Marg Phelan – President ACMI 2003 – 2005 2
- ACMI monitored the progress of the Bachelor of Midwifery program, which commenced in 2002 in Victoria and South Australia, and maintained contact with the universities as well as Nursing and Midwifery Boards in those States
- Australia continued to enjoy representation on ICM Board through Ms Caroline Weaver ICM President and Mrs Judi Brown, Deputy Director
- Planning for the ICM Congress in Brisbane in 2005 continued through the ACMI/ICM 2005 Ltd Company
- Worked more closely with the recently renamed Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) to improve regulation of Midwifery across Australia
- Australian Council of Deans changed their name to the Australian Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery
- Continued to lobby & make representations to Government and Insurance Council of Australia to assist midwives to obtain Indemnity Insurance
- ACMI worked with Maternity Coalition in media interviews and representations to Government
- Wrote joint submission with Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) to the Productivity Commission’s Review of National Competition Arrangements, highlighting the lack of access for midwives to professional indemnity
- Work of the National Education and Standards Taskforce (ANEST) continued, but as ANMC was developing their competencies for midwives, ANEST joined ANMC in the development of the midwifery competencies
- 1st Edition of National Midwifery Guidelines for Consultation and Referral were issued in November 2003 and published in February 2004
- Commenced work on continuing professional development (CPD) framework for midwives
- Group Midwifery Practices opened at Ryde Hospital Sydney & Women’s and Children’s Hospital Adelaide in 2004
- The end of 2004 saw the graduation of the first cohort of Bachelor of Midwifery and the dual degree Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery Students
- 30 hospitals were successfully BFHI accredited or reaccredited 2004 & 2005
- 9 midwives awarded Australian Midwifery Scholarship Foundation (AMSF) scholarships in 2004/5
- Australian Midwifery Journal Editor Pauline Glover’s term ended after 5 years in that role, and Prof Kathleen Fahy and Prof Caroline Homer were appointed as Editor & Deputy Editor respectively
- Successful National Conference in Perth in Sept 2004
- ACMI Membership review commenced
- Established Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Australian Nursing Federation (ANF), Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC), College of Remote Area Nurses & Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
- ICM Triennial Congress July 24th – 29th 2005, Brisbane, was very successful. Australia was first country to have the privilege to host the event more than once. Highlights of ICM Congress & Council meeting:
· Over 2,000 midwives attended the Congress
· ICM Council meeting prior to the Congress
· 69 of the 86 member Midwifery Associations attended
· Australia represented by Patricia Schneider and Marg Phelan
· Asia Pacific reps at ICM Council were K. Guilliland (NZ) & J. Kondoh (Japan)
- 4 Distinguished Fellowships were awarded at the Oration Ceremony during ICM Congress, in Brisbane, to Lesley Barclay, Judi Brown, Caroline Weaver and Vanessa Owen. 10 fellows were also invested at that ceremony.