
communicated to all health care staff (All women have an agreed due date of birth
documented in their health record)

7. Provide or facilitate access to vaginal birth after caesarean section
operation (VBAC) that is supported by a written vaginal birth after
caesarean section operation policy/guideline (develop statewide workshop of GPs, midwives and obstetricians to exchange views and skills regarding VBAC)

8. Provide or facilitate access to external cephalic version

9. Provide one to one care in labour for all women experiencing their
first labour or undertaking a vaginal birth after caesarean section
operation, vaginal breech or vaginal twin birth (implement local guidelines/protocols that discourage activities that separate midwives from the woman in labour. This includes the use of centralised monitoring systems as they discourage midwives from being with the woman in the labour room)

10. Provide formal debriefing in the immediate postpartum period for all women requiring primary caesarean section operation or instrumental birth with the opportunity for further discussion and information transfer

What I really like is Carolyn's inspirational and passionate list: this is how it should really read....in plain simple language that everyone understands....

Carolyn's 21 Strategies to help keep birth Normal:

1. Avert the medical 'gaze'

2. Be powerful and able to negotiate as equals to doctors

3. Establish a "round table culture'

4. Dispel 'urban myths' about birth

5. Support women to choose upright positions in labour

6. Educate teenagers

7. Promote the use of positive images of birth

8. Look at system issues: promote and change to woman centred midwifery models

9. Discuss what normal birth means to us and ensure we are talking about the same things

10. Listen to women with respect - what does the woman want?

11. Encourage women in labour to stay home as long as possible

12. Establish and provide support structures to help women stay at home in early labour

13.Establish and provide support structures so women can choose to stay home to give birth if desired

14. Examine our own attitudes to 'being with woman' in pain and uncertainty

15. Seek to establish a relationship with each woman

16. Allay fear: let woman know what birth is really about

17. Address anxiety of support people and other health professionals

18. Pay attention to the language we use

19. Have confidence in women's ability to give birth

20. Pay attention to our body language as body language conveys meaning: what are we saying?

21. Set up birth space intentionally - find out what makes each woman feel safe and do that.

APHRA is up and for running WA

National Registration is finally here.... I have heard about it for over 20 years and finally the time has come; CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION:

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for WA is up and running, have some fun and check out your name, check out your doctors name see if they are registered and if there are any restrictions placed on them. Click on this link APHRA then scroll down a third of the screen, go to the second blue box, heading HEALTH PRACTITIONERS then click How can I check my registration status? Follow the instructions and all you have to do is put in your full name, health profession and state, you don’t need the registration number.... and then see what happens.

I am undecided whether I think this is a good idea or not, yes I think it is beneficial that you can check so easily that someone is registered, but having my disciplinary history for the world to see, that I consider an invasion of my privacy. I will however remain open about the concept and see how it all pans out. In terms of people state hopping when they are investigated yes a fantastic idea, but for those who genuinely make a mistake your record is there for everyone to see.

You can also visit the Decisions and check on all Health Practitioners and decisions made in relationship to complaints.......this is transparency for you; These are outcomes of court hearings, tribunal hearings and hearings conducted by regulation agencies that were completed or started before 1 July 2010, relating to complaints and notifications made about health practitioners or students.

Let me know what your thoughts are? And be sure that you don’t find your name in that list........it may work as a deterrent.

Click here to read more for WA....Practitioners from WA who have not renewed by 30 September: also read frequently asked questions information. The APHRA site is packed with information, spend some time looking at the site, it is worth your time;

Come and welcome Marg Phelan...... in Fremantle

Hi All Midwives and Women / families who read this blog and live in WA;

Marg Phelan arrives: If you are free on Friday 3rd Sept from about 1pm.... Marg is due to arrive in Fremantle at Big 4 Caravan Park, 132 Cockburn Road, Munster WA: Woodman Point Caravan Park: They will be setting off from Burns Beach Joondulup in the morning and cycling to Freo..

