Professional indemnity insurance for midwives
Privately practising midwives will be able to purchase their own indemnity insurance, and be covered from 1 July 2010.
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Previous MinistersPDF printable version of Professional indemnity insurance for midwives (PDF 15 KB)
5 May 2010
Today, on International Midwives Day, I am pleased to announce that the Government has signed the contract to provide the first ever Commonwealth-supported professional indemnity insurance for midwives.
The insurance will be provided by Medical Insurance Group Australia.
Privately practising midwives will be able to purchase their own insurance, and be covered from 1 July 2010.
This is the first time since 2002 that midwives can purchase professional indemnity insurance.
This is an important step for Australia’s midwives. It is also an important step for Australian women and their families.
This insurance arrangement will help midwives who wish to provide high quality midwifery services to Australian women as part of a collaborative team with doctors and other health professionals.
It is a key part of the $120 million package of maternity reform measures the Government announced in the last Budget to improve choice and support for Australian mothers.
It also helps underscore the importance of midwives in providing high-quality, safe maternity care in Australia.
It builds on the new legislation passed by the Parliament on 16 March 2010 to give midwives access to the MBS and PBS.
The Commonwealth-supported insurance will not cover services provided during home births.
Medical Insurance Group Australia were selected via a tender process and has been providing insurance to doctors and other health care professionals in Australia for many years.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 62777220
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