Dear Justine I also believe this is how it should be. Unity in strength with specialist representation under the umbrella of Maternity Coalition.
The only problem with placing homebirth in the background of NMAP right now many midwives are being forced to drop by the wayside because of the lack of support for the dilemma they face not wanting to put themselves at risk to practice without professional indemnity. The additional curse upon them right now is likely deregistration (especially in Victoria). That means in the short term many women have to go without homebirth services or the midwives have to find other employment. This changes the dynamics of homebirth completely. I fully support Maternity Coalition, in fact I was one of the first midwives to be involved and be part of the preparation to have it become an umbrella organisation. Just as I have been a member of Homebirth Australia and the Australian Society of Independent Midwives for many years. Many of those strong, articulate women who started Maternity Coalition in Victoria and transformed it into the National organisation it is today have long been forgotten. It may be appropriate at a National Conference to acknowledge these women who worked for years and years to achieve the pathway to how it has developed today. The way to go into the future is for all associated groups to be completely united under one umbrella and that is the message I have tried to relay. The splintered approach to professional indemnity as it relates to homebirth right now does not help to keep the base strong. There are three burning issues: Professional Indemnity for midwives ceased, Deregistration of independent midwives in Victoria and possibly Australia) and Government Discrimination - that is tax payer funded professional indemnity subsidy for medical practitioners and not midwife practitioners. Justine I admire the articulation, political skills, strength and gutsy approach you and Barb have brought to make Maternity Coalition continue to grow and I acknowledge the arrival of the political power it now has. I say many thanks for all the effort and many hours of work you have put into achieving this and the NMAP. These are the skills that midwives and women need, just as women need the skills of midwives who provide the truest one-to-one care and are prepared to put themselves out there at the risk of being deregistered. love, Robyn -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Justine Caines Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2002 1:55 PM To: OzMid List Subject: [ozmidwifery] Maternity Coalition campaign and the role of other groups Hello All Jan, Bravo! As a former trade union official I certainly learnt that in unity is strength, however there is often a need for specialist representation during any campaign. So the answer is for all small groups to get behind and support the Maternity Coalition campaign to secure community midwifery in whatever way you can. In all the meetings I've attended (from very high to local levels for 19 months!) I can assure you the reason we were listened to was because MC was seen to be representative. We are constantly questioned about our 'membership'!! I now reply with individual or organisational membership!! What MC has done is taken on a lobbying role as an umbrella organisation which is a very effective use of resources. I know both Barb and I agree that in no way does MC want to subsume the identity of individual groups, merely represent their interests as any peak body would. When we achieve community midwifery the smaller local groups will have a very important role in supporting the new programs. Onto Homebirth Australia. The MC campaign has not focussed on homebirth ( a deliberate political strategy) but has stated it must be an option for women. In the proposals put to state governments, women decide where they will give birth (as it should be). To me there is still a real need for a peak homebirth body and a professional body for homebirth/community midwives. I hope to work closely with homebirth support groups to maximise our efforts in keeping homebirth alive in the country. After all it was the experience of my 3 beautiful homebirths that have helped me continue to to find 30 hours a week (and more sometimes) for the MC Campaign. In solidarity Justine Caines Mum to Ruby-3, Clancy 20 months and Will nearly 5 months MC NSW-President, Co-ordinator- Homebirth Australia > Dear Denise and Robyn > > I'm not sure what you are saddened about when ASIM, HBA, ACMI already come > under the umbrella of Maternity Coalition and support the concept of the > midwife choice for every Australian woman totally. In fact ASIM was involved > in the writing and endorsement of the Maternity Coalition's National > Maternity Action Plan! > > Small groups have to exist to meet their own special needs. You can't expect > the larger organisation to spend much of it's time on the needs of 0.1% when > it it trying to reform ALL the maternity services in the country. > > ASIM and HBA's major focus is on the needs of the Australian homebirthing > community and would be foolish to become incorporated into the structure of > the larger group within which their voice would be miniscule. ASIM and HBA > have greater clout and influence by channeling all their energy and research > into lobbying the large orgnisations and Government bodies independently > with the backing of the larger group. > > Jan Robison > > __________________________________________________________________________ > Jan Robinson Phone/fax: 011+ 61+ 2+ 9546 4350 > Independent Midwife Practitioner e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 8 Robin Crescent www: midwiferyeducation.com.au > South Hurstville NSW 2221 National Coordinator, ASIM > __________________________________________________________________________ > > > > > On 27/11/02 10:14 PM, "Denise