Petition to Allow Private Midwives to be Eligible for Professional Indemnity Insurance or to Be Exempt from Being Required to Enroll in PI

Really for a not high risk pregnancy why introduce it through a strained hospital system??

God knows we need them

My baby, my body, my choice, my right.

Home birth is such a beneficial service for pregnant women who chose to birth at home. It promotes women the opportunity to safely birth in their own surroundings while decreasing the risk of intervention.

It is a womans right to choose where and with whom she births. This right must not be taken away

Birth is one of the most sacred and empowering moments in a woman's life. We deserve the right to choose where we give birth and being supported in this is crucial. Midwives are a critical part of birth support whether this be at home or hospital. Women must not be forced to choose between having midwife support and birthing alone at home.

We need private midwives and we need birth choices. Please don't take this option away from families.

I had 3 amazing homebirths, also thanks to my wonderful midwives. Continuous care (including pre- and post natal) by the same trusted midwife makes a huge positive difference. Every mother-to-be should have the choice where to give birth. Let private midwives be the norm, not the exemption!

Every woman should have the freedom of choice when it comes to the birth of their own child. If they are low risk, there is no reason why they cannot birth at home in the excellent hands of a private midwife. I have attended My Midwives Brisbane West for my first birth and they are amazing at what they do. I am planning a home birth for my second with them in November and it makes me sad to think it may not be possible for other women to birth in the comfort of their own home. Why force them into hospital where they are out of their comfort zone and be enticed to use interventions? Is it because the health system is losing out on money from interventions? If so, that is incredibly sad. Australian intervention rates are high enough as it is, if a woman wants to birth at home, why do they not have they choice to do so?!!!!

As a woman, who is at the age where pregnancy and birth may be my path soon, I would be completely dismayed if I couldn't have the CHOICE to safely birth at home with an independent midwife. As I live in victoria, and it's not legal to birth in a pool in hospital, my only choice for my dream water birth experience is to birth at home, I want the choice to do this safely with a midwife who has insurance. It is a woman's choice not the governments, so put the choice back into our hands. Women are powerful and wonderful creatures who will fight this. So give us what we want, our freedom to choose where we birth and who we have there for our support.

Greater options of midwifery led care for low risk women!

Women are safe at home with a good midwife, it saves the government money and helps people take responsibility for their lives which is a good thing

Had the best midwife for helping me giving birth to both my daughters at home. With her it was easy and I am grateful to this day for her knowledge and wisdom ! Supporting midwifes is crucial - women who had their professional support know why ! No man who is involved in this knows how important these professionals are.

Australian women would benefit from more midwifery lead care and continuity. Don't take these options away! Our intervention rates are far too high as it is

This is so important.

Home birth sould be allowed

Please let women have a choice as to where they birth.

this is crazy birth is a natural process!!! let Australian women have a choice! it is crazy how medicalized birth is in Australia! take a leaf outta NZ they have the right idea. so disappointing!

We need choices so that we can continue to provide holistic care for mothers and babies.

I am so grateful that I have the option to give birth to my first child where I feel safest: at home. Hospitals are for sick people; I'm not sick, I'm pregnant, and possibly the healthiest I've ever been. So much research exists proving the better outcomes of home over hospital births for low risk women.