Joy Johnston has asked me to forward her email as she is not currently on Ozmid. Anyone in Victoria who wants to know more about this event, please send an email to Joy [EMAIL PROTECTED] and she will add you to the Maternity Coalition (Vic branch) mailing list. Regards, Andrea Bilcliff
----- Original Message ----- Dear people Please note in your diaries the National Mothers’ Day of Action, which is planned for 8 May in Vic and NSW. Other States are planning a day or so earlier, but it’s all happening close to Mothers’ Day. We are pulling out all stops to lobby the federal government to change maternity services – it’s a federal election year, so expect them to listen to what you want, cos they want your vote. The federal health budget controls Medicare funding, and Medicare funding is what puts most prenatal care into the hands of doctors. Nothing against doctors, mind you. It’s just that they aren’t midwives, and the only way for a woman and a midwife to work in partnership is for the midwife to be primary carer through the pregnancy and birth and early parenting. The evidence supporting one-to-one midwifery care is meaningless as long as women can’t access primary care from a known midwife. You will have seen Justine’s article about this action in Birth Matters. For those on these lists who are not current members of Maternity Coalition, you may not have seen Birth Matters. If go to the group website and you will find a .pdf version of Birth Matters March 04 ready to be downloaded. Plans in Vic are coming on well, and we need people to put their hands up to help where possible. People in other States, please contact your branch president and get yourself included in the planning (listed in BM or on HYPERLINK "http://www.maternitycoalition.org.au"; www.maternitycoalition.org.au ). Here’s an idea of what’s planned in Vic. A group from Bendigo is organising a busload. Everyone can find a way to contribute. The full details will be sent out as soon as they are finalised. Rally in the gardens of the Royal Exhibition Building, the site of Australia’s first parliament Be part of the Action… Join mothers, fathers, children, midwives, child and maternity services groups, other health professionals and media to voice our concern about the lack of choice in maternity services for Australian women. On the day… Speak to politicians and candidates about what you want in maternity care Breastfeeding sit-in Midwives birthing tent Face painting and other attractions for children Information packs Ask Questions and get Answers from midwives and consumer activists Meet other concerned parents and professionals Show your support for improving maternity care and informed choice for women. Bring the family, the picnic rug, the esky packed with lunch, … and celebrate informed choices in pregnancy and mothering with us. I will be writing separately to midwives and midwifery students about setting up displays in our birthing tent. Ideas so far are a birthing pool, birth balls, ‘talk to a midwife’, students do mother and baby checks for free … If you want to join the midwives list, just let me know. I have an old kit that was in my grandmother’s house. It has lots of useful stuff including big enema cans that used to be used for soap and water enemas “high, hot and a hell of a lot” – we were still getting them when I became a midwife and a mother in 1973. Also some shaving gear! Perhaps I should wear a veil! Enough dreaming. Please let us know if you want to be involved. Joy Johnston 03 9808 9614 -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
