About the strategy
The National Maternity Workforce Strategy (NMWS) 2026–2036 is a coordinated effort to build a resilient and sustainable maternity workforce across Australia.
Phase One
The review project, led by Queensland, aimed to provide:
- an overview and environmental scan of current literature
- jurisdictional strategies and workforce plans
- engagement and consultation from national workforce representatives.
The review project made several key findings, which will lead to the development of Phase Two.
Phase Two
Co-led by New South Wales and Queensland. The Strategy addresses key challenges in:
- workforce recruitment
- retention
- development to meet the nation’s evolving maternity care needs.
Stemming from the Independent Review of Australia’s Regulatory Settings Relating to Overseas Health Practitioners (Kruk Review), the NMWS emphasises accessible, culturally safe maternity services for all Australians.
Scope
The NMWS focuses on practical strategies to support the recruitment, retention, and professional development of maternity clinicians, including:
- midwives
- obstetricians
- general practitioners
- relevant allied health professionals.
Excluding industrial matters or models of care, this strategy supports clinicians working to their full scope across various settings, informed by a commitment to cultural safety and equity. First Nations voices play a key role in shaping the strategy to ensure inclusive, respectful outcomes.
Steering Committee
The NMWS Steering Committee will be appointed in late 2024. Representatives will be from both large and small jurisdictions as well as experts to guide the Strategy’s development.
This committee ensures alignment with stakeholder feedback and national priorities, operating with input from the Strategic Advisory Group. The Steering Committee reports to the Health Workforce Taskforce to maintain a coordinated approach.
Strategic Advisory Group
The Strategic Advisory Group will be appointed in late 2024. It will include cross-professional representatives across the Maternity Workforce with a focus on First Nations and rural health perspectives.
The Advisory Group provides feedback on essential workforce needs and solutions, supporting a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to maternity care.
Project timeline
The National Maternity Workforce Strategy will be completed by late 2025. Key phases include:
- Stage 1: Governance, Recruitment and Initial Consultation
- Stage 2: Consultation
- Stage 3: Strategy Development, review/endorsement and publication.
