Commonalities and challenges: A review of Australian state and territory maternity and child health policies
Virginia Schmied
Professor of Maternal Infant and Family Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Sydney NSW
Jenny Donovan
Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies, University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD
Sue Kruske
Centre for Health Equity Training Research and Evaluation, University of New South Wales, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney NSW
Lynn Kemp
Associate Professor and Director, Centre for Health Equity Training Research and Evaluation (CHETRE), Liverpool Hospital; University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW
Caroline Homer
Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney NSW
Cathrine Fowler
Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney; Tresillian Chair in Child and Family Health, Tresilian Family Care Centres, Belmore NSW
PP: 106 - 117
Abstract
Nurses and midwives play a key role in providing universal maternal, child and family health services in Australia. However, the Australian federation of states and territories has resulted in policy frameworks that differ across jurisdictions and services that are fragmented across disciplines and sectors.
This paper reports the findings of a study that reviewed and synthesised current Australian service policy or frameworks for maternity and child health services in order to identify the degree of commonality across jurisdictions and the compatibility with international research on child development. Key maternity and child health service policy documents in each jurisdiction were sourced.
The findings indicate that current policies were in line with international research and policy directions, emphasising prevention and early intervention, continuity of care, collaboration and integrated services. The congruence of policies suggests the time is right to consider the introduction of a national approach to universal maternal, child health services.
Keywords
maternity services; child health services; health policy; maternal health; child health; primary health care
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