Media Release: 4 September 2009

ANF welcomes transitional professional indemnity insurance exemption for privately practicing midwives

The ANF has cautiously welcomed the Australian Health Minister’s decision to include a two year transitional clause in the current draft National Registration and Accreditation Scheme legislation that will allow privately practicing midwives to attend a homebirth.

A joint communiqué coming out of today’s meeting of Australian Health Ministers reads:

Health Ministers agreed to a transitional clause in the current draft National Registration and Accreditation Scheme legislation which provides a two year exemption until June 2012 from holding indemnity insurance for privately practicing midwives who are unable to obtain professional indemnity insurance for attending a homebirth.

Ms Ged Kearney and Ms Lee Thomas are available for comment on this issue on the numbers below.

 

Media Contacts
Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322
Lee Thomas, Assistant Federal Secretary, 0419 576 590

 

The ANF, with 170,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.