Please comment on the Homebirth Policy for WA

The Women's and Newborns' Health Network is seeking comments on a draft Home Birth Policy and Guidance for Health Professionals, Health Services and Consumers. The Review of homebirths in Western Australia released in August 2008 made recommendations for conducting home births in WA which have been incorporated into this Policy.

The Policy will be applicable to qualified health professionals (i.e. registered midwives and/or medical practitioners) working in the Western Australian public health system when caring for women who make an informed choice to give birth at home.

Please send an email to healthpolicy@health.wa.gov.au to request a copy of the Policy and a Feedback Form. The deadline for comments is 31 March 2011. Date has been extended to Friday 8 April.... please send in your comments:

Kind regards

Dr Janet Hornbuckle and Assoc Prof Graeme Boardley
Co-Leads, Women's and Newborns' Health Network

Some rules for Facebook:

This is a timely reminder about the importance of confidentiality and professional conduct when using Facebook (FB)considering approximately 54% of Australians use this social medium.

After doing a web search regarding some legal issues on FB... I have come up with a list of rules that might help you keep out of trouble in the work place or anywhere else relating to FB.

Rule 1: really consider carefully who you are letting into your FB as a ‘friend’, if you allow mangers, work colleagues/associates this means you let your work into your private life. Ensure you have a closed privacy setting.

Rule 2: Do not mention anything to do with your work place no matter how insignificant you think it is... if you can be connected to your work by your comment you probably break the golden rules of ‘confidentially’ and ‘Code of Conduct’.

Rule 3: Be mindful of the photos of yourself you allow on FB, these photos become the property of FB and if you are acting in an unbecoming manner this could come back to bite you later. Don’t allow people to take your photo without asking you and letting you know if it is going on FB.

Rule 4: Do not write on FB when you are angry or under the influence of alcohol once the information is in cyber space it stays there: Internet Defamation is the fastest growing litigation ....so don’t write anything derogatory about anyone.

Rule 5: People seem to believe what you do outside of work does not affect your work life....WRONG....this is dependent on what it is and if you have you bought your profession/company/school into disrepute? Just think of our footballers .....there is a prime example of unbecoming behaviour.

Rule 6: Social responsibility: this is like a duty of care to society, a reciprocal duty: we owe society and society owes us a mutually beneficial obligation. Be kind to each other.

The bottom line for FB is be careful who you invite in your world, don’t talk about work, don’t say anything derogatory and be mindful of the photos you let FB have:Respect privacy:

Happy Facebooking!!!!!!!

WA Homebirth Policy open for public consultation... be pro-active: please review

Message for distribution via ACM WA blog:

Time to be pro active, have you say about how policies are written.... email healthpolicy@health.wa.gov.au for your copy of the Homebirth policy and give some feedback all feed back is welcome:


The Women's and Newborns' Health Network is seeking comments on a draft Home Birth Policy and Guidance for Health Professionals, Health Services and Consumers. The Review of homebirths in Western Australia released in August 2008 made recommendations for conducting home births in WA which have been incorporated into this Policy.

The Policy will be applicable to qualified health professionals (i.e. registered midwives and/or medical practitioners) working in the Western Australian public health system when caring for women who make an informed choice to give birth at home.

Please send an email to healthpolicy@health.wa.gov.au to request a copy of the Policy and a Feedback Form. The deadline for comments is 31 March 2011.

Kind regards

Dr Janet Hornbuckle and Assoc Prof Graeme Boardley
Co-Leads, Women's and Newborns' Health Network

WA Branch Executive Committee 2011

WA ACM Branch President Ms Terri Barrett:

Dear Members,

I am sorry for the delay in posting this information on the blog. I have been trying to play catch up with the posts:

Current WA Branch Positions are as follows:
President- Terri Barrett:
Vice President- Pauline Costins:
National Director- Tracy Martin:
Secretary- Laura Robertson:
Treasurer- Sylvia Jenkin:
Education Officer- Liz Ashton:
Minute secretary- Trish Dempsey:
Merchandise / Publicity- Carli Beange:
Community Rep- Sara Bayes:
General committee members- Liza Kennedy & Sue Cudlipp:
Consumer Rep- Shelley Gower:
MESAC rep- Janice Butt:
Student reps from ECU & Curtin Universities:
Education subcommittee- Carol Pinch & Judith Wilson:

Please feel free to contact the executive committee with any of your questions or if you require professional support: acmwabranch@gmail.com

WA congratulate Tracy Martin as the National President of the College and Terri Barrett as the WA President:

These are exciting times for midwifery and especially for WA with our own Director in the National President position.

With the National Maternity Plan signed off by the Federal Minister for Health in November last year, the jurisdictions are now looking to the implementation phase. The ACM WA Branch Executive Committee is committed to informing and supporting members on matters related to the maternity reform agenda.

