Welcome to Maternity Choices Australia, we have been advocating for women, people who become pregnant, give birth and access maternity care that do not identify as women, their families and communities for over thirty years. We are dedicated to improving equity in and the quality of maternity care in Australia.

Current projects & campaigns

We are committed to supporting maternity consumers, their families and community and advocating for them on national, state and local levels. Below are some of the projects and campaigns we are currently working on, click through here​ for further information. 
Maternity Choices Australia, through its various platforms (email, social media groups and pages, direct contact with our maternity consumer reps, national, local and topic-based committees and via our website) have been receiving regular inquiries and comments regarding the drastic changes to maternity care during the COVID-19 period. 
At Maternity Choices Australia we are acutely aware of the current fragmented nature of maternity care in Australia, where over 98% of women give birth in a hospital environment and less than 30% have true continuity of care. Continuity of care means that the person accessing maternity health services sees the same person or small team of people for the duration of their maternity care and across the perinatal continuum. 

Fragmented care leads to poorer outcomes for mothers, babies, the care providers and the public purse. It also increases interventions and leads to poorer reporting and recording of mothers, babies and care provider experiences. 
This model of care is cited globally and in current, grade A evidence to be one of the best models of care, leading to better outcomes for mothers, babies, care providers and the public purse. Out of 100% of maternity health consumers in Australia, less than 10% have access to true Midwifery Continuity of Carer or Midwifery led-carer. 

For Midwifery continuity of carer to be true, the person accessing this model of care must have access to relationship-based care in a continuity model with a midwife of their choice. The care needs to be provided throughout the continuum of the perinatal period - during pregnancy, the labour and birth itself, immediately after childbirth and the first few days and weeks post birth. 
Maternity Choices Australia has a long-standing commitment to promoting, discussing and advocating for human rights in childbirth. We work with consumers, academia, government and other bodies to bring to light this important matter. 
This year MCA has teamed up with three other not for profit maternity and motherhood advocacy groups in light of international maternal mental health matters day.
OUR MOTHERS MATTER, their wellbeing matters. Along with these organisations we have made a commitment to bring important discussions to mothers, parents, family, community and care providers that bring to light some of the most pressing matters for mothers and a working group - Maternal Mental Health Matters Australia 2020 was established on the first Wednesday of May.

News

~ Recent article on 9 nEWS SHEDS LIGHT ON MOTHER'S EXPERIENCES

Brisbane mother says too much intervention, not enough continuity is the reason for a very difficult childbirth experience.  

 ~ Listen to MCA Consumer Rep on 3AW

Listen to a recent interview with MCA Consumer Rep Rose Ryan, discussing induction and pre-term labour on 3AW.

~ SIGN OUR PETITION FOR MATERNITY FUNDING REFORM

Australian women’s basic human right to give birth where and with who they choose is under threat. Alongside many other organisations, Maternity Choices is working tirelessly to ensure women's rights in childbirth are protected and represented and that women's voices are heard sound and clear. Find out more about this campaign by visiting our Petition on Change.org. 
Cover image thanks to Georgia from Documenting Delight.