About the taskforce
The Victorian Maternity Taskforce was established in October 2024. It aims to enhance maternity care by addressing workforce challenges and improving service delivery.
Who we work with
The taskforce will work with women, communities, health services, and peak and industrial bodies to ensure women have choices and access to high quality maternity care. The initial focus will be on maternity care in rural and regional areas.
Why this is important
Victoria's maternity and newborn services are among the safest and highest quality in the world. The taskforce will look at ways to further strengthen this.
A more connected system ensures that:
- Maternity care is guided by a wellness model designed around the needs of each woman and family.
- Provision of appropriate and culturally safe maternity and newborn services is determined by Aboriginal people, embedding the principles of self-determination.
- Models of maternity care focus on the individual woman’s needs and preferences, collaboration and continuity of care.
- Culturally respectful care is embedded and prioritised in health services to support and improve equitable access to, and quality of maternity and newborn services.
- Maternity and newborn care is provided as close to home as is safe and practicable, and includes prompt transfer to local and specialised services as appropriate.
Interim report
The taskforce will deliver an interim report to the Government in mid 2025. This report will incorporate feedback from stakeholders across Victoria.
Members
The taskforce membership was finalised through a targeted expression of interest process. Members includes nursing and midwifery experts from:
- Metropolitan, rural, and regional health services
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF)
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)
- Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Morbidity and Mortality (CCOPMM)
- Paediatric Infant and Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER).
| Name | Role | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Umstad | Chair | Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity (CCOPMM) |
| Karrie Long | Co-Chair | Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer – Safer Care Victoria |
| Bernadette Loughnane | Member | Chief Executive Officer – Cohuna District Hospital |
| Julie Wright | Member | Director of Midwifery & Nursing and Women’s & Children’s Services – Albury Wodonga Health |
| Lachlan Brennan | Member | FRANZCOG – Grampians Health |
| Lisa Lynch | Member | Chief Operating Officer – The Royal Women’s Hospital |
| Maree Woodhouse | Member | Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery / Chief Nursing Officer – Echuca Regional Health |
| Michael Baker | Member | General Practitioner Obstetrician – Bairnsdale |
| Michael Stewart | Member | Director – Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER) |
| Nicole Allan | Member | Maternity Services Officer – Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch) |
| Penelope Browne | Member | Registered Midwife – Maryborough District Health Service |
| Sue O’Shannessy | Member | Senior Project Officer, Koori Maternity Strategy – Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation |
| Abe Ropitini | Member | Executive Director, Population Health – Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation |
| Tanya Farrell | Member | Director, Maternity Services and Deputy Executive Director, Nursing and Midwifery – Western Health |
Enquiries
For any questions or enquiries, please email maternity.taskforce@safercare.vic.gov.au.