At a local level the Executive Committee has recently undertaken their annual planning and will focus on increasing our membership, improving the services the Branch provides and ensuring that governance processes are transparent and robust. This will include the development of a ACM WA Branch specific Constitution. The Committee welcomes your input and we hope to see you at our International Midwife Day celebration: Terri Barrett WA President


Please once again don't hesitate to contact us if you want a chat, post something on the blog, have any idea's you want to share, or any education sessions you would like: email us on acmwabranch@gmail.com

Thanks for your time
Pauline

President’s Report – WA Branch 24th February 2011

This will be my last report as President of the ACM WA branch, at this point in time. Issues within the National Office have led me in another direction and as a result I have stepped down as President to take up the role as National Director for WA – replacing Pauline Costins. My term for this role will expire in November 2012. Terri Barrett has stepped in as President effective 11th February and Pauline Costins has taken up the Vice President position. WA is in good hands.
On the 8th January 2011, we had the WA Branch Strategic Planning Day, which was hosted by Dame Monica Holmes OAM. She guided us through what our strategic direction would be for the next 12 – 24 months. Keeping in line with National Strategic Plan for 2015 which include five strategic priorities:-
Advocacy for Midwives and Midwifery
Supporting midwives
Setting Professional Practice and Education Standards
Ensuring Access to Continuity of midwifery Care
Ensuring Good Governance.

We identified four key areas:
Governance
Membership
Education and Research and Public Relations.
These goals will form the framework for the WA Branch’s activity over the next few months.

Some of the strategies we will be looking at include engaging midwifery managers – they are the role models, looking at ways of engaging students and conducting a satisfaction survey. We will be inviting the Professor of Midwifery Yvonne Hauck to be part of the Executive Committee and broaden our research focus.
We will be looking at our constitution, which is timely given that the National constitution needs to be reviewed. We are improving governance around the financial management of the branch and reviewing role statements. A new MOU has been drawn up, for our continued use of the facilities at KEMH.
We will be developing a website and a calendar of events. We are well on the way for the planning for both our big functions – IMD celebrations and Conference and AGM. The year has started well and I look forward to being a part of WA’s direction.

Tracy Martin
Ex President WA Branch

President ACM

Strategic Planning Day:

On the 8th January 2011, we had the WA Branch Strategic Planning Day, which was hosted by Dame Monica Holmes OAM.
The WA Branch achieved many things over the last year, when we sat together and evaluated last years strategic plan we had achieved 90% of the plan, which was excellent: Highlights of the year included:
20% increase in local membership
Road show informing members of legislative changes / maternity reforms
Hospital site visits to increase College visibility and disseminate information
2 Major education sessions
Politically lobbing
Social Media - Facebook page and blog site
Support Go-Girl Australia

Time for a break a cuppa:



Monica guided us through what our strategic direction would be for the next 12 – 24 months. Keeping in line with National Strategic Plan for 2015 which include five strategic priorities:-
Advocacy for Midwives and Midwifery
Supporting midwives
Setting Professional Practice and Education Standards
Ensuring Access to Continuity of midwifery Care
Ensuring Good Governance.
We identified four key areas:
Governance
Membership
Education and Research and Public Relations.
These goals will form the framework for the WA Branch’s activity over the next few months.



The end of the day; time to shave a drink and have a laugh....

A Festschrift to celebrate the careers of two remarkable women:

I was privileged today to find myself sitting amongst many wonderful people and some great academics, I heard many wonderful stories of two amazing women who have had diverse and awe-inspiring careers which has had tremendous impact on the midwifery profession and will do for many years to come, Pat Brodie & Nicky Leap.



Until today I did not know what a “Festchrift” was, I meant to look it up on the internet….but just did not get round to it…. So was relieved today when I heard lots of people had no idea what it was…..and that it actually means “a living book of your life” a celebration of your career by others on the occasion of retirement, what a fantastic idea, just brilliant….. Someone likened it to being at your own funeral, except you are there to enjoy it….. but then Pat said it would be a very long funeral” ….. to me it really is a bit like “this is your life”.



There was opportunity for great networking….. Too many wonderful people to name them all …. Besides you all know who you all are…great to see you and have a chat…. The energy and inspiration goes a long way to maintaining your enthusiasm for when you get home… and need to carry on the task of change and ensuring women have choice and midwifery care…….



For me it was an inspirational day, the room was filled with liveliness….. my soul was rejoicing at the many possibilities for midwifery…..if only we had this sort of leadership everywhere in Australia….some places are truly isolated and continue to have an uphill battle…..we need to spread the talent….

