Midwife insurance changes threaten homebirth services

Proposed changes to professional indemnity insurance requirements are threatening the availability of homebirth services in the Armidale region. Under new regulations set to take effect on January 1, 2027, existing exemption arrangements that allow private midwives to attend homebirths without intrapartum insurance will be abolished.

To remain insured under the Midwife Professional Indemnity Scheme, all midwives practicing outside of a hospital setting must hold a specific ‘endorsement’. Ashleigh Foy, founder of the Nurture & Nourish Collective, is currently the only midwife in the region with this endorsement who is interested in offering these birthing services. Foy is scheduled to speak at Parliament House regarding the potential impact of these requirements, which could force local private practices to close.