National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services


Peak organisations involved in rural and remote maternity care have come together to collaboratively develop the Second Edition National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services, which provides a framework for safe, evidence based maternity care to prioritise mothers and maternity care providers living outside of urban centres. 

This Framework is being commended to Health Ministers, service providers, policy makers, clinicians and communities to support women and their families in accessing quality maternity services in rural and Remote Australia.  

We were a key driver of the National Rural Maternity Forum in August 2023, that recognised the need for urgent revision of the 2008 National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services with an additional need to address cultural safety, respectful maternity care, continuity of care and carer and the co-design and co-development of maternity services with consumers.

The Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner supported the faciliation of the development of the 2nd Edition, initially led by National Rural Health Commissioner Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart and later Professor Jenny May AM, who was appointed to the role in July 2024, which was published in June 2025.

Second Edition National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services signatories:

  • Australian College of Midwives (ACM)
  • Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
  • Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM)
  • Maternity Consumer Network (MCN)
  • National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners (NAATSIHWP)
  • National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA)
  • Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner (ONRHC)
  • Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
  • Rural Doctors’ Association of Australia (RDAA)
  • Rural Workforce Agency Network (RWA Network)  

 

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