The Queensland Government has committed to expanding maternity services, to address staffing shortages and improve working conditions.

The Queensland Government has pledged $16 million for regional, remote and rural Midwifery Group Practices (MGPs), and has also created the role of a state Chief Midwife to help navigate the profession’s ongoing issues.

“This is a significant outcome for women, babies and midwives right across the state who deserve safe, quality and appropriate midwifery services,” said Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) secretary Kate Veach.

The QNMU and the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) had campaigned for improvements, including holding a rally outside parliament house.

ACM Chief Midwife Alison Weatherstone said the announcement would “change the future of midwifery in Queensland and nationally”.

Kate Veach said MGPs provide continuity of care, with midwives working with women and babies during pregnancy, birth and post-birth. They also enable women, particularly those in rural and remote areas, to give birth close 
to home.

She said the QNMU looked forward to further discussions with the health minister on other commitments pursued by the union, including ratios to safeguard inpatient maternity care, and publicly funded home birthing, to give women choice in how and where they birth.

Evidence shows continuity of care models such as MGPs result in a 24 per cent reduction of pre-term births and a 16 per cent reduction in pregnancy and neonatal loss.