We, the undersigned, call upon the Northern NSW Local Health District to increase staffing of its highly successful and proven home birth service at Mullumbimby to meet the demands of the local community.

In response to community pressure, such as from this petition, the Northern NSW Local

Health District approved the introduction of a one year pilot programme for a home birth service in March 2012.

In April 2012 the home birth pilot programme commenced operation from the Mullumbimby Community Birthing Service on the condition that no extra staffing was to be allocated by the Local Health District to the service. The dedicated midwives participating in the programme provided the service out of their existing workload.

Due to this restriction, it is only possible to grant two women per month a homebirth.

One year later the pilot programme has very positive clinical outcomes for all women and babies. There have been no transfers to hospital during any of the labours or births and both women and midwives have expressed overwhelming satisfaction with the service.

The only negative outcome is the scores of families who have missed out on the opportunity for a home birth in the last year due to staffing restrictions.

Sign below to help us meet community demand and ensure women and families are not

turned away from the experience of a home birth with the Mullumbimby Birth Centre.

PS: Please join us for a celebration of the achievements of the service in conjunction with International Midwives' Day on Sunday 5 May at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall at 1.30pm. More info here.

Maternity Coalition, Northern Rivers Branch