Broken Hill Midwifery Group Practice celebrates 10th Birthday
The Broken Hill Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) at Far West Local Health District has celebrated ten years of providing local women access to continuity of midwifery care.
The tenth birthday was celebrated on Tuesday, 1 July 2025 at Broken Hill Health Service with staff, families, and babies enjoying this significant milestone.
Under the Broken Hill MGP model, women receive care from a known primary midwife throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth and up to two weeks after birth. MGP midwives work as part of a team to ensure support and backup arrangements are in place, as needed.
Far West Local Health District’s Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery and Director Clinical Governance, Wendy Gleeson said more than 1,970 babies have been born with MGP since its inception.
“This is an exciting achievement for our maternity services, and we continue to serve local women, with the 2,000th baby expected to be born under this model, by the end of winter,” Ms Gleeson said.
“Sustaining a Midwifery Group Practice, particularly in a rural area, requires enormous commitment and passion from our dedicated midwives providing respectful, evidence based maternity care to women in the Far West.
“When Far West Local Health District launched the Broken Hill Midwifery Group Practice in 2015, it was a significant and exciting change and we are extremely proud to achieve this incredible milestone and to provide women in the Far West with access to a known midwife throughout their pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience.
“The commitment of past and present midwives, obstetricians and managers to support the Broken Hill MGP to sustain operations from the early years, throughout the pandemic, and beyond speaks volumes of the positive impact the continuity of care model has had on both health outcomes and the value of the model.
“We look forward to the Broken Hill Midwifery Group Practice providing many more years of care and support for the women, babies and families of the Far West,” Ms Gleeson said.
- Cutting the 10th Birthday cake for MGP were (from left) Telicia Nicholls, Chelsea Anderson and Bree Borlace.
Midwife Manager Maternity and Newborn Services, Chelsea Anderson said local women accessing the service have consistently reported a very positive experience. “Women value the ability to build trust with a known midwife which makes them feel comfortable discussing their concerns and asking questions,” Ms Anderson said.
“We are so proud that our MGP is turning ten years old and that our MGP has helped other maternity services in Australia implement their model of midwifery care. We really do have the best job in the world.”
Also, a surprise announcement was made that the Rotary Club in Broken Hill has donated $10,000 to help refurbish the birthing room at the Maternity Unit in the hospital. Congratulations and our sincere thank you to Rotary Club, its members and supporters, for this very generous donation.