Kellie Toole is a Clinical Midwifery Specialist 2 in Dubbo.

In her witness statement, Kellie outlined:

Between 1995 and 2020 I have seen a closure of 15 maternity services in Western NSWLHD. The LHD started virtual care (Vcare, which uses video or phone technology to provide care to patients) in 2008. When I first started working in remote midwifery in 2015 an obstetrician travelled to see women.

Now there is either no obstetrician or the obstetrician doesn’t travel. The midwife is expected to do those case reviews.

At the moment a registered midwife 8th year earns around $51 per hour as their base rate without penalty rates. I have observed that a lot of midwives I work with have to work shifts that have penalty rates attached to the min order to afford to live.

Working Monday to Friday day shifts does not give me enough income to pay rent in Dubbo… It would be worse for midwives in [Sydney]. As a midwife I am expected to have a high level of skill. I am expected to make decisions and be the devil’s advocate to the obstetricians and doctors.

As a midwife I have a high level of accountability, [however] the pay doesn’t recognise that responsibility or compensate me for the times I’ve missed Christmas and Easter with my family.

*This is an excerpt from witness statements of one of our members who participated in the Special Case.