2025-05-23
Quotes attributable to Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens Jo Clay:
“The ACT Greens have advocated with midwives, mothers, parents and everyday Canberrans for a standalone birth centre for years.
“Today’s announcement for a standalone birth centre as part of the new North Canberra Hospital project is a testament to the community’s hard work and advocacy over decades.
“Birth is not an illness. But the simple reality is that most women and birthing people currently have no choice but to give birth inside a hospital.
“Some women and birthing people will want to choose to birth in a hospital, and we support everyone in their choices, but for those who want to birth in a home-like environment with a known midwife, Canberrans simply need more options.
“Right now our current birth centres have waitlists hundreds of people long because they provide continuity of care - which better supports individual needs, reduces unnecessary medical interventions and results in more positive birth experiences and outcomes.
“This new standalone birth centre will mean more women and birthing people will have more choice and confidence throughout pregnancy and birth.
“This report also acknowledges that a freestanding birth centre fully separate to a hospital campus and out in the community, with alternative governance, is a good option in the future for Canberra.
“Such a facility would have the potential to better meet the needs of the community, especially in supporting First Nations families through Birthing With Country.”
Background
- The ACT Greens included their 2020 election commitment to a standalone family birth centre as a priority in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement for the 10th Legislative Assembly.
- On 7 February 2023, Ms Clay unanimously passed a private members motion committing the ACT Government to complete the feasibility study, released today, for a co-designed midwife-led facility, either located alongside or fully separate from the new northside hospital, by August 2024.
- Also on 7 February 2023, Ms Clay tabled a petition with over 3000 signatures calling for a freestanding birth centre in the ACT.
- On 30 September 2024, the ACT Greens reconfirmed an election commitment for the ACT’s first co-designed and midwife-led freestanding birth centre on the northside.