MEDIA STATEMENT
Hon Dr Carmen Lawrence MP
Shadow Minister for Reconciliation, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Affairs; the Arts and Status of Women
Federal Member for Fremantle

Tuesday, 24 September 2002

Launch of the National Maternity Action Plan

Carmen Lawrence today welcomed the National Maternity Action Plan for the expansion of community midwifery services in urban and regional Australia by the Maternity Coalition, the Association for Improvements to Maternity Services, the Australian Society of Independent Midwives and Community Midwifery WA.

"I particularly support the first recommendation to ensure that pregnant women have access to primary care from a qualified and registered community midwife within the public health system. If maternity services have been undermined for white Australian women, then they are almost non-existent for Indigenous women.

"This is particularly relevant to women, especially Indigenous women, in the more isolated parts of Australia who are often hospitalised for the weeks surrounding the birth of their child without family and community support. Allowing these women to take charge of their own birth can have a positive effect where the options are to fly them out to an unfamiliar environment for the birth, away from family and community support.
"As part of this response, it is important to increase the participation of Aboriginal women in midwifery degree courses and training, and to ensure that these services are supplied through a community-based service model.
"All women who are facing the birth of a child should be entitled to choose what they believe to be the most appropriate method of delivery and care before and during the birth process.

"I call on Federal and State Governments to ensure that women, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, have the necessary services and appropriate legislation available to make this choice."

Contact: Jo Fox Ph: (02) 6277 4181 or 0419 963 486