Want to know something about Marg Phelan visit her website http://gogirlaustralia.net.au/sponsorship/4537288921

Australian midwife Marg Phelan cycles around Australia for midwives, women, normal birth and breastfeeding. Marg Phelan, a mother and midwife from the Northern Territory, feels so passionate about women’s right to access midwives that she is cycling around Australia to spread the word that women have the right to choose where and with whom they give birth and to be properly supported in these choices. Marg Phelan says, “We believe that every Australian woman is entitled to continuity of midwifery care and good support to help achieve a normal birth and be able to enjoy breastfeeding. Far too many women are not well informed about their options in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting.”
Go Girl Australia is a not-for-profit venture that aims to promote continuity of care from a known midwife, normal birth and breastfeeding.

Come down and welcome her, bring family, friends, a balloon and share the excitement......wave and support this extraordinary women into Freo.....

Cheers Pauline

Calling all members of the ACM......it's time for the annual general meeting;

To all financial members of the College, it is time for you to have your say....do you want something? do you want to changes something? or just soak up the atmosphere? be proactive this is your College: I will be sending some of the photos of our study days from WA.... if you have some photos you want to send for the slide please send them to the National office or I am happy to send them for you.
Have a weekend in Melbourne.....enjoy the AGM and then a show or and evening out...dine at some of Melbourne's finest restaurants.....

The Australian College of Midwives (ACM) will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the 9th October 2010 in Glen Waverly (Melbourne), Victoria. Meeting papers will be arriving in the post in early September with more details.

As a valued member of the ACM you are warmly invited to attend this event and be updated on one of the most extraordinary years for maternity.

You also have the opportunity to create Motions to be heard at the meeting. Please note that all proposed Motions for consideration at the Annual General Meeting must be:

• Submitted in writing to the National Office by close of business on Monday 6th September, 2010;
• Proposed and Seconded by financial members of the ACM; and
• Accompanied by a brief rationale supporting the Motion (100-200 words)

Each year the team at the National Office creates a slide show photographs to pictorially portray our great achievements over the past year. We are keen to receive any photos that you may have that help us celebrate this wonderful profession.

If you would like to contribute photographs of yourself, colleagues or women and babies you have cared for, please email them through to Siobhan Gregory at reception@midwives.org.au

PLEASE NOTE: It is important to obtain permission to use images of others prior to sending through your photos.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in October!

Midwifery: Diverse Care for a diverse Community

WA Branch of the Australian College of Midwives presents:

International Midwives Day - Midwifery Diverse Care for a diverse Community:

When: Saturday 1st May 2010

Time: 8.00 - 17.00

Where: The university club of Western Australia,
University of Western Australia, Hackett drive, Crawley Entrance No1,
car park 3

Come and celebrate, with your friends and colleagues, the work of midwives and the
profession of midwifery. Walk in the shoes of a rural midwife, gain some insight into the world of migrant women, obtain practical help with MidPLUS and hear the latest updates from the college. Finish the day and relax with some gentle
Tai Chi followed by sundowner (drinks & nibbles).

• Rural Midwifery - Arlene Manado
• Migrant Women: The Afghan Perspective - Susan Vessey &
Margaret Broadbent
• Having trouble getting started with MidPLUS ? Unsure about
Midwifery Practise Review? MidPLUS workshop -
Karen Kruit and Shelley Gower
• Midwifery Care in Tanzania - Janice Butt
• Meeting Diverse Needs: Women and Newborn Drug and
Alcohol Service - Sadie Geraghty
• Tai Chi - an introduction to the gentle exercise of mind and body
• Live Entertainment and Spot Prizes
• Johnson & Johnson WA Midwife of the Year Award

Please click this link for the application form

REGISTRATION 08.00 - 08.30 Registration includes refreshments & lunch
Sundowner 16.00 – 17.00 Free parking all day

REGISTRATIONS CLOSE
27TH APRIL 2010
Enquires:
PAULINE MOORE 0407 421 191
acmwabranch@gmail.com
To Register
www.midwives.org.au
ACM NATIONAL OFFICE
(02) 6230 733 1300 360 480
FUL DAY COST (GST INCLUSIVE)
MEMBERS $100 / NON -MEMBERS $120
STUDENTS $70 / GROUP BOO KING
(4 OR MORE ) DIS COUNT $10 PP
ACM CPD points apply
*Program subject to change

see you there............for the celebrations

Come Join the Celebrations for IMD......Mark your Diaries WA Midwives

.............2010 International Midwives Day

Midwifery:Diverse Care For a Diverse Community
.............Rural and Migrant midwifery care
................MidPLUS workshop
.................Midwifery Practice Review

coming soon to UWA on Saturday May 1st 2010
.......Good food, Good Company, Great Day
.............details to follow soon

