While I agree that Direct Entry would be a wonderful opportunity for women
choosing to be midwives and for many birthing women. I do have a concern
that I would like to share with the list.
My concern is for women choosing to give birth in small country towns all
over Australia. Rural (let alone remote) Australia is having incredible
difficulty recruiting midwives to practice and as a result maternity
services all over the country are being closed and women are being forced
to larger centres, often many hours away to give birth (A homebirth midwife
is only a fantasy!). Direct entry may help in encouraging more women to
midwifery. But, in these small towns the reality is that midwives also
double/triple as accident and emergnecy nurses, gerontology nurses, etc. As
an idealist, I agree that this is awful and plays a role in discouraging
qualified midwives from practising and the health service should realise
this and do something. As a realist, I must admit (and nearly choke as I
do so) they are - they continue to close down birthing opportunities for
rural women - it makes great sense economically - it is a tragedy for
women, their babies and their families.
My concern is that birthing opportunities for rural women will be even
further reduced if Direct Entry were to be accepted and midwives cannot
also function as nurses in rural hospitals.
Elaine Dietsch
11 Willow St
Leeton NSW 2705
02 69 533 272
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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