The NSW Select Committee on Birth Trauma has released a report that includes 43 recommendations to overhaul maternity care in the state.

The recommendations focus on investing and expanding midwifery-led continuity-of-care models and addressing staffing shortages through improvements to pay and conditions for midwives.

The inquiry received a record 4000 submissions and held six hearings across the state.

NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary Michael Whaites said the inquiry had shone a light on areas of midwifery and maternity services that have been ignored for too long.

“We hope this is the start of positive change that will benefit women on their maternity journey, and ensure this incredibly rewarding profession has the structures, resources and support systems to deliver safe, woman-centred care.

“We are pleased to see the inquiry supports our view of addressing midwife shortages with competitive pay and working conditions, and a staffing model with the appropriate skill-mix.

“It’s encouraging to see the committee recognises the impact of birth trauma on midwives too, by recommending debriefing and psychological support for maternity clinicians following their exposure to a traumatic birth.

“We know birth trauma rates can, and must, be reduced, and we’ll continue to advocate for universal access to midwifery-led continuity of care.”

A survey of 8000 mothers by the University of Western Sydney found one in three experienced birth trauma in Australia.