Crown Perth will host the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) 21st National Conference from 16—18 October. Hundreds of midwives from all over Australia will come together to explore new ideas and technology, exchange knowledge and share experiences.

 

There is a significant body of empirical evidence that demonstrates that midwifery led care improves outcomes across a wide range of measures for mothers and their babies as well as costing the health system significantly less than other models of care. Midwives really are the key to woman centred, safe maternity care. The Lancet series on caesarean section released just last Friday shows that midwifery continuity is key.

 

Every year, midwives come together at the ACM National Conference to reflect on and celebrate midwifery. ACM President Terri Barrett said, “it’s vital that as a group, we look back at how far the profession has come and look forward to what is still to be achieved”.

 

“The evidence is in and there is no question that midwifery led care delivers better outcomes. The challenge is ensuring expectant mothers know this as well as helping other health professionals catch up on the facts. Midwifery has come of age.”

 

“The midwifery community in Australia is relatively small. This annual opportunity to come together is key for knowledge and research sharing, and means advancements in evidence based best practice make their way into clinical practice quickly.”

 

“There’s no other profession quite like midwifery. The highs are high, the lows are low and the relationship between woman and midwife is often stronger than with other maternity professionals. At one of the most vulnerable times in a woman’s life, we take the time to centre our care on the woman and support her to make her own decisions.”

 

This year’s conference themes are ‘Sharing the Wisdom’, ‘Great Innovations: Look How Far We’ve Come’ and ‘Valuing Every Midwife Everywhere’.  Keynote speakers at this year’s conference, Professor Address Malata from Malawi, Dr Doseena Fergie, Catherine Hughes, Professor Jonathan Carapetis and Adjunct Professor Tanya Farrell will talk about different aspects of midwifery and maternity care.

 

“Being in Perth this year, we are focusing on some aspects of midwifery that are particularly important in Western Australia; women and midwives of the First People and the achievements of rural and remote midwives,” Ms Barrett concluded.