Students and independent midwifery practice in Australia.

Abstract

The use of the term 'independent' in this paper refers to midwifery practice in which the midwife acts as primary caret, through pregnancy, birth and thereafter, and takes professional responsibility including attendance at the birth. In most States and Territories that usuaUy means homebirth, or i f hospital is needed the midwife accompanies the woman transferring to hospital. At this point the independent midwife may be expected to assume the rote of support person. In Western Australia and South Australia there is public health funding available for a Limited number of midwife-attended births, most of which are planned homebirths. Where there is no public funding the woman engages a midwife in private practice and pays an agreed sum. It is the absence of funding for midwife primary care, either in the public or private health systems, that restricts access to this option for women, and effectively prevents many midwives from acting as independent primary caregivers.