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

Choices in childbirth matter.

We need to support women in every birth setting. The insurance rules need to be amended so that midwives can attend women to birth at home too.

Taking away another choice for women in Victoria is not a viable solution. We need leaders to step up and listen to women, hear what is important to them regarding maternity choices.

Safer at home than in hospital for the right woman these days ! Less intervention

A woman's choice to birth at home should be honoured and respected, and equipped to do so safely for the sake of her and her baby.

As a woman who benefitted greatly from the support of a private midwife, I urge you to continue to allow midwives to be exempt from this insurance. Without this exemption, the majority of private practising midwives will no longer be able to support women in the wonderful way that they currently do. This won't just be a loss for those women, but for their children and for society as a whole, as the one-on-one support that these midwives provide has been proven to have so many health benefits for women and their babies. Benefits which last a lifetime.

The future of my profession relys on this!

It is so important for women to allow them this option for birthing!

Women and families must be supported to birth safely in their place of choice. Simple!

I believe a woman should be able to give birth whichever method is most comfortable for her and her partner.

Women must be allowed choice for how they wish to give birth. Homebirth with a private midwife is a valid and safe option and must be allowed to continue. Hospitals are letting so many women down and for vast numbers of women the only way they feel safe to birth is at home. If private midwives are not able to facilitate a home birth, women all around this county will choose free birth instead. The Australian government would failing so many if it made this a reality.

There is no comparison in birthing at hospital and at home. This must remain an option for woman!!!

Women should be able to choose where to give birth and we need midwifery support in doing so. Do not take this away from us.

I've birthed in a hospital and at home. Giving birth at home was the most amazing thing I've ever done. And so normal. It would be an absolute travesty if women and their families were prevented from birthing in this way with trained professional midwives.

I believe in women's choice.

Women will turn more to free birthing if this avenue of choice is denied them. Midwives are needed in the community to facilitate safe birth for women. If a woman chooses to birth at home it is her right to be supported by a suitably qualified midwife.

I sign in favour of indemnity insurance for Homebirth midwives

I've birthed 3 children at home. Couldn't imagine having it any other way. The support and encouragement from my midwives was overwhelming. This service is very much needed!!!

Sign sign sign!!! Would be a shame to see home birth midwives go through this!!! The are a rarity as it is and they are much needed!

Please do not take away women's choice!