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!

Invite to mums, dads, bubs and midwives.

Margaret Phelan is cycling around Australia to raise awareness for women's choice to have continuity of care with a known midwife. Please join us for a big mums, bubs, midwives get together to show our support for this extraordinary venture and fundamental human right.

Date: Monday September 6th
Time: 12-2pm

Place: Point Walter on the shore

Address: turn into Point Walter road from Canning hwy. Point Walter road becomes Honour Ave-down to river front. Bicton, Perth, Australia

Bring: A rug to sit on, picnic lunch, children, banner’s to support midwives, women and choice in childbirth

Please come and show your support
www.gogirlaustralia.net.au

Radio National's Life Matters program, after the 9am news.

Liz Wilkes and Ted Weaver are sheduled to debate the "collaborative arrangements" problem tomorrow/Thursday morning, on Radio National's Life Matters program, after the 9am news.

Please listen in and take any opportunity to make comment.

For those who'd like to hear the online audio, download the podcast, or make comment, the website is:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/

Homebirth a matter of choice for Australian women

See this media release by the Greens

Australian Greens Health spokesperson, Senator Rachel Siewert has today announced the Greens’ policy for a National Homebirth reform package to provide women with greater choice at the time of their baby’s birth.

“We believe the choice to experience a safe and supported low-risk homebirth should be available in Australia,” Senator Siewert said today.
“The Australian Greens believe that women should have a range of birthing choices, including homebirths, in order to provide the best outcome for mother and child,” Senator Siewert said.

“There is no reason why homebirths should not be offered to women at low risk of complications, saying it may confer considerable benefits to them and their families,” said Senator Siewert.

“There is considerable international evidence showing that birthing at home increases a woman's likelihood of a birth that is satisfying and safe, with positive health implications for mother and baby alike.

“Our maternity care system should support parents to make informed choices and enable a smooth and timely transition to higher levels of care as the need arises.

“This allows for important aspects of birthing safety to be covered, providing women who wish to experience a homebirth the best of both worlds.

“We need to ensure we have a good understanding of the medical risk factors associated with childbirth and that women making this important choice have access to the best clinical care.

“At the same time we need to appreciate the impacts of stress on mother and child to ensure we look at the social and emotional factors that enable us to provide a safe and supportive
“Not only do the Greens think a more collaborative and integrated model of practice is possible – it is absolutely necessary,” concluded Senator Siewert.

Under the Australian Greens' proposal a National Homebirth Reform Plan would provide for:

a clear policy framework for midwifery care that defines the ‘collaborative’ relationship between midwifes and doctors
best practice within homebirth services built on fully supportive organisations' systems and structures
a shared philosophy that fosters a service culture of reciprocal valuing of all birth environments
comprehensive involvement by local multidisciplinary teams and users to underpin homebirth practices within a clinical governance framework
responsible and responsive practices maintained by effective clinical decision making

Insurance provision
An insurance product covering homebirth under the midwives’ own responsibility must be developed by the insurance industry or initiated by the Federal Government once the timeframe for the exemption for eligibility has passed.

ref:http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/

Collaborative Arrangements – What can you do?

Australian College of Midwives - E-Bulletin

Collaborative Arrangements – What can you do?

Dear Members and Consumers

As you would be aware a key component of the National Maternity Reform Package implemented by the current government was to give midwives and the women they care for access to Medicare rebates and to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). In September this year midwives will be able to begin applying for a Medicare provide number in preparation for the implementation of the legislated reforms on 1st November.

The most recent developments around the recent release of the Determination (or secondary regulations) that now define the detail of collaborative arrangements are concerning and will restrict the way midwives will be able to practice. The Determination was signed into law by the Governor General on 16th July and released just prior to the announcement of the election.

Despite the government¹s stated intention in March this year of not wanting to provide a right of veto over another health professional¹s practice it would appear that the Determination does just that.

You can view a copy of the determination by clinking on the link below http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/LegislativeInstrument1.nsf/all/whatsnew/6A0EF93573665149CA257762000BBDEE?OpenDocument

So what can you do about this?
We are encouraging you to phone, write, email or talk to your local federal member – especially when they are out campaigning -

• Let them know you live in their electorate and what your address is (they need this to prove you live there).

• Tell them you are very concerned that the recent determination - the National Health (Collaboration Arrangements for Midwives) Determination 2010 - will enable the medical profession to have veto over midwifery practice and prevent the success of the maternity reforms.

• Plan local activities to let all the candidates in your electorate know how you feel and involve consumers and local media if possible.

• You can also ring Nicola Roxon on 02 627777220 and let her know what you think!
You can find details of your electoral office on the following link http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/

Associate Professor Hannah Dahlen
President, Australian College of Midwives

Homebirths a GP's new dilemma

The medical Observer: read the full article by clicking this link;

10th Aug 2010: Leigh Parry all articles by this author

If your patient decides on a midwife-led home birth and asks for prescriptions, could you be legally liable if something goes wrong? A PREGNANT patient informs you she’s decided to employ a private midwife for a home birth and asks for a prescription for Syntocinon (oxytocin). Do you prescribe?

It is not a common request, but one that GPs are increasingly facing as the popularity of home births grows.

Midwives are able to legally administer Syntocinon but cannot prescribe it, until 1 November when changes to federal laws mean nurse practitioners will have limited access to the MBS and PBS.

Complicating the issue is the Federal Government’s new professional indemnity scheme for midwives, which came into effect on 1 July.

I have to ask the question; what is meaningful collaboration, if collaboration only means one way..... obstetrician to midwife? how legal is that?

Midwives work within a strict framework and adhere to the ACM Referral guidelines and the ANMC Codes... it is about time both the AMA and the government realise this....collaboration has to be a two way street.....

ACM Alice Springs for ACM National mag