The failure to foresee the baby boom that began in Australia in 2005 and has now hit a thirty-year high has had serious consequences for public hospitals and birthing services.

In health policy debates in recent years, a range of different models have been proposed for reforming the Australian health system. When presented in isolation, these models can be confusing, particularly for those for whom the health system is unfamiliar territory. This Background Note is intended as a guide to some of the main recent...

For nearly two decades calls have been made to expand the role of midwives within maternity services in Australia. Although some progress has been made, it has been slow and, at system-wide level, limited. There are many barriers that prevent the expansion of midwifery-led services in Australia including funding arrangements for midwifery care, a lack...