Maternity Services Reform
The Evaluation of the Improving Maternity Services Budget Package 2009-10
This page provides information on the independent evaluation of the Improving Maternity Services Budget Package 2009-10 currently being conducted by Healthcare Management Advisors.
The Department of Health and Ageing has engaged an independent organisation, Healthcare Management Advisors (HMA), to undertake an evaluation of the Improving Maternity Services Budget Package 2009-10 (the Budget Package). The project began in December 2010 and is due for completion in June 2013.
The evaluation will include an assessment of Budget Package outcomes against objectives; an assessment of the appropriateness; efficiency and effectiveness of the Budget Package; identification of unresolved issues impacting achievement of Budget Package objectives; and identification of opportunities and recommendations to further improve the choice in and availability of maternity services in Australia.
The evaluation will involve assessment of both the implementation and impact of the Budget Package. As part of this process HMA will be reviewing and analysing quantitative data, and consulting with a wide range of stakeholders.
Consultation Process
As part of the evaluation, HMA will be conducting face-to-face and telephone interviews, surveys, focus groups and case studies with health professionals, including midwives and obstetricians, as well as consumers regarding their understanding of and experience with the new maternity services reforms.Consumer Survey
The consumer survey is now closed. Thank you to all those who participated in the survey. All responses are confidential and HMA will collate the feedback received and provide deidentified results to the Department of Health and Ageing.Health Professionals Survey
In November 2011, surveys were distributed to midwives through the Australian College of Midwives, the Royal College of Nursing Australia and Australian Private Midwives Association and to obstetricians and GP obstetricians through the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.Midwives and obstetricians will be invited to participate in the surveys again in late 2012.
