Genuine reform, not dangerous distractions.

Better Births Illawarra calls for genuine reform not using tragedies to push failed political agendas.

MEDIA RELEASE - 6th November 2025

Better Births Illawarra stands with mothers and families across Australia in calling for governments to centre women’s rights and lived experiences in all decisions about maternity care — not the interests of professional lobby groups. We call on the Federal and state governments to prioritise access to continuity of midwifery care models, including publicly funded homebirths and embedding respectful maternity care rather than wasting money and resources criminalising doulas.

Our community is deeply alarmed by renewed calls to restrict women’s legal right to choice and autonomy in birth, detracting from the clear recommendations from the NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry that are applicable across Australia. The historic Inquiry revealed what women and midwives have been saying for years — that mistreatment, disrespect and trauma in hospital births are far too common and leave lasting scars on mothers, babies and communities.

“It is highly inappropriate that a recent tragedy in Victoria is being weaponised to advance failed political agendas in an attempt to further control and limit women’s rights, says Sharon Settecasse, Executive Director of Better Births Illawarra. “Sadly, deaths in childbirth happen both inside and outside hospital walls. The death of a mother or baby in childbirth should never be used as a political pawn or to vilify women or those who support them. ” 

ACM and RANZCOG’s joint statement in a ‘Call to end freebirth deaths’ is a misguided and harmful distraction from the real issues in maternity care. It ignores the clear, documented solutions identified by the NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry and the Federal Woman-Centred Care Strategy, while pouring energy into controlling women and policing their support people.

“It’s a dangerous distraction that risks diverting limited resources from real reform needed in a maternity system failing mothers and babies.” said Sharon Settecasse.

The call is asking  state and federal health ministers to put through legislation to be consistent with the model adopted in South Australia under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (South Australia) (Restricted Birthing Practices) Amendment Act 2013. Legislation similar to that introduced in South Australia has led to the prosecution of doulas and intimidation of women who sought non-medical, emotional and cultural support in their own homes. These measures have failed to improve safety and instead have increased fear, isolation and trauma among birthing families.

Better Births Illawarra firmly supports the fundamental human right of women and birthing people to decide where, how and with whom they choose to birth - without interference from government or professional industry bodies. Any attempt to remove those rights violates human rights, bodily autonomy, privacy and equity.

Mums in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven need continuity of care, not policing.

In the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, eight out of ten women don’t have access to continuity of midwifery care, including homebirth midwives. Whilst some women will always choose to birth outside the system, that is their legal right. The concern is when that choice is used to justify policing women and their support people.

Many women move away from birthing inside the hospital system because they cannot access safe, respectful care, and one in three report trauma from hospital births. Private midwifery care, costing $4,000–$8,000, is out of reach for most families, and this lack of access hits rural, regional, and First Nations communities hardest. This highlights the urgent need for government investment in accessible, respectful continuity of midwifery care options for everyone.

Better Births Illawarra regularly hears from distressed women who feel unsafe, unheard, or traumatised by hospital-based maternity care. Our region urgently needs more continuity of midwifery care options, respectful maternity service policies and funding towards relationship-based care and trust — not fear or heavy-handed control.

“Women choose to birth outside the medical system for a range of reasons. Families aren’t choosing to birth outside the system because they don’t care about safety — they do it because they can’t access safe, respectful care,” said Alyssa Booth, Doula and Better Births Illawarra member.

“Most women want continuity of support with a midwife through pregnancy, birth and postpartum, but that simply isn’t available or affordable. The answer isn’t taking women’s choices away; it’s to make every birth safe, empowered and respectful.”

We know our local community reflects families right across Australia. We want mothers and babies to be treated with respect and to have access to an empowered birth, anything less just isn’t good enough.

The evidence has been clear about what works: continuity of midwifery led care, compassion, autonomy and choice. We are ready to collaborate with governments to act and make that care a reality for everyone.

We joined other consumer groups and made a powerful joint statement in response to the RANZCOG and ACM statment.

Better Births Illawarra calls on Federal and State Health Ministers to:

• Prioritise universal access to continuity of midwifery care:  Fund and expand homebirth, midwife-led birth centres, and continuity of midwifery care programs so every woman or birthing parent can access safe, respectful, culturally grounded care through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

• Uphold women’s legal and human rights:  Protect bodily autonomy and informed choice in every birth setting.

• Develop a Woman-Centered Maternity Care Standard:  Embed respectful, evidence-based, person-centered care into the National Safety and Quality Health Service framework to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.