NSW Health is developing a Statewide Maternity Services Plan (the Plan) to guide maternity services across NSW over the next five to ten years and respond to the changing needs of our communities.
Shaped by the insights and experiences of clinicians and consumers, and grounded in the best available evidence and data, the Plan builds on previous maternity reform activities, including Connecting, Listening and Responding: A Blueprint for Action – Maternity Care in NSW and the implementation of Birth Trauma Inquiry recommendations.
At the heart of this is a vision that all women, their babies and families receive respectful, evidence-based and equitable maternity care that improves their experiences, health and wellbeing outcomes.
Development of the Plan began in late 2025 and is taking place in two phases.
The first phase is an assessment of current NSW population and demographic trends, use of public maternity services and workforce availability. This is helping us identify who we need to hear from and the different needs the Plan must respond to.
Central to developing the Plan is early, genuine and ongoing engagement with a broad range of services, partners and consumers to help identify focus areas and shape future actions.
Since April 2026, we have held sessions with local health district maternity and neonatal clinicians, service managers, service planners, managers and Directors, Aboriginal Health Directors, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service representatives, primary care sector partners and peak professional bodies.
We have also established a Consumer Reference Group to gain insights and feedback from a consumer perspective.
A public Have Your Say survey captured broader community feedback for the Plan. We will engage stakeholders to test future directions and review the draft Plan.
The Plan is expected to be completed by December 2026.