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE INFORMATION

See you there The Education Committee

Welcome to all Student Midwives

Welcome to the new Curtin post graduate midwifery students.... it’s always great to meet and greet the students on orientation day.... it’s a who’s who of nursing and previous life experience. I particularly like to hear what everyone’s passion is...and inevitably most of the students tell you that they are here because they have always wanted to be a midwife and the other comment has been “I wish they had direct entry midwifery earlier”. You can feel the excitement and enthusiasm in the air... of course there is anticipation and some trepidation as there is with any new path that we embark upon.... we would not be normal if this did not happen.



This is an incredible journey and often life changing....”The student midwife” one of self discovery..... It is often a spiritual journey one which makes some of you think of your own birthing experiences and come to terms with them.... and if you have not had children.... it may lead you to ask about your own birth.... it is a time to really discover who you are..... Because you share a very privileged time in a woman’s life and she is often dependent on your knowledge and support.... it is a time to learn how to truly be “with woman” and often this about knowing, when to be an advocate, educator, counsellor, silent and above all professional in every way......it is about knowing what the woman wants, listening and letting go of your own ego...... it’s about empowering women to make their own decisions....



The midwifery students are from all different areas...rural, SJOG Subiaco and Murdoch, Mercy, KEMH, OPH, AKH, sorry if I have left any out...


“There are precious few times in life when you are fortunate enough to meet people who bring you a truly new perspective on a subject that you thought you knew – people who inspire you to ask different questions and re-evaluate the essence of what you’re doing” Professor Fiona Stanley.



Good luck to you all.... enjoy the journey....

We will be going out to ECU next week so will post the photos when we get them....watch this space.....
Cheers Pauline

Thank you to the outgoing executive members of the WA Branch

An enormous debt of gratitude is owed to the out going executive members of the WA Branch. I want to take this opportunity to say, thank you, Merci, Danke, Grazie, Xie xie, Ca’m on, Maita Henyu, to:

Jenny Owen - National Director, Tracey Gilchrist - Treasurer, Debbie Slater - consumer rep, Lesley Nelson - Aboriginal Liaison, Andrea Loftus - Education Officer, Taryn Murphy - Education committee, Alison Thrum - Education committee,

Your willingness, dedication, enthusiasm and passion to the midwives and women of this State are to be commended...Your direction and advice have been extremely beneficial and your invaluable service will be hard to emulate... you have set a high bar for the new executive members to follow.

I might remind midwives, students and members of the WA Branch, that everyone on the executive committee is here in a voluntary capacity which as you know requires many hours of commitment, dedication and hard work. We are constantly looking for new members and or people willing to help the College in some way. If you know someone who wants to volunteer some time, please contact me and I will point you in the right direction.

We are currently looking for a Treasurer..... do you know someone who would be willing to do our books?... working together with a book-keeper.

Once again a big thank you to the out going committee and good luck to the new committee.

The key to our success
rests in women like you,
who embody the spirit of informed choice
by saying, "Every Woman Needs a Midwife!"
Thanks for your inspiring dedication
and tremendous example to women & midwives.

Thank you, Pauline

ref picture:www.ehow.com/how_2257900_say-thanks-different...

The Big Picture in Midwifery – WA Branch Report

Allow me to begin by offering a huge and heart-felt thanks to everyone who worked so tirelessly and contributed to the organisation of the ‘Big Picture in Midwifery’ tour of Western Australia. Including all of the magnificent meals provided to me whilst I travelled – I got home a more ‘rounded’ version of my former self! 
I had the absolute honour and pleasure of meeting midwives, working across all spectrums of midwifery care from all over the state – managers, educators, researchers, those working clinically in a hospital, community midwives and those in independent practice. Thank you to all of you that took time out of your busy days (and so often on your days off!) to come and hear about how the Australian College of Midwives is working hard to help you be informed about and meet the coming changes to the way that you will renew your registration and also the implications for the profession with the funding of the recent Maternity Services Review recommendations.

