My friend Vicki is a woman I love with my whole heart. She shares big love and loves and cares unconditionally. I've never met anyone quite like her. She's in Kenya at the moment, helping a little known Kenyan clinic called FreMo. Please vote for her DREAM and raise $5,000 which will pay the salaries of 2 midwives for this cause.
Vicki's blog can be found at http://vicki-chan.blogspot.com/
Many thanks x
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Friday, October 1, 2010
A different approach
Last week the ACM released an e-bulletin on the 'lay of the land' regarding the National Health (Collaborative arrangements for midwives) Determination 2010. Needless to say, many members weren't happy with the College, their advice or their approach. What many may not know is that ACM Queensland also released an e-bulletin, outlining some alternative approaches for their members to consider. Unfortunately this has not been widely circulated outside of Queensland as the National Office didn't seem to think it reflected the views of all it's members. In addition to the infomation presented below, please note that 'The Determination' was presented to the House of Representatives on Tuesday 28th September, 2010 and now sits 'tabled' with the Senate where there are a 12 sitting days remaining in which a motion to disallow can be made. Please find a the ACMQ e-bulletin below for your information.
E Bulletin from ACMQ Executive Regarding the Medicare Determination:
The distribution last Wednesday of an e bulletin from the ACM national office concerning the Medicare determination has caused considerable confusion amongst members in Queensland and we believe does not present all of the options available to us.
ACMQ Executive acknowledges that the ACM National President and Board members are working hard on this issue and making some difficult decisions representing the colleges view at a national level. This E bulletin to members is in no way meant to be divisive or to detract from the work undertaken at national level. However, ACM national has concentrated on one option in the e-bulletin and we seek to provide an alternative for consideration by members.
In agreement with ACM national ACMQ Executive unreservedly supports Medicare for midwives, but the determination needs to be changed.
ACM Queensland Executive continues to have a bottom line position that we will not accept a “collaborative arrangement” with a medical practitioner that requires a signed agreement or provides an opportunity for a doctor to veto a midwives ability to access Medicare funding.
ACMQ Executive does not endorse the ‘keep silent, don’t rock the boat it’s too high risk’ position proposed by ACM national.
ACMQ does not promote putting Medicare at risk.
However, this legislation and the determination process is complex and significant issues were not presented in the ACM e-bulletin distributed on Wednesday 22nd Sept these include:
The Minister has the ability to change the determination any time. She clearly does not want to do so (and is possibly under pressure not to do so by the medical lobby) and will not do so unless midwives lobby.
We agree that if the determination is VOTED on and the VOTE upholds the motion to disallow, it will have a dramatic impact on Medicare for midwives. However, a motion to disallow is NOT a VOTE. Lobbying is NOT a vote. A motion to disallow can be removed at any time, leaving the determination functioning and Medicare for midwives functioning.
ACMQ Executive offers the alternative position that we do not change our lobbying strategy. Members continue to ask for the wording in the determination to be altered. We recognise that in the immediate term it is unlikely that this will cause the Minister to change the wording. However early next year, with more evidence, it may become more obvious that there is a real difficulty in the currently worded determination.
ACMQ Executive is of the opinion that the strongest strategy is to indicate that we do not accept the current wording allowing a medical veto and that we stick together on this.
We accept that we may be required to change this strategy next year, when a final opportunity for a motion to disallow can occur. We also accept that if a motion to disallow occurs, we may need to change our strategy but we do not believe that now is the time to make this decision. Several of our partner organisations have reported from discussions with a range of MP’s and Senators (Coalition, Greens, and independents) that, while difficulties with the determination are acknowledged, no MP’s have indicated that they intend to take any action at this point to disallow the determination. They have all indicated that they will be watching the determination carefully over the next few months.
ACMQ Executive would like to state that the position taken to a stakeholder meeting on Tuesday night (21 Sept) from our consumer partner organisation Maternity Coalition and Homebirth Australia was that they did not want to accept this determination. Childbirth Australia took the position that they did not want to impact Medicare.
