Maternity in Focus

Maternity in Focus represents the first steps to evolve our maternity system to become more woman and person-centred and continue to support our excellent frontline healthcare workers.

It is a holistic approach to reform underpinned by a focus on individualised care, equity, and evidence.

Download the Maternity in Focus: The ACT Public Maternity System Plan 2022-2032.

Participate in the maternity experience survey

For more information go to Maternity experience survey.

Developing Maternity in Focus

The recommendations from the following documents were consolidated in the development of Maternity in Focus:

• ACT Government Response to the Legislative Assembly’s Inquiry into Maternity Services in the ACT
• Woman-centred care: Strategic directions for Australian maternity services
• National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan
• Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy: 2019 and beyond
• Evaluation of the Publicly Funded Homebirth trial in the Australian Capital Territory
• Safer Baby Bundle

ACT Health Directorate lead Maternity in Focus in close collaboration with CHS, North Canberra Hospital and Queen Elizabeth II Family Centre (QEII), consumers, non-government organisations, academic leads in maternity related fields, and health service providers.

Aims of Maternity in Focus

The system-wide focus of this plan will deliver system and service level changes that better support the needs of individuals accessing the public maternity systems and the multidisciplinary health professionals working within the system.

Through this plan, there will be ongoing involvement with consumers, community sector and health professionals to evolve the maternity system to meet the ongoing needs and desires of consumers and health professionals.

Ongoing, strong collaboration and engagement by all public maternity services providers, consumers and interested external stakeholders will be vital to successfully implement Maternity in Focus.

Maternity in Focus Workforce Scholarship Scheme

This scheme supports health professionals involved in maternity care in the ACT. It funds their professional development courses.

Courses must align with the Maternity in Focus: First Action Plan 2022-2025. These priority areas are in the Applicant Guidelines – see page 9.

You can get financial support for a course you’ve completed or will begin this financial year.

Application dates

Applications are now closed.

2025-2026 applications open in early February 2026.

Who can apply

You can apply if you are:

• a health professional involved in maternity care in the ACT. This includes midwives, nurses, doctors, and other eligible health professionals
• employed by Canberra Health Services, ACT Health Directorate, Tresillian Queen Elizabeth II Family Centre or Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services OR a general practitioner providing shared care to women and pregnant people in the ACT.
• employed in a permanent position or holding a casual or temporary contract for a period of at least 12 months
• supported by your manager.

To see the full list of criteria, read the applicant guidelines.

You can't apply if you’ve received funding under this scheme in the past and have completed the course.

Before you apply

• Read the applicant guidelines.
• Download the manager recommendation form.
• Discuss the course and your responses to the selection criteria with your manager.

More information

For more information, email maternityinfocusscholarships@act.gov.au

Next steps

Over the next 10 years, we will work together to make changes to the public maternity system and services through evidence and innovation to achieve these goals and actions, and to make the ACT public maternity services the best in Australia.

As a first step, during the next four years the ACT Government will commence implementation of Maternity in Focus through the Maternity in Focus: First Action Plan 2022-2025.

The actions identified for implementation over this timeframe will deliver essential reform, create the foundation to evolve the public maternity system and deliver on government commitment to delivery better care when and were people need it.

Maternity services available in the ACT

Each year, over 6,000 women, pregnant people and their families access the ACT maternity system for their pregnancy and birth.

For more information on your options for maternity care, visit the having a baby webpage.