[ozmidwifery] letter to ind midwives re insurance meet

[Denise Hynd]

Title: Claire Bunton

Claire Bunton                                                                     Robyn Thompson          RN, RM, Ba Science (nursing), LLB                                     RN, RM, M&CHN, LC,  BAppSc                                                                                             [EMAIL PROTECTED]                                                 [EMAIL PROTECTED]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Tuesday 28th March 2005     Re:  PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY FOR MIDWIVES - PROVIDING HOMEBIRTH SERVICES   We write inviting you to a meeting addressing the vital issue of insurance for Australian Midwives who provide valued homebirth services.   The Northern Territory government introduced legislative changes in 2004 under the Health Practitioners Act. One significant effect of these changes was to make professional insurance compulsory for all Health Practitioners. This was despite the fact that midwives are the only Health Professionals who cannot obtain insurance on the world market.  The concern is that other states and territories will follow. Employed midwives are provided with insurance by their employer during the course of their work. Nationally and Internationally self employed midwives rely on Insurance Agencies to access professional insurance.   For many the issue is quite daunting but not insurmountable. The time has come for midwives to vigorously and strategically tackle the issue on a large scale with the assistance of key people with professional, political, legal and business savvy. We are suggesting the meeting be held in Alice Springs where key people from these professions convene to problem solve, to formulate a strategic plan, to place that plan in the public domain and on the federal governments agenda.    We anticipate that this would be a one day event, in the proximity of International Midwives Day. Alternatively, it could be two days to make time for networking and socialising. Expenses would be self incurred but clearly tax deductible as a business convention. We have chosen Alice Springs because it is central to all capital cities and because the Territory is the first to change the law. However, it maybe that Sydney is a better option to capitalise on the available resources there in terms of useful people.   We invite you to participate in the meeting by attending to help us with your ideas or by demonstrating your support, communicating your ideas to Robyn and myself and linking into an email list.  It is imperative we are united and strong to let insurers and the federal government and the Australian Medical Association know we are serious about challenging the continual denial of insurance to midwives.   Senator Aden Ridgeway of the Australian Democrats, eloquently raised the issue in the Senate last week.  He has done this on a number of occasions. The time is right to follow up his words and show that we care about the support he has shown us. http://www.democrats.org.au/speeches/index.htm?speech_id=1560&display=1   Please indicate by return email your interest in coming to the meeting, your preference for Alice Springs or Sydney and whether you would like to participate in an email link up. The email link is to keep us all informed and to share ideas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Claire Bunton                                                                  Robyn Thompson   Affordable Insurance for Midwives Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/CMWA_Board/   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

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