Protecting Women’s Right to Safe Homebirth Choices

22 September 2024

Hinchinbrook MP and Katter’s Australian Party Deputy Leader, Nick Dametto, is backing North Queensland private practice midwives and advocates who are calling on the government to protect women’s reproductive rights and ensure they have continued access to midwifery-led care.

With new changes to federal insurance regulations for privately practicing midwives due to take effect on 1st July 2025, there are serious concerns about the potential impact on women’s choices and outcomes in childbirth.

Georgina Bosworth, Private Practice Midwife at Mumma G Midwifery in Ingham, has voiced concerns about how these changes will affect the ability of women in North Queensland to birth safely and according to their personal preferences.

“In just over three years of private practice midwifery, I have supported over 70 families in planning their homebirth,” said Ms. Bosworth.

“Research shows that 70-80% of private homebirths are considered high risk according to the biomedical model, yet these high-risk cohorts of women often have better outcomes than those in hospital.

“Women want choices that are right for them during pregnancy, labour, and birth, and it’s important to remember that safety is a concept that is individual and unique to each woman.

Ms. Bosworth also warned of the potential consequences of the new federal insurance product for Privately Practising Midwives (PPMs), which she says will lead to more women choosing to give birth without professional support.

“In a Homebirth Australia survey of 5,917 women, 56% said they would choose to freebirth at home without a qualified health professional if the planned changes go ahead. Over 40% said they would lie about their previous history to enable private midwifery care at home. This is a serious concern that could lead to negative state health consequences, and it’s something both State and Federal MPs can positively impact.

Azure Rigney, Advocacy Manager for Homebirth Australia and Maternity Choices Australia, further emphasised the importance of safeguarding both public and private homebirth and midwifery services, particularly in rural and remote areas.

“Women in rural Queensland are already limited in their birthing choices. It’s crucial that we see an expansion of public hospital-run homebirth programs to these areas, ensuring that all risk women can access midwifery-led care in the way that suits them ,” Ms. Rigney said.

“Additionally, we’re also calling for visiting access for private midwives to be extended to rural hospitals, so that women can have continuity of care whether they birth at home or in hospital.”

Mr Dametto supported the calls for better support of midwives and increased birthing options for Queensland women, particularly in rural communities.

“Quite often, one size doesn’t fit all and whether it’s home schooling, or home birthing, everyone should be afforded the opportunity of freedom of choice,” he said.

“I support what Ms. Bosworth’s and Ms. Rigney’s advocacy for women’s reproductive rights and the option of choosing the birth experience that works best for them.

“At the political level it is our responsibility to ensure that private midwives are supported, and that existing insurance exemptions are extended to ensure no woman is excluded from safe homebirth options if that is the choice they wish to make.

“Expanding public hospital-run homebirth programs and extending visiting access for private midwives to rural hospitals are both crucial steps to ensure that every woman in Queensland has the support and care she deserves, no matter where she lives.”

Mr Dametto has called on the Queensland Government to step up and engage with their federal counterparts to address these pressing concerns. He has written to the Queensland Health Minister, urging her to back key measures that include:

• Advocating for a 12-month extension of the existing insurance exemption to ensure legislation supports all women’s reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and informed choice for safe homebirths with private midwives, without excluding any women.
• Expanding publicly run homebirth programs to rural and remote areas across the state, ensuring that all women, including those considered high risk, have access to these vital services.
• Enhancing visiting access for private midwives to public hospitals in rural and remote locations, enabling continuity of care across both home and hospital settings.

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