Rockhampton -- Midwives, community health professionals and national and state politicians convened Thursday and Friday (6 & 7 July) in Rockhampton for a state-wide conference, sponsored by Central Queensland University and others, on midwifery issues related to the quality of maternity services in Queensland, especially in Central Queensland and the rural and remote regions further west.

Queensland Minster for Health Stephen Robertson, Shadow Minister for Health Julia Gillard and more than 125 midwives, community health care experts, researchers and health advocates came together at a time when the state is experiencing increased demand for access to quality maternity services, especially in regional and rural locations.

“We have a shortage of services in Queensland, especially here, and the situation – given recent accounts – is dire in many communities. Midwives have a role in responding to this crisis as advocates, change agents, caregivers, counsellors, educators and health care providers. They’re the front-line professionals for thousands of childbearing women and their families, providing care in some communities that would not exist without them,” explained Conference Chair Dawn Hay, Midwife and Senior Lecturer at CQU and member of the Australian College of Midwives Incorporated.

“One midwife can make a difference,” said Hay. “The Australian College of Midwives is advocating for higher awareness among politicians, for support for education of more midwives and that more birth centres be opened and staffed by midwives throughout Queensland so women and their families do not have to travel hundreds of kilometres to give birth and receive maternity services.