Humanising Birth Symposium

To register and find out more information about this event CLICK HERE.

'Humanising birth’ principles, developed by social science and midwifery scholars, aim to promote relationship-based care tailored to the needs of the individual woman/birthing person, while also addressing structural barriers to quality maternity care.

In this Symposium, we will first be presenting on humanising birth principles, with a keynote presentation by Professor Soo Downe, University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom and Professor Lesley Page CBE, Previous President of the Royal College of Midwives and expert on Human Rights in Childbirth (virtual), and a consumer presentation, before presenting the results of a pilot study on how midwives’ views of and capacities to facilitate humanised birth are formed.

In the afternoon, we will be running a session to launch an interdisciplinary Humanising Birth Research Network (HBRN) for local, national and international health professionals, researchers and consumers interested in humanising birth initiatives, supported by Professor Downe, who has experience running a large interdisciplinary research network in Europe (Birth COST Action). This session will include networking activities, formulating the HBRN vision, and planning of research groups and future symposia. The interdisciplinary HBRN is designed to bring together anyone interested in pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, from any discipline, and see how we can work together to embed humanising birth principles in health services and improve maternity experiences, systems, processes, tools or culture.

This event will be held at the University of Newcastle's Brennan Room, located in the Shortland Union and a light lunch will be provided. Please register for catering purposes. We look forward to seeing you there!

Convenors:

• Caragh Brosnan, School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences
• Penny Bukyx, School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences
• Allison Cummins, School of Nursing and Midwifery
• Katharine Gillett, School of Nursing and Midwifery
• Lynelle Hill, Central Coast Local Health District
• Liz Newnham, School of Nursing and Midwifery

For more information, please contact Caragh Brosnan - caragh.brosnan@newcastle.edu.au