[This bounced from the list. Sorry for the delay in
forwarding it. ADMIN]
| Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 22:02:12 +0800
| To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| From: denise hynd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
| Subject: Study Days for change in 2000
|
| Dear All
| When we (in WA) began the other day reviewing the consitution including a
| comparison with that of other colleges we found no Phillosophy statement in
| this document.
| However There is an ACMI philosophical statement within the Code of
Practice
| which includes;
| "It is the responsibility of the midwife to maintain high standards of
| health care within the community through continued education, research and
| involvement in socio-political processes."
| Now it is obvious that the college and it's executive does all three though
| we seem to have had limited or slow effect as result. It is also these
| activities which are the most draining and little recognised by our member
| and non member colleagues.
| It is also apparent that it is the latter which the NZCoM engaged in which
| turned thier system around.
|
| More often as not it is my experience when you challenge individual
| Australian midwives and consumers (apart from obvious expceptions) to
| undertake "involvement in socio-political processes" the responses are
| either negative, dispirited etc due to feelings of inadequacey (fires of
| concern have been drowned in the medical system and propaganda) , lack of
| knowledge and experience.
| Yet until more midwives do become engaged or see hope due to their even
| singular activity let alone collective actions of becoming informed and
| active in socio-political processes we shall probably continue to
struggle.
|
| Therefore I want to challenge the organisers of midwifery study days and
| conferences to run workshops which inform midwives of our (local) struggle
| its history, current possible means of effecting change that for example;
| - how to write letters, make visits to politicians,
| - have lawyers and bureaucrats explain relative aspects of state and
federal
| laws which should bring equity for midwives and consumers for example the
| Trade Practices, Trans Tasman and Mutual recognition acts,
| - have politicians of each persuasion come and meet with midwife and
| consumer groups with this agenda and demand actions set time frames (play
| the poriachial cards eg such and such has why can't we- explain the cosy
| relationhip of medical bureacrats, leaving Dracula in charge of the blood
| bank scenario)
| - show groups of midwives how to organise a range of models of midwifery
| care in their settings using the experiences, expertise of people in the
| same state or similar area, including how to use the above means to counter
| expected opposition from YKW,
| - increase involvement and knowledge of local maternity consumer groups
and
| their assistance to attain mutual goals in each clinical setting.
|
| If we can't get funding for hombirths after the recent damaging publicity I
| think we should be able to get at least a Team Midwifery project and birth
| centre in every setting as each area calims to have the best yet wants to
| cut budgets!
| Personally I don't see why Australia can't go the way of NZ with this
| federal and most state govt moving down the privatisation economic
| rationalisation path if we as a profession make the most of the
| opportunities presented.
| Then there is the Aust Maternity Action Project!
| I can only understand apathy due to ignorance and that is not a
professional
| standard.
| Having just watched Aust Story about a burns victim who says thank you for
| her life experience I wish us all one tenth of her strength and self
belief!
|
| Denise
|
****************************************************************************
| ****
| Denise Hynd, Midwife, Lactation Consultant in Private Practice
| 173 Wilding Street, Doubleview (Perth) WA 6018
| Phone (08) 9446 1917 Email <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
|
****************************************************************************
| ****
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