Since its inception in 1965 CEA has been involved in advocating for improvements in maternity services for women in Brisbane. CEA played a key advocacy role in 1970’s so men could be beside their partners for the birth of their babies in hospital.
CEA has developed and maintained links with politicians and Government bodies over the years. Recently this has included representation in the current reform processes taking place in Queensland as a response to ‘Re-birthing” The Report of the Review of Maternity Services in Qld in 2004. This Review was an election promise from the Beattie Government in response to consumer pressure. The review came up with key recommendations that were accepted in the Governments Response in October 2005.
One of the key recommendations was the establishment of the Centre for Mothers and Families to oversee the necessary changes towards 2010. The Maternity Services Steering Committee (MSSC) was established in December 2005 in the interim. The MSSC reports directly to the Minister and is made up of a range of stakeholder representatives including consumers, service provider professionals and Qld Health and Private Sector management. Sandiellen Black is CEA’s representative on this Committee.
CEA is committed to the recommendations of “Re-birthing” and welcomes the opportunity to represent consumers during this change process. For more information go to www.health.qld.gov.au/maternity.
CEA also has consumer representatives in the following capacities:
- Juanita Simmonds is on The Mater Mothers Clinical Governance Committee
- Julie Thorman is on The RBWH Birthing Services Consumer Forum
Maternity Reform
CEA actively works alongside Maternity Coalition (Brisbane) www.maternitycoalition.org.au, Home Midwifery Association of Qld www.homebirth.org.au, Friends of the RBWH Birth Centre www.joomla.fbc.org.au and other community and birthing organisations across Southeast Queensland to improve maternity services for women in Qld.
For more information about CEA’s involvement in maternity reform or consumer participation in service policy development please contact the President.