I arrived in Perth on Friday 13th November, excited at having been asked to speak at the WA Branch’s ‘Magic of Midwifery’ Education Day. There were over 100 midwives attending and it was such an honour to have the entire morning with this group of incredible professionals, speaking about the proposed changes, answering questions and watching the group become more motivated and inspired about the possible ways forward for the profession.
On the morning of Monday 16th November, I presented to the team of midwives at Margaret River Hospital, before heading up to Bunbury for an afternoon session, where midwives from Collie, Bridgetown, Busselton and Manjimup joined us via teleconference. Thanks to the, Nurse Unit Manager at Bunbury Regional Hospital for all her help in getting this presentation and teleconferencing facilities up and running!
Tuesday 17th November, I flew to Albany to meet with the lovely team of midwives at Albany Hospital. Thanks to the Nurse Unit Manager for picking me up from the airport (only to drive me straight back again when I realized I’d left my suitcase behind ) and for organising a great lunch! By holding the presentation close to the Ward we had a great turnout – thanks to those of you who came in on your day off!

The following day, Wednesday 18th November saw me tripping off to Kalgoorlie to be met by almost 100% of the midwifery workforce of Kalgoorlie! We had a great afternoon and as always I felt a deep sense of personal satisfaction as I watched midwives begin to realise that their professional body cares very much about them and is supporting them to be informed about and supported to meet the changes with national registration and advocates for them on a daily basis amidst some of the most politically influential medical groups.
On Thursday 19th November, I was excited to meet with a large group of midwives at St John of God Hospital in Subiaco, Perth. Thanks for organising the session and also for my lovely box of chocolates! (More padding to the ‘roundedness’ that I took home with me!) 
After a lovely weekend with my Mum and children in Margaret River, I drove to Fremantle to meet with the fabulous team at the Community Midwifery Program WA. After some regrettable delays, due to technical difficulties with the data projector, the presentation continued without a hitch! Thank you to CMWA, and to those midwives in independent practice who were able to come along.
Tuesday 24th November found me in Geraldton, and despite the fact that my plane was delayed 1 ½ hours, it was wonderful to revisit where I had spent part of my childhood. Thank you to the, Nurse Unit Manager for her help in getting me to and from the airport and especially to all the midwives who waited for me to arrive (despite the SkyWest Airlines delays!)
Wed 25th November was the day I headed off to Port Hedland. I was thrilled to see so many midwives from Port Hedland Hospital and a major midwifery contingent from Karatha and also Tom Price join us via teleconference.
I had no idea that my final day is WA was going to be such a huge finale, but Thursday 26th November held a number of gems. In the morning I met with the, Principal Midwifery Advisor for the WA Department of Health. I was gratified to see that the Dept of Health is working hard for the midwifery profession to help prepare them for national registration. WA’s first priority is workforce planning – involving creating a workforce planning committee and looking at details like:
• How many midwives are there in WA?
• Where are they working?
• How many students and graduates are there?
• What models of care exist in WA?
• What is an appropriate midwifery workforce model to discern appropriate staffing requirements for maternity care?

The Principal Midwifery Advisor is clearly committed to her role as and is keen to make a swift and positive impact for West Australian midwives.
The final presentation of the tour ended at the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth. We had an overwhelming attendance of 26 midwives from the King Edward and no less than 13 sites joining us via teleconference!

Thanks to every midwife from Newman, Rockingham, Bentley, Busselton, Katanning, Derby, Narrogin, Broome, Denmark and Kalgoorlie who were able to attend!
I was so lucky to spend time travelling the state meeting with many midwives, and I can only hope that those of you that I met are now championing all the new and exciting information to your colleagues to make sure that every midwife is feeling supported to meet these changes! Please remember to keep in touch – that’s what a professional body is for – to support you and offer you a community.

Remember, the strength of the profession, lies in the diversity of the care that you offer women. Celebrate being ‘with woman’, in whatever way that looks like for you –WE DO!!!I look forward to seeing you again in 2010!

Kindest regards

Abby Clemence
National Programs Manager