Previously, midwives in private practice faced challenges in obtaining PII for intrapartum care, particularly during homebirths. The absence of suitable insurance products led to a temporary exemption under the National Law, allowing midwives to provide these services without standard PII coverage. This exemption has been extended until 31 December 2026, providing a transitional period for midwives to align with the new insurance requirements.
The newly available PII product is offered through Miga, a recognised provider in the field. To be eligible, midwives must hold an Endorsement for scheduled medicines for midwives with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). This endorsement ensures that midwives are qualified to prescribe and administer medications within their scope of practice, further enhancing the safety and quality of care provided to mothers and infants.
In response to these changes, a collaborative webinar was held on 10 November 2025, featuring key stakeholders such as Naomi Riley, Strategic Lead – Midwifery, and representatives from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Ahpra, and Miga. The session aimed to elucidate the recent PII developments for privately practising midwives, particularly concerning intrapartum care, and to outline the practical steps necessary for midwives to adopt and prepare for these changes.
While this advancement marks a significant step forward for the midwifery profession, it has also raised certain concerns. Notably, issues have been highlighted regarding PII solutions that support the continuity of services where the second practitioner attending homebirths may not be an endorsed midwife, and private practice is not their primary context of practice. Ongoing consultations are addressing these concerns to ensure that all midwives can meet the new PII requirements effectively.
Midwives, including those attending births as the second practitioner, are encouraged to prepare to meet the PII requirements as announced. This preparation is crucial to ensure uninterrupted service delivery and to uphold the standards of care expected within the profession.
For more detailed information and to access the webinar recording, midwives and interested parties can visit the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal's website.