Hynd" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Dear >> All I agree with Robyn >> I have always been sadened that there is ASIM and there is MIPP and ?other >> groups. >> The energy put into the diverse groups would along with the numbers be more >> effective in one group. >> Denise Hynd >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Robyn Thompson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2002 11:10 PM >> Subject: RE: [Maternitycoalitonmidwives] meeting and questionnaire >> >> >>> I have no problem with name changes but I do think that we should not be >>> fragmenting midwives into many small groups. It would be much more >>> advantageous if we united as one large group with ASIM or ACMI or >> Homebirth >>> Australia. There are plans a foot as I understand to unite Homebirth >>> Australia and ASIM. If it was unity with ACMI then I would renew my >>> membership. The reality is we are too small a group to have much clout at >>> present. Ideally it would be even better if all groups were one voice >> with >>> Maternity Coalition. Our strength comes from the unity of women and >>> midwives together. >>> >>> Michelle really great to catch up for the short time today. I have a >> woman >>> overdue in Moe so I cannot commit to the meeting on the 7th but I am happy >>> to talk by email or on the chat line. >>> >>> regards, Robyn >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: michelle carrucan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >>> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 11:18 PM >>> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Subject: Re: [Maternitycoalitonmidwives] meeting and questionnaire >>> >>> >>> Dear Joy, >>> I am planning on going to the next MIPP meeting. >>> Re your comments about a name change: if you think that changing our name >> is >>> politically astute, then I am prepared to support the motion. At this >> stage, >>> I don't want to get caught up in protracted arguments when there is so >> much >>> at stake, so I am happy to be guided by you and also to have key stake >>> holders make decisions. Afeter all, we don't have to have consensus on >> every >>> point but what we do need is to remind ourselves of our united vision of >>> woman-friendly, baby-friendly, midwife-friendly maternity services in >>> australia ASAP. >>> Additionally, a name change looks like a way of inviting midwives to join >>> the group who are not deriving income from privvate practice. Am I right >> in >>> saying this? I think that any way of getting like minded midwives to join >>> forces can only increase our collective power. If MIPP members need to >> meet >>> ie for peer review, this could be done informally. >>> hope you are well and that Paul continues to make progress. >>> Regards >>> Michelle Carrucan >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> From: "villagemidwife2002" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> Subject: [Maternitycoalitonmidwives] meeting and questionnaire >>>> Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 09:09:30 -0000 >>>> >>>> Dear friends >>>> Who is planning to go to the meeting that has been booked for Sat 7 >>>> December? >>>> Those of you who aren't able to come to meetings, do you want to put >>>> any proposals to this group? >>>> One proposal that I would like you all to think about and comment on >>>> is that we change our name to Maternity Coalition Midwives. The >>>> reason for this proposed change is to do with the future (?when) >>>> requirement for PI insurance. >>>> Those who think I am being a pessimist in this, please understand >>>> that I would not have said anything if I hadn't thought it >>>> essential. Last Thursday, at a working group set up by the Nurses >>>> Board to advise on PI insurance, Ella Lowe (who is deputy president, >>>> and is chairing that group) reiterated that the HEalth Minister is >>>> absolutely clear that it is unprofessional and quite reckless for >>>> any health professional to offer services to the public that are not >>>> covered by insurance. If anyone doubts that, please contact the >>>> Board and speak to Margaret Bennett (Chair), Ella Lowe, or Marilyn >>>> Sneddon (Acting CEO) I can give you copies of letters that support >>>> what I am saying. >>>> >>>> Linked to the proposal for a name change, I would like to suggest >>>> that we invite other midwives to join. We can now communicate by >>>> email, and that wasn't possible when MIPP was set up. This should >>>> not compete with ASIM, to which many of us belong. I would be >>>> interested to know how others feel about this. We also need to >>>> decide what we do about meetings in the future. No dates have been >>>> set for 2003, so anyone who has an opinion please speak up. >>>> >>>> Birth Matters is going out in the coming week. I will be including >>>> a survey form, to get information about birth support and midwifery >>>> groups. I have filled out the questionnaire for MIPP. If anyone >>>> has a chance to look at it, and suggest any changes, I would be most >>>> appreciative. It is attached as a file on this Yahoo site. >>>> >>>> I hope you are all well and strong. >>>> Joy Johnston >>>> >>> >>> >>> _________________________________________________________________ >>> The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* >>> http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail >>> >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> >>> >>> >>> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to >> http://au.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ >>> >>> >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> >>> >>> >>> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to >> http://au.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ >>> >>> >> > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. 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