Women in Shellharbour are still waiting to learn when they will be able to give birth at their new hospital, as calls grow for faster action on the NSW birth trauma inquiry.
At the Better Births Illawarra Ask Your Politicians forum on Friday, November 6, Minister for Health Ryan Park said the new Shellharbour Hospital would eventually have birthing services. But he gave no timetable, saying there were too few staff to safely operate units at both Shellharbour and Wollongong.
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre supports calls for a clear pathway to a birthing unit at Shellharbour and faster improvements to the care women receive now.
The new hospital will open in late 2027. It will provide antenatal and postnatal services, including midwifery-led clinics and home visits, with space for a future birthing unit.
“I can assure you Shellharbour Hospital will eventually have birthing services,” Mr Park said.
“I just can’t have a situation where two sites are short. [We] can’t do that safely,” he added.
Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said she had advocated for a unit and agreed the new hospital should have one.
“The space is there, the wing is there. It will be open, but it won’t be open until it is safe to do so,” she said.
Speaking after the forum, Better Births Illawarra president Sharon Settecasse said hospital culture needed to change to attract more midwives.
“We’ve heard over many years that there is an issue with the culture in hospitals, the way midwives are treated, and how the power is distributed between midwives and doctors. The problem isn’t recruitment; it is retaining midwives so they stay,” she said.
“Better Births Illawarra are calling for a midwife-led birth centre for Shellharbour families.”
Mr Park acknowledged Better Births Illawarra’s advocacy in pushing for improvements to maternity care.
Independent candidate for Keira, Kylie Flament, said the government was “asking the wrong questions” about risk. She said it also needed to consider the consequences of women in labour having to travel further to give birth.
“We’re trying to create a perfectly risk-averse hospital environment, but forgetting that if we don’t have a birthing suite that is adequate, worst outcomes will be had.”
The birth trauma inquiry received more than 4,000 submissions and made 43 recommendations in 2024, including wider access to continuity of midwifery care and a review of informed consent practices.
Mr Park said Better Births Illawarra’s advocacy helped women tell their stories for change.
He outlined plans for statewide training in trauma-informed maternity care, saying a tender process was underway.
He also pointed to the expansion of Midwifery Group Practice in Wollongong, saying it was the benchmark he wanted to expand across the state.
Following the panel, Illawarra Women’s Health Centre CEO Jess Davidson called for faster implementation.
“Women told their stories, often at great personal cost, and the inquiry’s recommendations backed up what they had been saying for years. What we heard tonight is that action isn’t happening fast enough. Women having babies now deserve to see those recommendations reflected in their care,” she said.
“Women need clear timeframes, accountability and evidence that care is changing. That means informed consent, meaningful birthing choices and support from midwives who have the conditions to provide safe, respectful care.
“For women preparing to give birth, “eventually” offers little reassurance. Their care cannot wait.”
The forum was also attended by moderator and ACM Midwife of the Year Fiona Reid, Greens candidate for Wollongong, Malika Reese, Animal Justice Party candidate for Keira, Tim Lavers, NSW Socialists candidate for Wollongong, Ryan Chapman, Member for Wollongong MP Paul Scully, Independent candidate for Keira, Kylie Flament and Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson.