Developing a public homebirth model for Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government is inviting feedback on a public sector homebirth model, which will increase options for Tasmanian women and increase professional opportunities for midwives.

A consultation paper has today been launched to inform the development of a new Tasmanian Public Homebirth Program, which will draw on the evidence base, best practices and the experiences of other Australian jurisdictions where public homebirth models have been implemented.

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Bridget Archer, said public homebirth is a safe and woman-centred model that leads to positive outcomes for women and babies, and increases the scope of practice for midwives.

“We are committed to listening and responding to Tasmanians, and the release of this consultation paper today is an important step towards the development of a public homebirth model in Tasmania,’’ Minister Archer said.

“This is about helping Tasmanians deal with the challenges they face, with compassion and commonsense.

“We know pregnancy and birth are one of the most important and precious moments that a family will experience in their lifetime, and working towards a public homebirth model is about offering women additional choice in how and where they birth.

“Importantly, introducing a public homebirth model in Tasmania will provide access to an alternative model of safe and woman-centred care that is personalised to the woman, is respectful and empowering.

“Introducing this model of care will also be beneficial for our highly valued midwives across Tasmania, by creating professional opportunities for them to work to their full scope of practice.

“The consultation paper outlines the proposed inclusion criteria for a public homebirth model, and we encourage all Tasmanians with an interest in this matter to provide their feedback, which will inform the model, principles, operational implementation and evaluation.”

Minister Archer said the development of a public homebirth model followed the Select Committee on Reproductive, Maternal and Paediatric Health Services, which received submissions calling for evidence-based, respectful and trauma-informed care. A key part of this feedback was a desire for improved continuity of care and greater choice for women.

The development of this model will include a focus on integration with existing maternity services across Tasmania, including the Midwifery Group Practice model.

Feedback is invited via the Department of Health website. Formal consultations will continue until 19 October.

For more information about consultation on the Public Homebirth strategy, visit the Department of Health website.