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 was appointed in late 2024. Representatives are from both large and small jurisdictions as well as experts (including workforce data, rural and remote and First Nations) 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 was appointed in late 2024. It includes 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 – underway now (April and May 2025)
- Stage 3: Strategy Development, review/endorsement and publication.
Project update
Consultation forums for the NMWS have now concluded. Events were well attended, with representation from across the maternity sector, including allied health professionals, nurses, midwives, GPs, obstetricians, professional associations, and educators. It has been a privilege to be part of these valuable conversations as we explore key maternity workforce considerations. These first-hand perspectives, concerns, and valuable insights will be used to develop the NMWS Strategy. The project team is undertaking additional targeted engagement via interviews, deep dive meetings and workshops over June and July 2025.
Have your say
The National Maternity Workforce Strategy survey and consultation forums have closed. The Project Team welcomes information on any research or examples of good practice in developing and supporting the maternity workforce to the National Maternity Workforce Strategy mailbox.
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