ACMQ Executive believes continuing to lobby to change the determination before a motion to disallow can even be introduced, let alone voted on, does not carry the level of risk outlined by the ACM national e-bulletin.
Timeline for the Determination:
All midwives who experience difficulty accessing Medicare due to an inability to obtain a signed medical agreement have the opportunity to keep the pressure on by notifying ACM national, ACMQ and the Minister’s office of the practical difficulties created by the determination.
If it turns out that the determination is working well and women have no difficulty accessing Medicare funded midwifery care this will soon become apparent. If this is the situation then any motion to disallow can be withdrawn as stated earlier.
ACMQ’s position involves lobbying to change the determination and buying time to see if the determination will or won’t work.
ACMQ Executive holds the view that a frank and fulsome communication between all members is required to ensure that a representative view can be tabled if the situation occurs that the determination will be voted on in the Senate/House of Representatives.
Before sending this communication we have considered all aspects of this complicated situation in detail. Thank you for considering this alternative option, it is now completely up to you as a member to decide if you would like to write to/contact your MP, the Minister, Jenny Gamble as our National Delegate and ACM National to lobby for the wording of the determination to be changed.
ACMQ Executive will continue to apply pressure and lobby to get the determination changed.
This e-bulletin is supported unanimously by the ACMQ Executive:
Hazel Brittain - President
Jodi Bunn – Executive Member
Jenny Gamble – National Delegate
Richard Hayes - Treasurer
Bec Jenkinson - Consumer
Marie McAuliffe – Executive Member
Mandy Ostrenski – Executive Member
Sue Rath – Executive Member
Mary Sidebotham – Vice President
Barb Soong – Executive Member
Teresa Walsh - Secretary
Kellie Wilton - Student
E Bulletin from ACMQ Executive Regarding the Medicare Determination:
The distribution last Wednesday of an e bulletin from the ACM national office concerning the Medicare determination has caused considerable confusion amongst members in Queensland and we believe does not present all of the options available to us.
ACMQ Executive acknowledges that the ACM National President and Board members are working hard on this issue and making some difficult decisions representing the colleges view at a national level. This E bulletin to members is in no way meant to be divisive or to detract from the work undertaken at national level. However, ACM national has concentrated on one option in the e-bulletin and we seek to provide an alternative for consideration by members.
In agreement with ACM national ACMQ Executive unreservedly supports Medicare for midwives, but the determination needs to be changed.
ACM Queensland Executive continues to have a bottom line position that we will not accept a “collaborative arrangement” with a medical practitioner that requires a signed agreement or provides an opportunity for a doctor to veto a midwives ability to access Medicare funding.
ACMQ Executive does not endorse the ‘keep silent, don’t rock the boat it’s too high risk’ position proposed by ACM national.
ACMQ does not promote putting Medicare at risk.
However, this legislation and the determination process is complex and significant issues were not presented in the ACM e-bulletin distributed on Wednesday 22nd Sept these include:
- A motion to disallow the determination does not mean that the determination is disallowed. It means that the determination is then debated in parliament and THEN is voted on. To disallow would require support from the Coalition and Greens or independents (Senate) and the Coalition and independents (House of Representatives) – this is extremely unlikely.
- There is no mechanism to vote to “allow” a determination. The determination has already been signed off by the Governor General and will be tabled within the first 6 sitting days of the next parliament. It stays on the ‘table’ for 15 days after it is tabled. It is not (never) voted on unless a motion to disallow it is introduced and only THEN is it possible for the determination to be debated and voted on.
- The determination is currently in law. It remains in law (legislation) unless a motion to disallow is presented.
- The legislation is therefore in place for Medicare for midwives to commence on 1 November.
The Minister has the ability to change the determination any time. She clearly does not want to do so (and is possibly under pressure not to do so by the medical lobby) and will not do so unless midwives lobby.
