Dear List, I am very pleased to be able - finally - to send out this email to let you know that the National Maternity Action Plan is now in final draft form and available at the WA CMP website:
www.communitymidwifery.iinet.net.au click on the National Maternity Action Plan link and there you have it! The final stage of preparing the NMAP before it is publicly launched in June is to seek endorsement for the document from a wide range of community and professional organizations and individuals. A number of organisations and individuals have already endorsed the Plan. There is still time for others to join the list! Ideas on potential endorsees include: - all of the birthing support and childbirth education organizations across Australia, - midwifery organizations, - eminent midwives (practicing and/or academic/research), - obstetric organizations (RANZCOG) - eminent obstetricians and doctors involved in maternity care, - women's organizations with a broad interest/commitment to women's health and wellbeing, women's rights groups etc. The overall objective of this endorsement process is to have as many voices of support for the strategic vision of the Plan as possible, and from a wide range of sources, so that when government's are asked to seriously consider the NMAP recommendations they appreciate that there is a broad weight of opinion behind it already. It will be particularly important to have key stakeholders from each State, as well as nationally renowned organizations and individuals prepared to indicate their support for the Plan. The final list of endorsements will be published on p.2 of the Plan. If you have any particular suggestions on organisations/individuals who should be invited to endorse the document pls email them to me or to Tracy Reibel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Better still, take the running on seeking out endorsements in your local area yourself. Feel free to download the introductory letter from the webpage and run with it as is, or with modifications for your group/area. If you wish to endorse the Plan yourself, pls send an email to that effect stating your name, qualifications if any, plus your city/town and State of residence. The due date for advice of endorsements is 21 June 2002. (The website says 7 June but this will be amended shortly). This will allow us to prepare the final printing of the document for publicy release by the end of June. Stay tuned for news of the launch. All offers of assistance with either the endorsement process or the co-ordinated media launch are most welcome. yours in better birth for all women, Barb Vernon. Dr Barbara Vernon National President The Maternity Coalition -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
