Any action? Reflections on the Australian Midwifery Action Project

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Healthcare Policy
• Professional Standards

Background:

• Midwifery in Australia identified as lagging behind developed nations in 1997.
• The Australian Midwifery Action Project (AMAP) was initiated to address these concerns.
• AMAP aimed to fund a national study on midwifery education and practice standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review midwifery education and regulation changes based on AMAP recommendations.
• To assess if current standards ensure a fit-for-purpose midwifery workforce for best practice care.
• To examine the impact of changes on midwifery education and practice quality over 20 years.

Main Methods:

• Discussion paper reviewing midwifery education and regulation.
• Framework analysis of changes implemented since AMAP's inception.
• Evaluation of workforce data and educational course variations.

Main Results:

• Significant changes in midwifery education and regulation have occurred over two decades.
• Persistent issues include midwifery's integration with nursing and lack of accurate workforce data.
• Variations in midwifery education courses across Australia remain despite national standards.

Conclusions:

• While progress has been made, critical issues identified by AMAP persist.
• Current education and regulation may not fully support a workforce delivering optimal midwifery care.
• Ongoing challenges impact the quality and consistency of midwifery practice in Australia.