We agree that if the determination is VOTED on and the VOTE upholds the motion to disallow, it will have a dramatic impact on Medicare for midwives. However, a motion to disallow is NOT a VOTE. Lobbying is NOT a vote. A motion to disallow can be removed at any time, leaving the determination functioning and Medicare for midwives functioning.
ACMQ Executive offers the alternative position that we do not change our lobbying strategy. Members continue to ask for the wording in the determination to be altered. We recognise that in the immediate term it is unlikely that this will cause the Minister to change the wording. However early next year, with more evidence, it may become more obvious that there is a real difficulty in the currently worded determination.
ACMQ Executive is of the opinion that the strongest strategy is to indicate that we do not accept the current wording allowing a medical veto and that we stick together on this.
We accept that we may be required to change this strategy next year, when a final opportunity for a motion to disallow can occur. We also accept that if a motion to disallow occurs, we may need to change our strategy but we do not believe that now is the time to make this decision. Several of our partner organisations have reported from discussions with a range of MP’s and Senators (Coalition, Greens, and independents) that, while difficulties with the determination are acknowledged, no MP’s have indicated that they intend to take any action at this point to disallow the determination. They have all indicated that they will be watching the determination carefully over the next few months.
ACMQ Executive would like to state that the position taken to a stakeholder meeting on Tuesday night (21 Sept) from our consumer partner organisation Maternity Coalition and Homebirth Australia was that they did not want to accept this determination. Childbirth Australia took the position that they did not want to impact Medicare.
ACMQ Executive believes continuing to lobby to change the determination before a motion to disallow can even be introduced, let alone voted on, does not carry the level of risk outlined by the ACM national e-bulletin.
Timeline for the Determination:
- Determination was signed off by Governor General on 16 July which means that the Medicare for Midwives legislation is ready to commence on 1 November.
- Parliamentary process requires that because the determination is only signed off by Governor General, it is tabled in parliament in first six sitting days of the new parliament (28, 29, 30 Sept 2010, 26, 27, 28 October 2010).
- On the day it is tabled a new timeline commences in which a motion to disallow can be introduced within 15 sitting days. Therefore, if the determination is tabled on 28 Sept (the first day of the new parliament) the last possible day on which a motion to disallow can be introduced is the first sitting day of 2011 which is late Feb or early March. There is nothing ACM can do to alter these timeline as it is a fixed parliamentary process.
- On 1 November Medicare for midwives will commence.
- This year (because of the parliamentary schedule), a motion to disallow could still be tabled in parliament up until 25 Nov, the last sitting day for the year. This requires support from a MP or Senator to introduce it and does not impact on Medicare at this point (just introducing a motion to disallow does not impact on the determination or Medicare for midwives).
- Next year a motion to disallow could still be introduced in parliament on the first sitting day of the new parliamentary year or later if the determination was tabled after 28 Sept 2010.
- Once a motion to disallow is introduced a debate on relative strengths of determination can occur in the Senate (or House of Representatives). If this is after the summer break, evidence of non-collaboration could also be tabled at this time.
- This applies maximum political pressure.
- After the debate occurs, a vote to uphold or reject the motion to disallow will occur. The motion can be withdrawn up until the moment when a vote will occur. To disallow the determination a majority of Senators will have to vote to disallow. This would require Coalition and Greens both voting to disallow. In the House of Representative it would require the Coalition to vote to disallow and the independents to break their agreement with the government and vote with the Coalition – EXTREEMLY UNLIKELY.
- IF disallowed the Minister can refuse to reintroduce a rewritten determination making Medicare unworkable. However, as this timeline indicates, a discussion about this possibility is extremely premature and prevents continued political pressure. A discussion to allow or disallow and lobbying around this should occur IF a motion to disallow is introduced – this is the point in time where we decide what action we want MPs or Senators to take.
All midwives who experience difficulty accessing Medicare due to an inability to obtain a signed medical agreement have the opportunity to keep the pressure on by notifying ACM national, ACMQ and the Minister’s office of the practical difficulties created by the determination.
