Thank you for inviting me to speak at the launch of ‘Small Miracles’. It is an inspiring book of Australian stories about recovery, survival and the restitution of hope after the loss of a baby from miscarriage, stillbirth and prematurity.
It is a very moving publication, highlighting the fact that few issues are as important as supporting women to make informed choices concerning their pregnancy and birthing options – and to give our children the best start in life.
Although Australia is one of the safest countries in which to give birth or to be born, there is always room for improvement.
The Government undertook the Maternity Services Review because of our concern that the health system was not meeting the needs of all Australian women and their families as well as it could. The report of the review focused on the need to improve choices available to pregnant women without jeopardising our strong record of high quality, safe maternity services. It also focused on the need to support the maternity services workforce, and improve integration across support services.
In response, the Government has committed $120.5 million over four years to improve choice and access to maternity services for women who are pregnant, and new mothers in Australia.
Our aim is to ensure that the Australian health system meets the needs of mums in this most important phase of their lives.
This includes providing the best information so that the choices they make about their pregnancy are fully informed.
And it includes providing them with the support they need when things don’t go according to plan – when depression, even tragedy, strikes – which is what has brought us all together here today.
The Australian Government has recently announced $5.1 million over three years to provide telephone-based support for women experiencing post or antenatal depression, or grief following the loss of a baby.
The four organisations we have funded are Post and Antenatal Depression Australia (PANDA), SIDS and Kids Australia, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support (SANDS), and the Bonnie Babes Foundation.
SIDS and Kids Australia, SANDS and the Bonnie Babes Foundation will receive funding to boost their capacity to support women and families who suddenly and unexpectedly lose a baby in the perinatal period, including through miscarriage or stillbirth. In Australia, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome accounts for the deaths of more babies aged between one and 12 months than any other known cause.
PANDA will receive funding to increase its capacity to provide support for expecting, or new mothers, with depression. Postnatal depression affects almost 16 per cent of new mothers in Australia, while around 10 per cent of women experience depression during pregnancy.
In 2006, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, there were more than 2,900 perinatal deaths in Australia. In addition, each year many more parents experience the loss of a baby early in the pregnancy.
These four organisations share a remarkable history of experience in their fields with the Bonnie Babes Foundation providing support when it is most needed for about 15 years.
Clearly, your experience is only matched by your dedication.
Generations of Australian women and their families have been able to rely on your support services to help them cope with depression, or the grief which follows the sad loss of a baby.
I am pleased that the funding will boost your capacity to do what you do so well.
This funding is part of our $120.5 million commitment in the 2009-10 Budget to improve access to maternity services for pregnant women and new mothers.
Through this commitment, the Government will also fund, from 1 July next year, (2010) a 24 hour, seven days a week national telephone helpline.
This helpline will expand and improve the existing National Pregnancy Support Helpline to provide access to information, advice and support to women, their partners and families relating to pregnancy and up to 12 months after the birth of a child.
Advice relating to pregnancy and the demands of a new baby including maternal nutrition, breastfeeding, a baby's development and sleeping habits will be available.
Information on other maternity related services, including specialist and support services, will also be available.
The helpline will direct people onto other existing services as appropriate, such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association's 24 hour national helpline, or the National Health Call Centre Network for advice from a Registered Nurse.
To complement the helpline service, existing websites will be improved for consumers to access reliable online health information about maternity care.
An estimated 180,000 women and their families will benefit from this 24/7 access to advice and information relating to pregnancy and the demands of a new baby.
The Government's reform package will also benefit eligible midwives, provide more flexible services for rural and remote communities, and give extra scholarships for GPs and midwives to expand the maternity workforce.
On 8 September 2009, legislation to facilitate access by patients of appropriately qualified and experienced midwives from 1 November 2010 to the Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme passed the House.
The legislation will also support the establishment of Government supported professional indemnity insurance for eligible midwives.
These new arrangements for midwives will assist in providing increased choice for women, better utilisation of the midwifery workforce and more collaborative models of care.
It is now due to go through the Senate- where we hope it will be supported by both sides of the parliament.
Conclusion
The Government is proud to be implementing historic reforms on behalf of the women of Australia.
The support we have announced for the four organisations – along with the national helpline – are important for a number of reasons.
Firstly, they will improve information available for women during and after their pregnancy.
Secondly, they give greater flexibility which will particularly benefit people in rural and remote areas, women experiencing antenatal or postnatal depression, and women from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Thirdly, women experiencing perinatal depression or grief, through miscarriage or stillbirth, will be able to access targeted peer support services through specialist non-government organisations.
These telephone support services mean people will be able to get the help they need relating to their pregnancy – whether it’s advice on why their baby isn’t eating, or not breastfeeding properly, not sleeping or not developing – or support to help them cope in tragic times – good, sound, practical advice, or support from people who have been through what they’re going through now.
This is just the first stage in the reform process, and I shall of course continue to work with women and their families and support groups and health professionals – in fact many of you here today - as we begin to implement the measures included in the Budget package.
I am delighted to launch this beautiful book and commend it to all Australians.
Thank you.
