MC Qld Branch annual Orientation & Planning Workshop

On Sunday Feb 27, MC Qld Branch is holding our annual Orientation & Planning Workshop (agenda to follow shortly). Please circulate this information throughout your networks - especially in regional Queensland.

Last year, we saw a number of key milestones in the reform marathon - Medicare for Midwives is now a reality and the Queensland government has committed to expanding women's access to continuity of carer models by 2013. We also have involvement in a long awaited Consumer Representative Training project, under the auspices of Qld Centre for Mothers and Babies.

In 2011, our work will be focused on bedding down those milestones and ensuring that women remain central to their implementation. As the work begins in hospitals across Qld to create or expand continuity of carer models (in order to meet the government target by 2013), we will need an unprecedented number of consumer representatives making their voices heard. As Midwives take up the opportunities afforded by access to Medicare, we need to continue our work resolving the challenges of collaborative arrangements and also raise awareness in the community about this new care option. And of course, for MC to continue to be a vibrant and relevant consumer voice in birth reform, we need to have a special focus on membership and recruitment.

If you're already an active member of MC, if you have ideas or special interest in any of the above focus areas for 2011, or if you have a strategy that you’d like to propose, then you’ll want to be there to help shape our direction for 2011.

If you’re a relative new comer to the world of birth reform activism, this day is a great way to learn more and get involved. Whatever your interests, however much (or little) time you have, there is some way that you can help MC. Maybe you’d like to host a movie night or tell your birth story at an event? Maybe your curiosity has been piqued by the notion of consumer representation? Perhaps you are willing to open your home as a venue for branch meetings. Maybe you prefer work behind the scenes, caring for children, cooking a meal or driving other members to meetings – these are critical contributions that allow MC members to do the work that we do. Every effort makes a difference – enables us to keep driving forward in the campaign for “Every woman, Every choice”.

Please come along! Come to find out more. Come to meet other like-minded people. Come to dip your toe (or your whole leg) into the waters of birth reform.

Who: You (babes-in-arms welcome)

Where: 177 Frasers Rd, Mitchelton

When: 9am to 3pm, 27 Feb 2010

What to bring: A delicious dish for a shared lunch; Gold coin donation for morning tea; Your ideas, energy & enthusiasm.

RSVP: by email or phone to Ildiko Keogh by February 18.

07 32890184
ildikokeogh@yahoo.com

Consumers in regional Queensland who may need sponsorship for travel to attend are encouraged to contact Ildiko to discuss.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Cheers,

Bec Jenkinson

Maternity Coalition

Queensland Branch President

qldpresident@maternitycoalition.org.au

Would you like extra support in pregancy and for your birth

Are you pregnant? Know someone who is pregnant? There are midwifery students all over Queensland who need to do 'follow-throughs' as part of their course requirements.

'Follow-throughs' are designed to allow students to build relationships with woman and her family that is consistent and continuous. These relationships are an invaluable way for midwifery students to learn about providing support when and where it is needed most.

With your permission midwifery students will attend your antenatal appointments, contribute to your care during labour and birth and visit you within the first few weeks after your baby is born. Students will be involved as much or as little as you like and you can withdraw at any time if you find it doesn't work for you. Best of all it doesn't cost anything!

Why not get in touch with your local university or hospital if you’d like this kind of support.

Medicare for Midwives

Understand how Medicare will work for private practice midwives in a range of settings from
midwives who have worked in private practice.

January 29 8.30am – 4.30pm
Griffith University Nathan Campus, Brisbane

You will be provided with information about applying for Medicare eligibility, becoming a
Medicare provider, collaborative arrangements, establishing a business and sustaining your
private practice through change.

Liz Wilkes – Liz is a private practice midwife who has represented the Australian Private Midwives Association on the national Maternity Service Advisory Group and NHMRC Collaborative Guidance group. Liz has an intricate knowledge of the legislation and funding arrangements of the new reforms. Since the introduction of Medicare in November Liz has
become one of the first midwives in Australia to have a Medicare provider number and has established a private midwifery group practice in Toowoomba called My Midwives.

Due to the postponement of this workshop in Maleny due to flooding we are now conducting the workshop at Griffith University Nathan Campus on Saturday 29 January.

Registrations will be accepted until January 27.
The workshop will cost $125 and will include morning tea and afternoon tea.

A Business Resource folder and e-records will be available on the day.

This extremely interactive workshop is designed to allow you to put your application for eligibility together within the workshop and to facilitate you having assistance to do so.

MEDICARE FOR MIDWIVES - Get ready and GO FOR IT!
To register:
email Midwives Australia at info@midwivesaustralia.com.au
or phone 0427323621

Queensland Floods

On behalf of Maternity Coalition Qld Committee,

With such tragic loss of life and destruction resulting from the floods across the state, know that our thoughts are with all of our members and their friends, families and midwives in flood affected areas.