If it turns out that the determination is working well and women have no difficulty accessing Medicare funded midwifery care this will soon become apparent. If this is the situation then any motion to disallow can be withdrawn as stated earlier.
ACMQ’s position involves lobbying to change the determination and buying time to see if the determination will or won’t work.
ACMQ Executive holds the view that a frank and fulsome communication between all members is required to ensure that a representative view can be tabled if the situation occurs that the determination will be voted on in the Senate/House of Representatives.
Before sending this communication we have considered all aspects of this complicated situation in detail. Thank you for considering this alternative option, it is now completely up to you as a member to decide if you would like to write to/contact your MP, the Minister, Jenny Gamble as our National Delegate and ACM National to lobby for the wording of the determination to be changed.
ACMQ Executive will continue to apply pressure and lobby to get the determination changed.
This e-bulletin is supported unanimously by the ACMQ Executive:
Hazel Brittain - President
Jodi Bunn – Executive Member
Jenny Gamble – National Delegate
Richard Hayes - Treasurer
Bec Jenkinson - Consumer
Marie McAuliffe – Executive Member
Mandy Ostrenski – Executive Member
Sue Rath – Executive Member
Mary Sidebotham – Vice President
Barb Soong – Executive Member
Teresa Walsh - Secretary
Kellie Wilton - Student
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Not one for feeling sorry for myself....
...but here goes
Here I am again in this mean old town
And you're so far away from me
And where are you when the sun goes down
You're so far away from me
You're so far away from me
You're so far I just can't see
You're so far away from me
You're so far away from me, all right
I'm tired of being in love and being all alone
When you're so far away from me
I'm tired of making out on the telephone
'Cause you're so far away from me
And I get so tired when I have to explain
And you're so far away from me
See, you been in the sun and I've been in the rain
And you're so far away from me
Here I am again in this mean old town
And you're so far away from me
And where are you when the sun goes down
You're so far away from me
You're so far away from me
You're so far I just can't see
You're so far away from me
You're so far away from me, all right
I'm tired of being in love and being all alone
When you're so far away from me
I'm tired of making out on the telephone
'Cause you're so far away from me
And I get so tired when I have to explain
And you're so far away from me
See, you been in the sun and I've been in the rain
And you're so far away from me
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Reflections, where I want to go and how I got to here...
My greatest passion has always been pregnancy and birth. I remember from the youngest age wanting to be a Mum and used to play dress up games and would appoint myself the 'pregnant Mummy'. The dream came true with the birth of my first daughter, Grace. I had preconceived ideas about how perfect her birth would be, fortunately for me, despite induction due to pre-eclampsia, it was an overwhelmingly positive experience, but I soon came to realise that not all women have the experience that I was lucky enough to have.
With my 2nd pregnancy I was fortunate to meet a wonderful midwife and doula who compounded my passion for birth and helped me achieve my ultimate goal of ecstatic birth and on a windy night in November, Eva was birthed in the shower into my waiting hands. Her birth was a very positive experience albeit in a hospital setting and I was resolute that my next birth would be a home birth. Through this experience I came to understand the importance of one on one midwifery care and the role of the Doula. I decided that being a birth worker was the life path I wanted to take, so embarked on my Doula training through Optimum Birth. With this completed I worked with an Independent Midwife as a home birth support person and was given the gift of supporting other women achieve their own ecstatic birth.
In October 2006 my husband Paul and I were surprised and overjoyed to discover that I was pregnant with twins and in December of that year moved to Townsville. This elation soon soured when I realised that there were few birthing choices in Townsville and even fewer choices for women pregnant with twins. I was ‘booked’ into the high risk clinic and endured hours of waiting in a crowded public clinic waiting to see an Obstetrician. Throughout my pregnancy I saw seven different practitioners and it wasn’t until I was told about the Community Midwife Practitioner that I had a regular care provider. Fortunately, through my training as a Doula, I was able to discover my voice and advocate for myself at my birth. In June 2007 my twins Joseph and Elizabeth were birthed spontaneously, vaginally and drug free in spite of being pushed towards management, epidural and intervention.
