The Australian Birth Forum
The Australian Birth Forum was held in Sydney on
4 April 2025.
The event featured exceptional speakers and content and brought forward discussions that have challenged some perceptions about Australian maternity care services.
The sessions are now online to view.
Opening Plenary:
Towards a National Fertility And Birth Roadmap
Professor The Hon Greg Hunt
Former Federal Minister for Health
Discussion:
A Journey from Fertility to Birth
Facilitator:
Natasha Robinson
Health Editor, The Australian
A facilitated conversation followed by Q&A exploring the concepts presented in the first session
Professor The Hon Greg Hunt
Dr Elizabeth Jackson
Vice President, NASOG
Prof Helena Teede
Monash Centre for Health Research & Implementation
Panel:
The Economics of Birth
Facilitator:
Prof Steve Robson
Chief Medical Officer,
Avant Mutual Group
The Private Obstetric Alliance Forum in 2024 discussed the economics of births in relation to outcomes data. This session will delve deeper into the economics of maternity care models including the costs to private hospitals and providers.
Dr April Armstrong
Founder, Business for Doctors
Dean Breckenridge
Chief Policy Officer, Ramsay Health Care
Prof Emily Callendar
Monash Centre for Health Research & Implementation
Prof Helena Teede
Monash Centre for Health Research & Implementation
Presentation:
Reproductive Carrier Screening
Facilitator:
Dr Kellie Tathem
O&G, Brisbane & NASOG Councillor
NASOG thanks the team at Douglass Hanly Moir for their generous sponsorship of the Australian Birth Forum.
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Dr Marina Berbic
Deputy Director, Genetics
Panel:
Focusing on Patient Needs, Choices & Expectations
Facilitator:
Dr Kellie Tathem
O&G, Brisbane &
NASOG Councillor
Delving into the diversity of patient perspectives around maternity care.
Dr Elizabeth Deveny
CEO, Consumers Health Forum
Emma Preece Boyd
Patient Representative, Melbourne
Panel:
The Medico-legal Landscape of Birth
Session Chair:
Dr Kathryn Austin
President, AMA NSW
The expert panelists will discuss what issues are seen through the claims perspective across midwifery and obstetrics. Including issues of boundary friction and the weaponizing of notifications among peers.
Georgie Haysom
General Manager, Advocacy, Education and Research
Avant Mutual
Joel Tuccia
Policy & Advocacy Manager
MIGA
Plenary:
Addressing Workforce and Infrastructure
Session Chair:
Dr Kathryn Austin
President, AMA NSW
Workforce is a term heard very regularly in discussion about the delivery of healthcare. Maternity care has its own set of challenges, not only with workforce but also the right facilities to deliver babies.
This session will bring out the perspectives of just some of the providers involved in maternity and how they see service delivery could be improved and even expanded.
Dr Gillian Gibson
President, RANZCOG
RANZCOG’s Approach to a Workforce for the Future
Dr Rod Martin
President, Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine
The Rural Challenge
Dr Danielle McMullen
President, AMA
The Medical Workforce: A National Perspective
Dr Vida Viliunas
Vice President, Australian Society of Anaesthetists
Keeping Anaesthetists in the Labour Ward
Closing Panel:
Navigating the Roadmap
Facilitator:
Prof Steve Robson
The day concluded by agreeing on a resolution to take to the incoming Federal Government for the direction of maternity care in Australia.
Dr Kathryn Austin
President, AMA NSW
Prof Emily Callendar
Monash Centre for Health Research & Implementation
Dr Elizabeth Deveny
CEO, Consumers Health Forum
Dr Elizabeth Jackson
Vice President, NASOG
A/Prof Gino Pecoraro
President, NASOG