NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday June 24 2009
Contact: Justine Caines 0408 210 273
Homebirth Australia today slammed the exclusion of homebirth from insurance schemes for midwives announced by the Health Minister Nicola Roxon in parliament today.
“Effectively two pieces of legislation will outlaw midwives providing homebirth care from July 2010” said Justine Caines, mother of seven and secretary of Homebirth Australia.
“Women will continue to homebirth, but will now be forced to do so without the assistance of a qualified professional.” said Ms Caines.
“It is unacceptable and unsafe to force a woman into a choice that is not optimal for her, whether that is a hospital birth or a birth at home without midwifery support. It is absolutely impossible to understand the government’s position on this, other than to say that they have bowed to political pressure from medical lobby groups.”
The National Maternity Service Review received submissions from hundreds of women wanting access to homebirth services. The vast majority of homebirth services are provided by private practice midwives. Removing this option is likely to end access for most women to homebirth.
Ms Caines called on all ALP members to declare their view on a woman’s right to self determination of her health care needs. “If the ALP is so hell bent on preventing women from accessing homebirth as an option I ask all ALP members to publically state their position on this.
It appears that having a Health Minister who is a woman, a recent mother, and a lawyer understanding consumers’ rights, is not proving to be an advantage for women. Removing women’s rights to the point where we are back providing care in dark alleys or in back rooms is ridiculous in 2009.”
Interviews/photos with Homebirth mothers and babies please contact
Justine Caines on 0408 210 273
Who Are We?
Homebirth Australia is the peak homebirth body. Our members are consumers, midwives and related health professionals committed to ensuring the survival of homebirth as a birth option for Australian women, with the overall aim of national funding.
Homebirth Australia aims to:
- support the rights of homebirth parents to choose how, where and with whom they give birth.
- increase public awareness and acceptance of homebirth.
- provide communication and support to members of Homebirth Australia.
- provide information to parents planning homebirth.
- provide information, support and networking to service providers.
- convene an annual national conference.
Homebirth - Soon to be illegal?
Since 2001 midwives have been unable to purchase an indemnity insurance policy. This was due to global factors with the collapse of the insurance market after September 11 and a landmark obstetric birth injury case proving a payout of $11 million in 2002. Guild insurance was providing indemnity at the time and they made a straightforward economic decision. With just under 200 privately practising midwives paying approximately $800 per annum, there was simply not a large enough pool to fund a payout of the magnitude mentioned above. Medical Practitioners indemnity premiums were subsidised by the Howard Government and continue with over $900 million of tax-payers money has been spent to date. Homebirth midwives continue to be denied professional parity. Women choosing homebirth are treated as de-facto health consumers and are the only health consumers denied the protection of practitioner insurance. If as planned homebirth midwives are unable to practice, women seeking homebirth care will be unable to access a registered midwife.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has prepared draft legislation to establish a National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for all Health Professionals by July 2010. This body will require evidence of medical or professional indemnity insurance to secure registration. This presents a very serious threat to women who want to access homebirth with a midwife. To date the Government have made it clear that they do not intend to provide indemnity insurance to private practice homebirth midwives. As a result these midwives will be unable to register, hence making it illegal for them to attend homebirths. Homebirth Australia sees this as a breach of basic human rights and possibly a contravention of Convention of the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
PLEASE SIGN OUR ONLINE PETITION
Homebirth Rights Rally:
The MOTHER all of rallies. Bus loads of women and their families from across the country are descending on Canberra to fight for our rights to birth where and with whom we choose.
WHEN: Sept 7th @ 11.30am
WHERE: outside Parliament House, Canberra
You can register your commitment to attend on face book
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1641140582&v=feed&story_fbid=9419...
CAN’T COME?
Be a ‘virtual rallier’. For every person who is unable to attend we are organising a virtual rally in conjunction with our ‘live’ rally. Pledge $25, send us a head shot, your name and location and 25 words or less that you want the politicians to hear. We will mount your head shot onto a cardboard pregnant belly with your message, which will be attached to bamboo and will be placed in the ground outside Parliament House. Your pledge will go towards the cost of your cut and our continuing campaign.
