Right Birth, Your Choice

We are pleased to present Right Birth, Your Choice, a video which informs women on the options available for a safe pregnancy, birth and transition to motherhood.

The decisions that have the greatest impact on birth outcomes are where a woman chooses to give birth and who will provide her maternity care.  Making the right choice is the first step toward a healthy and happy start for both mother and baby.

The video was produced by Maternal Health Matters, in partnership by the Canberra Mothercraft Society, with the aim of raising awareness in the community. We want all women to receive appropriate and respectful maternity care.

To complement the video, Maternal Health Matters has developed the Maternal Health Toolbox.  The toolbox explores:

• What are the elements of maternity care?
• Who provides maternity care in Australia? Your health professional options.
• Choosing your health professional.
• Where to give birth to your baby — your choices.
• The Pregnancy Care Checklist — Australia.

For more information on the Right Birth, Your Choice video or Maternal Health Toolbox, please contact Maternal Health Matters on info@maternalhealthmatters.org.au.

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The good, the bad and the possible: A public Lecture on the Strategic Directions for the Australian Maternity Services Plan

Canberra Mothercraft Society and Western Sydney University are proud to support a free public online lecture by Professor Hannah Dahlen AM, followed by an expert panel discussion on the way forward for the Australian Maternity Services plan.

This public lecture will examine the 2019 COAG Woman-Centred Care: Strategic Directions for Australian Maternity Services plan. It critiques the plan in light of the international evidence, policy documents and interviews with stakeholders. ‘The good, the bad and the possible’ provides a way forward. Implementing the plan will be at the heart of this lecture and the expert panel discussion.

The lecture will take place online at 5pm on Wednesday 24th March 2021. You can register FREE at the following link: The good, the bad and the possible Tickets, Wed 24/03/2021 at 5:00 pm | Eventbrite

Hannah Dahlen AM is the Professor of Midwifery, Discipline Leader of Midwifery and Associate Dean (Research and Higher Degree Research) in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University. She has been a midwife for 30 years. Hannah has over 200 published journal articles and book chapters and has a strong national and international reputation in maternal health.

Expert Panel:

Ms Mary Kirk AM, Midwife and immediate past Vice-President of the International Confederation of Midwives

Dr Vijay Roach, President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RANZCOG)

Professor Joanne Gray, President of the Australian College of Midwives (ACM)

Ms Alecia Staines, Director of Maternity Consumer Network

Ms Melanie Briggs, Director of Binjilaanii Maternity Services Pty Ltd, Midwife at Waminda

Ms Bashi Hazard, Director of Human Rights in Childbirth (HRiC)

Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart, GP Obstetrician, National Rural Health Commissioner for Australia

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