Through these experiences I grew to know that I wanted more. Women everywhere were being let down by the ‘system’ and I wanted to give more to the women I supported. This ‘want’, coupled with my own experiences led me to my decision to become a Midwife. In 2007 I started working towards a Bachelor of Nursing through UniSA and in 2009 gained a high GPA and was accepted into the university’s Bachelor of Midwifery program which I will complete in 2011. This year I have been accepted as the first undergraduate Student in Midwifery at the Townsville Hospital and will be working as a student midwife alongside postgraduate students and midwives. After successful completion of my degree in 2011, I hope to be accepted into a Master of Midwifery program at Newcastle University and complete my grad year in South Australia.
It is my goal to be an advocate for women, their families and their birthing rights by working in a one on one midwifery care model and support women to help them achieve their own ideal birth.
With my 2nd pregnancy I was fortunate to meet a wonderful midwife and doula who compounded my passion for birth and helped me achieve my ultimate goal of ecstatic birth and on a windy night in November, Eva was birthed in the shower into my waiting hands. Her birth was a very positive experience albeit in a hospital setting and I was resolute that my next birth would be a home birth. Through this experience I came to understand the importance of one on one midwifery care and the role of the Doula. I decided that being a birth worker was the life path I wanted to take, so embarked on my Doula training through Optimum Birth. With this completed I worked with an Independent Midwife as a home birth support person and was given the gift of supporting other women achieve their own ecstatic birth.
In October 2006 my husband Paul and I were surprised and overjoyed to discover that I was pregnant with twins and in December of that year moved to Townsville. This elation soon soured when I realised that there were few birthing choices in Townsville and even fewer choices for women pregnant with twins. I was ‘booked’ into the high risk clinic and endured hours of waiting in a crowded public clinic waiting to see an Obstetrician. Throughout my pregnancy I saw seven different practitioners and it wasn’t until I was told about the Community Midwife Practitioner that I had a regular care provider. Fortunately, through my training as a Doula, I was able to discover my voice and advocate for myself at my birth. In June 2007 my twins Joseph and Elizabeth were birthed spontaneously, vaginally and drug free in spite of being pushed towards management, epidural and intervention.
Through these experiences I grew to know that I wanted more. Women everywhere were being let down by the ‘system’ and I wanted to give more to the women I supported. This ‘want’, coupled with my own experiences led me to my decision to become a Midwife. In 2007 I started working towards a Bachelor of Nursing through UniSA and in 2009 gained a high GPA and was accepted into the university’s Bachelor of Midwifery program which I will complete in 2011. This year I have been accepted as the first undergraduate Student in Midwifery at the Townsville Hospital and will be working as a student midwife alongside postgraduate students and midwives. After successful completion of my degree in 2011, I hope to be accepted into a Master of Midwifery program at Newcastle University and complete my grad year in South Australia.
It is my goal to be an advocate for women, their families and their birthing rights by working in a one on one midwifery care model and support women to help them achieve their own ideal birth.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Rally for Homebirth - Canberra
HOME - EVERY WOMAN’S BIRTH RIGHT – RALLY FOR HOMEBIRTH – MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7 2009, PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA
Homebirth Australia is hosting a MAJOR rally in Canberra (outside Parliament House) on Monday September 7 from 11.30am.
There has been much discussion about the potential outlawing of homebirth and the continued lack of equity for women choosing homebirth.
We need this to be BIG. When I met with the federal department of Health they commented on the huge number of submissions (900 of which over half came from homebirth consumers). Sadly I said if you outlaw homebirth I will lead 9000 angry women and babies to Canberra!
Now 9000 may be a tall order but we need thousands.
For all the women and midwives that have contacted and said this issue matters please put it in your diary.
There is lots to organise and we look forward to many providing ideas and support.
The states close to Canberra will be called on to provide as many as possible to attend.
It would be great to have at least a few from every state and territory.
Please forward this meeting far and wide.
Details will soon be on the HBA website.
