Statements of Support (NMAP)
NMAP | Table of Contents | Executive Summary | Full copy (pdf) | Endorsements | Statements of Support

REPORT ON THE LAUNCH OF NMAP in NSW

The NSW launch of NMAP involved 2 functions at the NSW Parliament House on Tuesday 24th September 2002, both ably hosted by Andrea Robertson of Birth International.

The Press Conference in the Parliament House Media Room where Andrea introduced camera teams from channels 2, 7, 9 and 10 to an overview of the concepts of NMAP and the following speakers:

  1. Nicole Christensen, Consumer "Keep birthing in the Mountains",
  2. Fiona Tito, Lawyer, Advisor to the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council on medical indemnity issues,
  3. Lee Rhiannon NSW Greens
  4. Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans NSW Democrats

All talked about the need for midwifery continuity as best practice and as a possible solution to current problems in NSW maternity services and supportive of women's right to choice. Also present to answer questions were Shea Caplice Midwife in Private Practice and Nicky Leap Midwife Academic. 

Thereafter in the Jubilee Room, Parliament House, followed presentations which aimed to inform NSW Politicians and health bureaucrats about NMAP and it's advantages for NSW. Carolyn Hastie greeted attendees and offered them copies and explanations of the NMAP summary or full document, NSW Strategy document, NSW Press release and NMAP edition of Birth Matters Journal. 

Again Andrea introduced the speakers leading with a consumer presentative as NMAP is a consumer driven initiative! Speakers and topics were: 

  1. Jo Westley Camden Consumer on "Equity and other social issues answered by NMAP"
  2. Fiona Tito, Lawyer, Adviser to the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council on "Insurance risk of 1-on-1 midwifery care.",
  3. Hannah Dahleen, NSWMA representative on "Midwifery workforce issues and NMAP"
  4. Dr Mark Tracy presented on "Safety and cost effectiveness of midwives as primary carers" from the perspective of a father of 2 teenage daughters and a neonatologist. Mark was especially appreciated not only for his experiential and factual presentation but as he was a late stand in for Sally Tracy (Midwife researcher who went to Canberra to present data to federal politicians)

The audience did included some NSW Politicians, members of the NSW Health Maternity Service policy and Nursing/midwifery heads including members of the influential Maternal and Perinatal Committee as well as members of the ozmidwifery list and other midwifery supporters.

On the morning of our launch Bob Carr, who we stopped in the foyer responded to us initially as nurses, then said his experts would look at NMAP and its costings! Thus NSW MC looks forward to explaining to Mr Carr and others how many more votes are to be gained by implementing our strategies than continuing to support the current sad care outcomes, as well as talking with Mr Egan about the savings to be made through implementing NMAP
In the next weeks NSW Maternity Coalition has appointments with Craig Knowles, the Deputy Director of NSW Health and Sandra Nori. Thereafter we will be talking with many others including the Maternal and Perinatal committee, the Premier's Women's Council and the NSW Health Participation Committee, as we utilise the opportunities for NMAP with the forthcoming NSW election.

Denise Hynd
NSW Maternity Coalition