MEET THE SUNSHINE COAST’S NEW HOME BIRTH TEAM

• A team of obstetricians, midwives, medical staff and maternity consumers are preparing for the start of the new publicly funded homebirth service on the Sunshine Coast.
• Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (HHS) is the first region in Queensland to offer this service.
• Sunshine Coast Health is currently taking expressions of interest for the service which begins in mid-2024.

The new publicly funded homebirth service is set to begin on the Sunshine Coast in the coming months.

Following the Miles Government announcement in November last year, the project team made up of obstetricians, midwives, medical staff from across the health service, Queensland Ambulance Service, and maternity consumers have been working hard to support a safe service for women, babies, and families on the Sunshine Coast.

The new service will be offered to women who meet agreed clinical criteria and live within a safe travel distance to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

The multidisciplinary team have been preparing for the homebirth service through simulations to ensure frontline health staff know what to do to support women to safely have a home birth.

Expressions of interest for a homebirth recently opened ahead of the commencement of the service in the second half of 2024.

Women can express their interest in a homebirth by talking to their GP or by sending an email to SC-MGP@health.qld.gov.au

More information is available on the Sunshine Coast Health website here.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services, and Minister for Women the Honourable Shannon Fentiman:
“It was fantastic to meet some of our incredibly skilled and dedicated healthcare workers, and our mums and bubs on the Sunshine Coast who have played a major role in developing this Queensland first homebirth service.

“Providing more choices and support for women to make informed decisions about their maternity care is so important for their birthing experience.

“It was great to see firsthand the desktop and lab simulations the team have been working on to map the journey for women to safely birth in the comfort of their own home.

“The Miles Government will continue to deliver the healthcare services Queensland women need and deserve, no matter where they live.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton:
“We’re so lucky to be trialling this great new service that will give women more choice when it comes to birthing.

“Our government delivers on issues that matter most to Queenslanders, and that’s exactly what the new homebirth service will provide for families here on the Sunny Coast.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt:
“This is a game changer for families on the Sunny Coast who will soon be supported by a team of passionate clinicians to safely birth in their home environment.

“I am proud to be part of a government that is listening to our community and delivering, ensuring world class healthcare here on the Sunny Coast.”

Quotes attributable to Sunshine Coast Health Chief Executive Dr Peter Gillies:
“We have had a number of women express an interest in having a home birth and we are working to make sure we provide a safe service to these families.

“These simulations help us to determine how to safely provide a home birth service and what our frontline teams need to do if there are any issues.

“We are working to finalise the inclusion criteria for a publicly funded home birth shortly and will provide updated information to women and families over the coming months.

“We’re looking forward to providing this service to women and families in the second half of 2024.”