Celebrating Midwives

Today we celebrate International Day of the Midwife and recognise the 503 Mater midwives at South Brisbane and Redland.

Midwives play an important role in providing healthcare and education to not only the women they care for, but their family and community as a whole. These special people are instrumental in supporting women through their pregnancy, birth and post-natal period. 

Mater Health CEO Sean Hubbard said midwives possess a long list of exceptional qualities which enhance a patient’s pregnancy and birth experience.

“They are non-judgemental, respectful, with an ability to care for people from a range of different backgrounds,” Mr Hubbard said.

“With attention to detail, midwives possess great observational skills, patience, all with a caring attitude and empathy,” he said.

Every single week, Mater receives written feedback from patients reflecting on their positive experience and Mater Mothers’ Hospitals Director of Nursing & Midwifery Maree Reynolds knows why.

“Each day our midwives are caring for women and families with skill and sensitivity to ensure the best possible outcomes and experience,” Ms Reynolds said.

“It is a privilege to be a part of a woman and family’s life at such a special time and I would like to acknowledge their care and compassion today and every day at Mater,” she said.

Mater Mothers’ has proud history of midwifery and training. The first class of students commenced the 12 month midwifery course on 1 February 1961. There were usually three intakes a year and more than 2 00 midwives graduated between 1961 and 1998, when midwifery training was transferred to tertiary institutions.

In the early years, midwifery students lived-in on the seventh floor of the hospital and attended lectures given by medical staff and the nurse educator in their own ‘off duty’ time. Students wore white uniforms and a butterfly veil. In 1972 the veil was changed to a cap with a red, blue or green stripe depending on the examination group. Students were presented with a Mater badge upon graduation. The first male midwifery students were admitted to the course in 1978.

*Historical information and images provided by Mater Heritage and Archives Centre