15/08/2026
Part 1 of 2 Massive spiel incoming… but this is really important. 👇
I’m genuinely worried about what’s happening with homebirth insurance and what it could mean for access to homebirth — especially in rural areas.
Over the past year, I’ve been the primary midwife for 5 births where my backup support wasn’t another private midwife.
And sometimes, having an appropriately qualified backup person available is what makes homebirth possible.
But from January 2027, that could change.
The proposed changes mean that a backup birth attendant may need to have their own specific insurance.
Now, I completely understand why insurance is important. I have insurance. But I attend births regularly as both a primary midwife and backup.
What about someone who only attends a couple of births a year to support another midwife?
When you factor in insurance, registration, mandatory training, family, work, travel and everything else… it might simply not be feasible.
And if those people can no longer provide backup?
What happens to access to homebirth in rural areas?
This isn’t just about insurance.
It could have a massive impact on whether families can access homebirth care at all.
There’s a lot more to this story — including what this could mean for my own practice — and I’ll talk about that in my next post.
💗 Here’s how you can help:
1. Sign petition EN10266
2. Check your email and confirm your signature
3. Share this post
4. Follow the Maternity Consumer Network and Homebirth Australia for updates
Every signature, share and conversation helps bring attention to what’s happening.
Please share this with someone who needs to know. 🤍
Love you all,
Holly 💕
