Introduction and request for help

[DebSlater]

Hi

My name is Debbie Slater and (amongst other things) an antenatal teacher (CBE) living in Perth.  I trained with the National Childbirth Trust in the UK and hold their Diploma of Higher Education from the University of Luton.  I moved here 18 months ago from the UK.  I have teamed up with a fellow NCT teacher here in Perth and we are looking to start classes here in Perth - very much along the lines of the NCT ethos of "informed choice".

Could any of you provide us with words of wisdom/ guidance?  Particular questions that we have are - how can we get professional indemnity insurance, and how do we keep up our professional development.  In the UK the NCT provided both of these, although we could (and did) attend other Study days - for example those held by the RCM and the RCOG.  We have approached a local hospital about attending study days held there only to be told that "we need to have had midwifery training to understand there courses", and as we are not trained midwives they would not be appropriate.  Our response that our training involved a siginificant amount of midwifery and obstetric content fell on deaf ears. 

Email me offlist if you prefer.

Thank you for your help, and I look forward to being part of your group.

Debbie Slater
CBE, Perth, WA