For the families who have welcomed wee babes during these tumultuous days, we hope that their births mark a beacon of hope and a beginning of rebuilding in the most life-affirming way.

Stay safe.
Sincerely,

Bec Jenkinson

Maternity Coalition Queensland Branch President
qldpresident@maternitycoalition.org.au

Birth into Being film/talk night with Elena Tonetti-Vladimirova and Dr Sarah Buckley

MC QLD are excited to have Elena Tonetti-Vladimirova, the maker of the film "Birth into Being" come to Brisbane in January 2011. She was involved in the early days of the water birth movement in Russia that has forever changed birth across the globe.

A film/talk night is being held with Elena and Dr Sarah Buckley.
Thursday 27 January 2011
6.30pm to 8.30pm
Chermside Library, meeting room 1
375 Hamilton Road
Chermside (plenty of free parking around the library, pool and Kedron Wavell Services Club)

Check out this website http://www.birthintobeing.com/ for info about the film, Elena and the workshop she'll be running in Brisbane that weekend.

She will be showing a 20 minute section of her film 'Birth as we Know it) then she and Dr Sarah Buckley, author of Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering, are doing a joint talk.

Find out more about Sarah's incredible work at www.sarahbuckley.com

The evening will be an informal, playful discussion and presentation, covering topics:
· Preparing for conscious birth, what it takes, what can be done.

· Ecstatic hormones, ecstatic birth: birthing for safety, ease and pleasure.

· Motherbaby: two are one

· Questions from the audience are welcome.


Tickets: $15 if you pre-pay by Monday 24 January 2011. $20 at the door. Birth partners are just $5 extra.

How to book: Email jsmethurst@maternitycoalition.org.au and say how many tickets you'd like then transfer the correct money to the Maternity Coalition bank account with a reference that starts with QLD and then your surname. For example "QLD Smethurst."

Bank account details:
Maternity Coalition, Commonwealth Bank
BSB 063 167
Account number 10108586

We should have a PayPal account set up by next week as another payment option. I will post details once that option is ready.

Seating is strictly limited and it's going to be a popular event so book early so you get your seat.

If you are expecting a baby - please come along and hear things about birth you'll hear from no-one else. This info applies whether you are birthing with a private obstetrician or midwife or public hospital or at home. Please bring along your birthing partner (only $5 for them to come along too) and let your other friends know. You will hear invaluable information that will help you and your baby get the best start in life together.

If you are a midwifery student - please pass this note along to all your peers so they get the once in a career opportunity to hear two of birth's 'greats' talk about why birth matters.

If you are a birth worker - please come along and bring your colleagues and clients. You will not be disappointed.

If you belong to another maternity group, please forward this note to all your members.

This is probably going to be MC QLD's only fundraiser for the year so please support it by sending this info to your networks and getting this message out far and wide.

Any questions, please email Jo Smethurst at jsmethurst@maternitycoalition.org.au

Huge thanks to Elena and Sarah for coming to MC with this idea. We are very grateful.

Early Bird Registration for PAssage to Motherhood Conference

Only 3 weeks until the first early bird fee deadline for The Passage to Motherhood Conference, Michel Odent & Sara Wickham and Christina Smillie workshops around Australia and NZ, Maggie Banks and Complementary Therapies workshops in Brisbane.

Huge savings..and extra discounts for consumers, ABA/LLLNZ ...volunteers and student midwives not working as health professionals

Early bird registration deadline is 31st December

http://www.capersevents.com.au/passage-to-motherhood/

Consumer Representation and Political Advocacy Training Day

ON September 18, 2010, MC Qld held its first ever training day for Consumers. The dynamic day focused on Consumer Representation and Political Advocacy skills. It was great to see people connecting in such an inspiring and educational way.

Here’s what participants had to say about the day:

"I think holding a training day like this at least every second month would be fantastic for myself as a consumer rep"

"Thank you for providing this opportunity to learn more about providing care to families as a consumer representative"

"I really enjoyed the day. It was so great to spend a day with such wonderful women discussing such an important subject. I felt the day was really positive and I now feel really empowered to be able to be a consumer rep on committees etc"

A humourous role play set the scene and the group teased out what it means to be a consumer rep, discussing the skills needed to do the job. It was great to meet new people and hear their enthusiasm for consumers to be fully informed and empowered in their decision making.

Many thanks to Hazel Brittain, Director of Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies, who spoke about accessing and interpreting evidence. These are important skills for consumers to know and it was great to have Hazel’s support and expertise.

Many thanks also to Di Farmer, State Member for Bulimba, who explained how to effectively lobby your member of parliament. Di’s practical advice gave us a plethora of strategies to use in developing and sustaining campaigns for birth reform. So thanks again Di for your time and knowledge.

A big thanks to Mel Hilditch and the Kyabra Community Association Inc for providing an excellent venue, Rebecca Jenkinson for her excellent facilitation, Bruce Teakle for his dramatist skills and of course to all the participants for making the day a huge success.