ONE of the reasons the Country Women's Association of NSW was formed a century ago was to advocate for adequate maternal health services in the bush.

One hundred years later and the Association is still pushing for improved services for expectant mothers and their families, with the topic at the top of the organisation's annual Awareness Week campaign that runs from Sunday 4 to Saturday 10 September.

Sharon Single is a member of the Coonamble Evening Branch of CWA, and has been a vocal advocate for women in areas like ours where distance and availability of services can make approaching motherhood a stressful experience.

 “Families travel long distances not only to give birth, but even to get access to diagnostic equipment such as foetal traces and ultrasounds," said Mrs Single. 

 “It’s a fact that interventions such as early inductions are more common for western mothers, it’s a fact that you have a higher chance of emergency Caesarian, it’s a fact you have a higher chance of complications and stillbirth," she said.

 “Rural health outcomes are lower than the cities across the board, and it begins with our children.”

At their annual State Conference in May this year, CWA branches submitted a number of motions around the need for improved maternity services and care in rural and remote areas and calling for a dedicated hotline to enable women in these areas to navigate available services.

Just on Saturday 3 September, the NSW Government released their response to the Regional Health Inquiry's recommendations supporting or supporting in principle 41 of the 44 recommendations handed down in May.

President of the CWA of NSW, Joy Beames, said this indication of government support for change was significant and validated the lived experiences of CWA members and their communities who have long warned of an emerging health crisis in regional and remote NSW.

“We welcome this response from the NSW Government and look forward to this commitment resulting in meaningful improvements to current services available to residents in non-metropolitan areas of the state. We have a long history of advocating for action on health services in these communities and we feel after yesterday’s government response the impetus is there to develop a rural health system that delivers the care these areas deserve,” she said.

Still speaking out for mothers and babies. Joy Beames (centre) and CWA members at their conference. IMAGE: CWA NSW

Joy said it was also gratifying the Government had agreed to the recommendation to undertake a two-year review of progress around the inquiry recommendations, and she was pleased each of the recommendations focused on health care staffing recruitment, training and retention were supported by the Government.

However the CWA has no intention of giving up on their campaign to improve maternity services.

One of the key recommendations from the Inquiry was around establishing a review of rural maternity services in the wake of the closure of dozens of hospital birthing units around the state, and often harrowing testimony from inquiry witnesses who shared their stories of giving birth without adequate support and facilities, or having to travel far from home to have their babies. 

“In 2022, this is simply not good enough and is very disturbing for those living outside our major cities. Having a baby should be a wonderful time for parents and families, but instead we’re looking at a situation where mothers are having to endure stress and uncertainty, and even fear for their lives and the life of their baby,” said Joy Beames, President of the CWA of NSW.

“Our Association was founded on this basic need for the availability of safe and effective maternal and post-natal care, so 100 years on we’re committed to continuing this advocacy for women and families in rural, regional and remote areas of the state and pushing for real and meaningful change.”

This year, the CWA of NSW is partnering with the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association and the Gidget Foundation Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that provides programs to support the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents.

As well as pursuing a firm commitment to the review of rural and regional maternity and antenatal services recommended by the Inquiry the CWA will be calling for consideration for the reinstatement of hospital birthing units in areas where they’ve been closed.

They say they will also push for initiatives that boost the number of maternity health professionals in country areas and a more equitable distribution of resources that reflects the demand for maternity services in remote, rural and regional NSW communities.

“NSW Health is failing our mothers, while the services we do receive locally are carried out by wonderful, dedicated professionals, they need more support," Mrs Single said.

 “We lack access, choice and continuity of care."