Advocacy
Advocate For Change
LESS THAN 12% OF AUSTRALIAN WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO MIDWIFERY-LED CONTINUITY OF CARE
MCA works to improve our maternity system so that it better meets the needs and choices of Australian women accessing maternity care services. We do this through consumer representation, consumer advocacy, education and support.
NATIONAL ADVOCACY
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Much of our advocacy relates to maternity services across the country. Find out more HERE.
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STATE ADVOCACY
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Find out about the state advocacy work being done by clicking on a state:
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For more than 25 years, we have seen birth intervention rates rise steadily, along with postpartum depression rates. We could overlook this if we were seeing improved outcomes for mothers and babies.
However, in the same period, there has been no improvement in stillbirth rates, and suicide and iatrogenic harm are the leading causes of maternal death.*
Our maternity care system is not improving outcomes for mothers and babies, nor does it explain the full suite of birth choices available to them.
Yet over the last two decades, our federal government has held inquiries and published strategic plans to improve maternity outcomes. The latest one is Woman Centred Care: Strategic Directions for Australian Maternity Services.
It is a worthwhile, evidence-based document, but state and territory governments are not mandated to implement it, hence the lack of change. Here at MCA, we are doing our utmost to hold our governments to account for this injustice that continues to be meted out to mothers, babies and families generally.​
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Consider supporting our work by making a tax deductible donation to MCA.
Consumer Advocacy Training
You too can become an advocate for change at your local birth service. Learn the ropes by joining our Consumer Representatives training Facebook group and view our training videos HERE.
MCA Consumer Representatives
MCA consumer representatives are current members of the following committees:
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Australian Alliance for Perinatal Mental Health
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NSW Maternity Alliance
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Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
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​Dept Health, Medicare Implementation Liaison Group
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Qld Health, Birth Strategy; Steering committee and working groups
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Byron Central Hospital Community Advisory Group
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Our Managing Director, Dr Catherine Bell also fills the following advocacy roles:
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Review of the Midwife Accreditation Standards professional reference group 2019-2020
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Jean Hailes Women's Health Symposium 22-23 October 2019 in Canberra. Sat on panel in Maternal, Sexual, Reproductive Health session https://jeanhailes.org.au/contents/documents/Events/2019/jh_symposium_full_program.pdf
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Attended 'Trauma Informed Birth Workshop' in queanbeyan
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Submissions made to Severe (Third and Fourth Degree) Perineal Tears Clinical Care Standard
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Department of Health and Aged Care First 2000 Days Primary Care Roundtable 2023
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MidFx Consumer and Lived Experience Experts Reference Panel 2024
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NSW Health Shared Understanding Project 2024 (recommendations attached, released today)
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NSW Health Maternity Services Plan Consumer Reference Group
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Safer Baby Bundle ACT 2023
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Every week counts Collaborative 2023 -current
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Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Program - Consumer Group 2025
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ACT for Birth (consumer group advocating for a free-standing birth centre in Canberra).
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Affiliation of Australian Women's Advocacy Alliances (maternity consultant)
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attending Parliamentary Friends of Maternal Health events
Research
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Respectful Maternity Care training with WSU
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Assessing the Holistic Healthcare Needs of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Australia: A National Survey (University of Canberra)
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Presentations and publications:
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C.H. Bell, S. Lukersmith, H.G. Dahlen, D. Davis
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Informed, supported, confident: a realist evaluation of the birth map
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Women Birth, 38 (2025), Article 102117
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Presented on The Birth Map at CAPEA 2025 (Newcastle)
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Presented to CAPEA Sydney Education Day
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Presented to CAPEA Canberra Education Day
Stalls:
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Homebirth Conference 25 Adelaide
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Doula conference 26 Cronulla
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CAPEA Education Day 2026 Canberra