A taskforce will be set up to help improve maternity services across Victoria.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the taskforce would focus on ensuring hospitals have the best workforce and models of care in place – so families have access to safe, reliable care as close to home as possible.
The taskforce will identify opportunities and address known complex challenges that can have an effect on the service delivery of Victoria’s world-class maternity care, including workforce recruitment and retention.
It will be made up of nursing and midwifery experts – including the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Vic Branch and representatives from regional and rural health services.
A targeted expression of interest process to join the taskforce is underway, with work to review Victoria’s maternity system to identify strategies for improvement commencing shortly.
The taskforce will work with health services, community and experts to consider models of care that support women to have choice in their pregnancy and birth experiences, while strengthening rural and regional maternity workforces.
“Victoria has some of the world’s best and safest maternity and newborn services in the world – this taskforce is an opportunity to continue improving these services, so women receive the best support during pregnancy and birth,” Ms Thomas said.
“It’s so important to ensure all of our maternity health service providers whether they are in the city or the most remote areas of Victoria – the taskforce experts will help to implement the changes we need to see.”
ANMF (Victorian branch) assistant secretary Madeleine Harradence said the ANMF was looking forward to contributing to the taskforce’s work.
“We know there are multiple ways of working that result in sustainable and professionally satisfying workforce outcomes and enable women to access maternity care close to home,” she said.
