Partnerships

The Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer (OCNMO) supports midwives to work collaboratively with women, their families and other health providers to provide accessible and responsive quality maternity services that are culturally and clinically safe.

OCNMO actively champions innovation and pursues enhancements to strengthen professional capacity and capability.

Women

In Queensland, parents have access to a number of healthcare options during pregnancy, birth, postnatal and early parenting including selecting a midwife as a primary caregiver.

As a primary carer, a midwife works to provide maternity care from early pregnancy through birth and early parenting. The midwife is available to advise the mother and monitor her progress throughout pregnancy and to attend when labour has established providing agreed services within the scope of midwifery practice.

The midwife is an autonomous practitioner who works in collaboration with specialist medical and nursing providers when a complication or illness is detected.

The role of a midwife will include:

  • co-ordinating care and providing advice during your pregnancy
  • supporting you during your baby's birth
  • caring for you and your baby after the birth
  • detecting any health issues or complications of yourself and/or your baby in relation to the pregnancy
  • obtaining specialist assistance when needed
  • if necessary, carrying out emergency measures in the absence of a specialist.

The benefits of having a midwife as your primary maternity care professional are:

  • it allows you to develop a partnership and build trust in your midwife
  • the comfort in knowing that you will receive continuous care during your pregnancy, birth and up to six weeks post birth
  • the confidence that your midwife is trained to identify any problems during pregnancy, labour and post birth
  • the access to professional support in maternity care, birthing options and support for transition to motherhood
  • breastfeeding advice and support
  • access to care, education and support in a variety of settings and locations including homes, birthing centres, community centres and metropolitan and rural hospitals.

Contact us

Email: ocnmo_corro@health.qld.gov.au

Physical address: Level 1, 15 Butterfield Street, Herston, QLD 4006

Postal address: GPO Box 48, Brisbane, QLD 4001

For referrals to a Nurse and Midwife Navigator or to a nurse practitioner, please consult your General Practitioner or local Hospital and Health Service.

Last updated: 20 September 2017