NSW Expands Illawarra Shoalhaven Midwifery Practice 19 March
An expanded Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) model is now in place in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, providing more women and families with access to continuity of midwifery care.
In addition to the establishment of a new MGP service in the Shoalhaven region last year, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District has also expanded the Wollongong MGP service.
Under the MGP model, women receive care from a known primary midwife throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth, and up to two weeks after birth. MGP midwives work as part of a team to ensure support and backup arrangements are in place, as needed.
The expanded Wollongong MGP now has a new team of five midwives providing care to women and families in the Illawarra. Each midwife has the capacity to care for up to 35 women a year through pregnancy, labour, birth and the early postpartum period.
A review of the criteria for MGP is also enabling more women with higher-level care needs to access the service, where clinically appropriate, or to stay in the program if they develop risk factors during pregnancy.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
“We want all women in NSW to have access to respectful, evidence-based maternity care, and the expansion of midwifery continuity of care, including the Midwifery Group Practice model, is a crucial step in achieving this vision.
“I’m thrilled that the new five midwife Wollongong MGP team is now in place, ensuring that more women in the Illawarra can access continuity of care during their pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience.
“By recruiting more midwives, we’re delivering on the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to provide women with the choice and care they deserve during one of the most important times in their lives.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:
“We have listened to the feedback that women want greater access to midwifery continuity of care, and it’s terrific to see the Wollongong MGP service expand.
“The Wollongong MGP service is a popular one and the recruitment of a new team of midwives means more Wollongong women will be able to access it.”
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20250319_02.aspx