For any other info please email justine.caines@bigpond.com
In solidarity
Justine
Justine Caines
Secretary
Homebirth Australia Inc
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THOSE WHO CANT MAKE IT TO CANBERRA: Please check out Homebirth Australia's new website (www.homebirthaustralia.com.au) for details of a virtual rally. These numbers count just as much and offer those who cant make it a chance to be counted on September 7
Homebirth Australia is hosting a MAJOR rally in Canberra (outside Parliament House) on Monday September 7 from 11.30am.
There has been much discussion about the potential outlawing of homebirth and the continued lack of equity for women choosing homebirth.
We need this to be BIG. When I met with the federal department of Health they commented on the huge number of submissions (900 of which over half came from homebirth consumers). Sadly I said if you outlaw homebirth I will lead 9000 angry women and babies to Canberra!
Now 9000 may be a tall order but we need thousands.
For all the women and midwives that have contacted and said this issue matters please put it in your diary.
There is lots to organise and we look forward to many providing ideas and support.
The states close to Canberra will be called on to provide as many as possible to attend.
It would be great to have at least a few from every state and territory.
Please forward this meeting far and wide.
Details will soon be on the HBA website.
For any other info please email justine.caines@bigpond.com
In solidarity
Justine
Justine Caines
Secretary
Homebirth Australia Inc
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THOSE WHO CANT MAKE IT TO CANBERRA: Please check out Homebirth Australia's new website (www.homebirthaustralia.com.au) for details of a virtual rally. These numbers count just as much and offer those who cant make it a chance to be counted on September 7
The current state of Midwifery Services
Things are looking grim for homebirthing within Australia!
I would have loved a homebirth - Eva's birth would have been perfect 'homebirth material'. Easy pregnancy, very easy labour, home after 4 hours *sigh* what could have been hey? My choices were limited due to the public indemnity crisis and where I was living at the time had no homebirth Midwives. For me, at the time, the option just wasn't logistically possible, sure there were ways around it, had I at the time had a strong enough conviction about it I surely would have put more effort into making it happen. It wasn't until I had my twins and we decided that our baby making days were over that I thought "shit, I'm not going to get the chance to birth at home now, fuck, I really wish I had of done that".
Imagine this, you are a woman who has had a previous elective cesearean birth (no I'm not bagging you out - this is about birth choices), you wanted one, you saw a private obstetrician, you got one, it was a wonderful birth, perfectly timed, went to plan and you are thrilled! BRILLIANT, YOU got the birthing choice YOU wanted. Your birth was PERFECT!!
Now, imagine this, you are a woman who would like to have an elective cesearean as your planned method of birth. You shop all over town to be told 'sorry, current legislation prevents us from undertaking elective cesearean births!'. Can you imagine the outrage?
Apply this scenario to homebirthing and we're on the same page!
I would have loved a homebirth - Eva's birth would have been perfect 'homebirth material'. Easy pregnancy, very easy labour, home after 4 hours *sigh* what could have been hey? My choices were limited due to the public indemnity crisis and where I was living at the time had no homebirth Midwives. For me, at the time, the option just wasn't logistically possible, sure there were ways around it, had I at the time had a strong enough conviction about it I surely would have put more effort into making it happen. It wasn't until I had my twins and we decided that our baby making days were over that I thought "shit, I'm not going to get the chance to birth at home now, fuck, I really wish I had of done that".
Imagine this, you are a woman who has had a previous elective cesearean birth (no I'm not bagging you out - this is about birth choices), you wanted one, you saw a private obstetrician, you got one, it was a wonderful birth, perfectly timed, went to plan and you are thrilled! BRILLIANT, YOU got the birthing choice YOU wanted. Your birth was PERFECT!!
Now, imagine this, you are a woman who would like to have an elective cesearean as your planned method of birth. You shop all over town to be told 'sorry, current legislation prevents us from undertaking elective cesearean births!'. Can you imagine the outrage?
Apply this scenario to homebirthing and we're on the same page!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
