Community Midwifery Program AGM

My day started with some housework.....watching my grandson play his first game of tee-ball, they look so cute and little, wow Dylan at 5 hit the ball quite well and I was impressed; It did remind me of when my children started playing tee ball, the weekends of sport; As for Miss Bella she has just learned to play tag.... so spent my time watching and then playing tag... it was fun; I had enough time to stop and look at a school fete and couldn't’t resist buying a snoring teddy bear... I thought the grandkids would enjoy it when they come and visit....


The afternoon was spent at the CMPWA AGM; it was a delightful meeting, relaxing, it is so good to go a meeting and see mums, babies, (mums breastfeeding) midwives and yes a politician; Rachel Siewert Greens Senator for WA; it was refreshing.... you cannot go to many meetings in the current political climate and not talk about “the determination”; Rachel was a dynamic presenter, she outlined the history of the Maternity Services Review and the enormous progress that has been made in terms of maternity reforms; and the greatest voices are that of women with their babies..the march onto Parliament House the success of the mother of all rallies, in which the government realised what an error was made by not including homebirth in the Maternity Reforms which then lead to a retraction and a two year exemption on homebirth; which I might remind everyone that we have 18mths left and we need to be formulating a plan to include homebirth; one thing was evident for me and that is the power play of the AMA, politicians and midwives; I have said this before that we need to be focusing on the choices of women, the right to choose where and how to birth..The right to refuse treatment... the right to self determination of women.....not just about homebirth; we need this legislated as they do in the UK and NZ: then it is not about the AMA or midwifery, it is about women:


Rachel also discussed the views of many stakeholders, the many varied views on the determination; she gave some detailed background about the process of allowing and disallowing the determination and the possible way forward; she also acknowledged that in the mean time it was important to collate all the evidence of collaboration not working and forward this information to her office; the Australian College of Midwives is also collating this information so you could forward instances of collaboration not being effective to members@midwives.org.au


It was time for a bite to eat a cuppa, mingling & networking..... I was fortunate to meet Dr Ralph Hickling who is a retired Obstetrician; he is launching his new book entitled; “Childbirth today: Too many caesars, not enough joy?” a very interesting man... the book launch will be on Thursday 28th October at 6pm in the Fremantle Town Hall; if you are free come down and buy a book.....I can't wait to read it....


The AGM followed the break; Debbie Slater gave the Chair’s report eloquently and speedily, elections were conducted, no new business and the meeting was done.... the quickest AGM I have been to in a while... fantastic..... Then there was cake and more chatting....every midwives dream.....

It was late afternoon by now, I had enough time to call in to see a friend on the way home before dinner with my sister-in-law and an early night.... ah but the blog needs to be written...... so maybe not so early to bed, but its Sunday tomorrow sleep in day;