00:02Nicole Miller felt at ease when she gave birth to baby Cohen at her Mackay home in February.
00:08You don't have to think, when do I go to the hospital, am I going too early?
00:13It's the best feeling ever really.
00:16The midwife who supported her during birth may have to close her practice
00:20when changes to the federal government's insurance scheme come into effect.
00:25But in Mackay, there's only one other insured midwife that I could have as my second.
00:30In Australia, two midwives are required at home births.
00:34Currently, assistants known as second midwives don't need to be endorsed,
00:38a title which requires 5,000 hours of clinical practice.
00:43From the end of December, they'll need to be endorsed to qualify for mandatory insurance.
00:48I only work part-time, and that would look like about six years before I would even be eligible to
00:55be endorsed,
00:56plus also a further study as well.
01:00Really, the government should extend that insurance to cover the second midwife.
01:05The Federal Health Department says the insurance requirements will provide
01:08important safeguards for practitioners, women and families.
01:12But the Australian College of Midwives says it's an unnecessary change,
01:17which will further limit home birth access for regional residents.
01:20We don't believe that it is making it safer.
01:23Midwives are skilled and capable to be able to support women at home births.
01:27Midwives of Midwives of Los Angeles
01:28Midwives of Midwives of Los Angeles
01:28Midwives of Masters
