At Barwon Health, every birth is a story of care, expertise, and compassion - led by midwives whose professionalism is the heart and soul of our maternity services.
This International Midwives Day, on May 5, we celebrate the exceptional midwives of Barwon Health: skilled clinicians, tireless advocates, and trusted guides for thousands of families across our region. Their dedication ensures that each birth is a supported and safe experience for every mother and newborn.
Every day, Barwon Health’s midwives bring a wealth of knowledge, calm expertise, and emotional support to the often exhilarating and sometimes challenging journey of childbirth. With nearly 3,000 babies born at Barwon Health each year, their hands deliver not just new life, but also reassurance, dignity, and hope. Their professional excellence ensures that local mothers feel empowered and safe, their babies nurtured from their very first breath, and every family cared for — close to home.
The legacy of Barwon Health’s maternity services is told through countless stories from families who recall their midwives' steady presence, their clinical skill, and the deep sense of trust they inspire. It is a legacy built not only on heart, but on the rigorous practice and standards that define exceptional midwifery care.
Our community's generosity has further strengthened this commitment. Philanthropic gifts have helped create spaces worthy of the professionalism our midwives embody - spaces like the Cotton On Foundation Maternity Hub, made possible by $1.25 million in donations. With calming birth suites and nurturing newborn nurseries, this facility gives midwives the environment and resources they need to deliver outstanding care when it matters most.
Similarly, the Special Care Nursery, redesigned in 2015 thanks to $4 million in community support, stands as a beacon of hope for our smallest and most vulnerable patients. Purpose-built for newborns and their families, it equips our midwives with the best possible setting to provide critical care with skill, tenderness, and respect.
These spaces are not just bricks and mortar - they are vital tools that empower Barwon Health’s midwives to continue their work with the highest standards of professionalism, ensuring that no family in our region faces their journey alone.
On International Midwives Day, and every day, we pay tribute to the extraordinary midwives of Barwon Health - the highly trained professionals whose expertise, compassion, and unwavering commitment shape the beginning of so many lives.
We thank them for the care they provide, the lives they touch, and the difference they make in every corner of our community.
Zoe Waters
Executive Director
Barwon Health Foundation
