Having a baby
This page provides information on maternity services in the ACT.
When you have a baby in the ACT you can choose public or private maternity care depending on your preferences and health needs. There are also dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander maternity services.
Public maternity services
Canberra Health Services
Canberra Health Services provides public maternity care including pregnancy, birth and early parenting services. This care may be in the community, at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children or at North Canberra Hospital.
Your maternity care may include care from midwifery, medical and allied health team members as required. Care may be midwife-led, obstetrician-led, or shared with your general practitioner.
Centenary Hospital for Women and Children
The Centenary Hospital for Women and Children provides all levels of maternity care including for women, birthing parents and babies with serious or complex health conditions.
Centenary Hospital is the regional maternity referral service.
North Canberra Hospital
The North Canberra Hospital provides pregnancy, birthing and postnatal care for women and birth parents with low to moderate risk pregnancies.
If you require tertiary level maternity or neonatal care, you will be transferred to Centenary Hospital for ongoing management.
Find more information about your maternity care options from Canberra Health Services.
To book into public maternity care follow these steps.
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander maternity services
If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or are pregnant with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, you can choose to receive your care through Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, or through Canberra’s public or private maternity systems.
Shared care with your doctor
You may choose pregnancy care that is shared with your doctor (GP) if you are healthy with an uncomplicated pregnancy.
Your pregnancy care is shared between public hospital maternity services and your doctor.
During your pregnancy, some of your appointments will be with your doctor and some with a midwife from the hospital.
You get to continue or build up a relationship with your doctor who will support the long-term needs of your growing family.
If you are interested in this model of care discuss this with your doctor.
Private maternity services
You may choose to see a private obstetrician for your maternity care.
If this is the case, please see your doctor to get a referral to see an obstetrician of your choice.
You may choose a private midwife for your maternity care.
Private midwives may offer pregnancy and birthing care, or care for the whole childbearing journey. Private midwifery care may also offer the option of homebirth.
For more information about private maternity services visit the having a baby in Canberra website.
Calvary John James Hospital
The Calvary John James Hospital Maternity Unit was founded in 1994 and provides obstetric services, including:
- private ensuite rooms
- antenatal assessments
- birthing suites
- maternity education classes and workshops
- midwifery care
- special care nursery
Find more information about the ACT's maternity care system in our Maternity in Focus strategy.