Key take home messages that resonated for me ……

“Square peg in around hole” - midwives
“The less you do the more you give” – care in labour
“Every woman needs a midwife and sometimes a doctor too” - collaboration
“Community based continuity of care for all risk categories of women” – private practice
“The key is good collaboration”
“Morbidity of women during childbirth is only going to increase due to repeat caesarean sections and the obesity crisis…..” – Obstetrician
“Midwives are essential for primary care”
“Address the equalities of women and birth”
"From little things big things grow - Group practice

A truely wonderful time in Sydney..... the only downside was that I didn't stay an extra day or two do some shopping.....not that I have money for shopping...lol

Safety and Quality Framework for Privately Practising Midwives attending homebirths:

The Safety and Quality Framework for Privately Practising Midwives is up on the AHPRA website..... click her to read whole framework;

IMPORTANT CLAUSE:

284 Exemption from requirement for professional indemnity insurance arrangements for midwives practising private midwifery
(1) During the transition period, a midwife does not contravene section 129(1) merely because the midwife practises private midwifery if—
(a) the practise occurs in a participating jurisdiction in which, immediately before the participation day for that jurisdiction, a person was not prohibited from attending homebirths in the course of practising midwifery unless professional indemnity insurance arrangements were in place; and
(b) informed consent has been given by the woman in relation to whom the midwife is practising private midwifery; and
(c) the midwife complies with any requirements set out in a code or guideline approved by the National Board under section 39 about the practise of private midwifery, including—
(i) any requirement in a code or guideline about reports to be provided by midwives practising private midwifery; and
(ii) any requirement in a code or guideline relating to the safety and quality of the practise of private midwifery

(2) A midwife who practises private midwifery under this section is not required to include in an annual statement under section 109 a declaration required by subsection (1)(a)(iv) and (v) of that section in relation to the midwife’s practise of private midwifery during a period of registration that is within the transition period.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the transition period—
(a) starts on 1 July 2010; and
(b) ends on the prescribed day.

The framework is to ensure safe high quality of care of th woman and her baby when choosing homecare by a private practising midwife;
It is good to see that the ACM Consultation and Referral Guidelines and the prinicpoes and practices in the NHMRC document are also key elements in this framework.

Resignation as WA Board Director

The ACM 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

I believe in the above vision that is why I was both delighted and honoured to be elected the WA Board Director, unfortunately for me the position has only lasted l2mths and it was a challenging year. I spent the first few meetings finding my feet and dealing with the personalities of everyone on the Board as well as assessing the current political situation. I met some phenomenal women on the Board... and everyone works with what they consider is the “best interest” of the ACM.

I feel that WA is in a unique position that we do not have some of the issues faced by our counterparts in the Eastern States. It saddens me to say that I have resigned (December 2010). I am bound by confidentiality of the Board and therefore I cannot divulge the reasons why I resigned except to say that the situation was untenable and I have the support of the whole WA executive committee. This has not been an easy decision it was painstakingly difficult. The decision was made in the best interest of the ACM and its membership.

I continue to support and believe in the ACM Nationally. I will continue to put all my energy into the WA Branch to encourage its growth, support the membership and foster collegial and political relationships to further the profession of midwifery in WA and one day I will return to the National Board. The ACM works to support all midwives, ensuring that childbearing women have access to continuity of midwifery care.
I do believe as a profession we need a strong national body to represent all midwives, a body that is respected and accepted by all midwives to take us forward into the 21st century and I believe that the ACM can deliver this.

Regards your servant Pauline Costins

WA Branch AGM: November 2010

Dear Members, my sincere apologies for reporting so late on the WA ACM AGM. November and December have been extremely busy for me and I have only now caught up with myself. I have quite a few stories to write to keep you updated, so will start in chronological order from the AGM.

As you all remember the AGM was 12th November combined with our yearly conference, this strategy of a yearly conference with a set date has proven to be successful and City West seems to be a great hit with all our members. The WA Branch has experienced a 20% growth in the last year, that is just fantastic and a special thank you to all the student midwives who make up a good percentage of the growth, as you are our future.....and we welcome your input to the College.

WA Branch of the ACM is growing in membership and continues to support its members and has a strong executive team working together for the members of WA. Congratulations to the new members of the executive committee; Liz Ashton, Carol Pinch, Sara Bayes, Liza Kennedy and Judith Wilson.

President Tracy Martin, Vice President Terri Barrett, Treasurer; Sylvia Jenkin, Secretary; Laura Robertson; WA National Director Pauline Costins, Minute secretary Trish Dempsey, Education Standards Janice Butt; Publicity & Merchandise Carli Beange; Aboriginal rep; Karen Kruit; Education Officer Liz Ashton, Education Committee – Carol Pinch, Judith Wilson, Sara Bayes; General committee: Liza Kennedy, Abbey Rodda, Sue Cudlip.

Ms Tracy Martin WA President opened the day, inspiring all who were present; It was a diverse program and as usual the presenters were of a great calibre; they included; Dianne Bond – Diabetes Service, Sadie Geraghty - Vitamin D; Renate McLaurin - Cannabis use and Pregnancy; Mother & baby unit – State-wide Mental Health unit; Debbie Slatter and Lesley Kuliukas – Childbirth Education, there were several other presentations..... All excellent. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day..... the food as usual was brilliant and plenty of it... we ended the day with a sundowner.... a grand way to finish off the day with a glass of red wine.....

A thank you goes to all the sponsors whose generous contributions made this event possible: St John of God Hospital Subiaco & Murdoch, Police and Nurses Credit Society; ACM WA Branch, WELDA & Cell Care; and a big thank you to all who attended the day and made it the success it was..... see you all next year.

Cheers Pauline

PS pictures coming.....