Maternity advocacy groups were disappointed in the NSW Government's response to some of the key birth trauma inquiry recommendations.

While many recommendations were 'supported in principle', which groups such as Better Births Illawarra welcomed, there was concern at the lack of Government commitment to long term funding for implementation of recommendations it gave principle support to. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-29/birth-trauma-inquiry-nsw-government-response/104280902

Leading University of Western Sydney midwifery experts nevertheless cautiously welcomed the Government’s response to the Inquiry. 

Dr Hazel Keedle and Professor Hannah Dahlen from the University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery and Translational Health Research Institute, were key contributors to the Birth Trauma Inquiry through their ground breaking research. Their studyutilising data from the national Australian Birth Experience Study (BESt), revealed that more than one-in-ten Australian women feel they have experienced some form of obstetric violence, underscoring the urgent need for systemic reform in maternity care.

In NSW they found 28 per cent of women surveyed had experienced birth trauma.

They emphasise the importance of acknowledging the experiences of women and ensuring maternity services provide respectful, evidence-based and equitable maternity care to women and their families.

The main Committee recommendation which could make the most  positive impact on  NSW women is recommendation 9:  'That the NSW Government ensure that all women have access to continuity of carer models with a known provider'.

The Government response supports this in principle only.

Committee Chair Emma Hurst MP also pointed out in her dissenting statement that

‘the majority of the Committee voted against ensuring that women have access to a known provider ‘of their choice’. ....Why my fellow committee members believe women should not be able to make their own birthing choices is beyond me"

In her dissenting statement the Chair went on to say:

"While the Committee has made an important recommendation about investing in and expanding midwifery continuity of care models, the majority of the committee failed to support a draft recommendation that 'the NSW Government invest in and expand Midwifery Group Practice by: - increasing the number of services providing Midwifery Group Practice, especially in regional, rural and remote New South Wales, and expanding places in existing Midwifery Group Practice services - ensuring Midwifery Group Practice is available to women in New South Wales who want to access this model of care, including those deemed 'high risk'".

Advocacy groups such as Better Births Illawarra also say that they were especially disappointed that the final Report’s recommendation 9 omitted the term 'Midwifery Continuity of Care'. Midwifery Continuity of Care (also known as Midwifery Group Practice or MGP) is supported by extensive research and evidence as the best model of care to prevent birth trauma and improve outcomes for mums and babies.

Better Births Illawarra say that the Government response claims that NSW women already have access to continuity of care models and  that the  midwifery shortage  prevents more women having improved access to midwifery continuity of care or MGP. A good start in remedying shortages would be to award nurses and midwives the pay rises they so deserve!

While there are many good things in the Government's response and the Health Minister’s apology to women for the suffering they have undergone, advocates remain concerned that the Committee recommendations and the Government response could sit on a shelf and gather dust.

These feminist activists are determined to continue campaigning and pressing for change. With similar Inquiries planned and beginning in other states and territories and a potentially important funding role for the Federal Government WEL will join advocacy groups to highlight the need for a national plan to tackle birth trauma and the funding commitments to make it happen.