WHA is a vibrant and diverse non-profit community of more than 145 women’s hospitals and maternity units throughout Australia.
We are a member-led organisation driven by our members who share a passion for continuously improving the experiences and outcomes for women and newborns in their care.
Every week they generously share expertise, ideas, and improvements with each other through WHA. All staff of member hospitals are welcome to participate.
Our Community
maternity healthcare services across Australia
of public births in Australia take place in a WHA member hospital
maternal healthcare professionals actively participate in our community
In Focus
Women & Leadership Australia has announced a new round of scholarships to enable more women in the health sector to undertake career-enhancing leadership development programs.
Stillbirth is a tragic and profound experience that affects more than 2,000 families in Australia every year. In Australia, of approximately 820 births, six babies are stillborn every day.
Professor Callaway’s contribution to women’s and newborn health in the Australian population, includes: 1) National guidelines: She led the development of national clinical practice guidelines for the management of pre-gestational...
We warmly welcome our new member to Women’s Healthcare Australasia.
The Hush Foundation’s long-term vision for a kinder, safer environment for those both working in and receiving care in healthcare feels more urgent than ever. Our partners agree! Get in...
Ride for their Lives (RTFL) 2022 is seeking groups of healthcare providers to organise one-day events both in the run-up to COP 27 and on into 2023.
At WHA we are seeing rising concern across the maternity care sector about the negative impacts of climate change on the health and wellbeing of women and newborns. It is...
WHA stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and all its healthcare workers. The Board of WHA has unanimously agreed to signing the statement urging all counties to give...
Women & Leadership Australia is currently offering professional development scholarships for Women's & Children's Healthcare Australasia staff and members. Learn more about this opportunity and pass it along to your...
Over 86% of public births take place in WHA member hospitals across Australia. Our members are in good company: WHA comprises a strong and growing community of hospitals and health...
What We Do
Networking
WHA creates opportunities for our members to connect and share ideas, learnings and innovations within professional networks of like-minded peers.
Collaborative Projects
The WHA Benchmarking Program facilitates data driven improvement in healthcare and outcomes for women and newborns.
Benchmarking
WHA supports member services to work together, to share learning and to partner with women to optimise the health and wellbeing for women and families throughout their maternity care journey.
Networking
WHA creates opportunities for our members to connect and share ideas, learnings and innovations within professional networks of like-minded peers.
Collaborative Projects
The WHA Benchmarking Program facilitates data driven improvement in healthcare and outcomes for women and newborns.
Benchmarking
WHA supports member services to work together, to share learning and to partner with women to optimise the health and wellbeing for women and families throughout their maternity care journey.
Upcoming Events
Every week CHA host virtual meetings on a wide range of topics to enable members to showcase their achievements and seek support from peers for challenges. Log in to our member’s website to register for free for any meetings that interest you…
Safety & Quality of Care v's Fatigue…
February 15th, 2023 12:30 PM AEDT
It is no secret that working in the medical field can be incredibly taxing; from long hours to constant stress…
Keeping Women Close to Home - Fetal…
February 16th, 2023 12:30 PM AEDT
This presentation will provide an overview of the Maternal Transfers Redesign Initiative, a NSW Health initiative aimed at making sure…
The Power of Co-Design - Lived experience…
February 23rd, 2023 12:30 PM AEDT
Louise Everitt is a PhD candidate at Western Sydney University co-designing a Perinatal Interprofessional Psychosocial Education Program for Maternity Clinicians…
Feeling dehumanised, powerless and violated; women's experiences…
February 28th, 2023 12:30 PM AEDT
This presentation will focus on the findings from the first paper to identify obstetric violence in Australia through the Birth…
Sing to Connect Culturally Responsive Maternity Care
March 2nd, 2023 12:30 PM AEDT
Sing to Connect is a unique initiative that links music and midwifery to support perinatal mental health and wellbeing of…
Continuity of Care for Aboriginal Families: Dragonfly…
March 16th, 2023 12:30 PM AEDT
Western Sydney Local Health District has the largest population of Aboriginal people living within NSW and Dragonfly Midwifery seeks to…
Applied Skills in Perinatal Mental Health Assessment…
March 29th, 2023 12:30 PM AEDT
Perinatal mental health is a specialised field. Unlike any other life stage, the perinatal period brings unique contextual factors which…
Providing disability informed maternity care - WIN…
April 4th, 2023 12:30 PM AEST
Almost one in five Victorian women and girls live with disability. Women with disability experience poorer health outcomes when compared…
Redevelopment of Nepean Hospital Maternity – Turning…
May 2nd, 2023 12:30 PM AEST
In 2016 NSW Government recognised that Penrith is one the fastest growing areas in NSW, and the current Nepean Hospital…
Exploring Women's Safety during Labour & Birth
May 4th, 2023 12:30 PM AEDT
Despite improvements in maternity care, adverse outcomes persist resulting in maternity care being a high litigation area. This study aimed…
Baby Steps: Baby bottle recycling in NICU
May 24th, 2023 12:30 PM AEST
Neonatal intensive care is, by its very nature, intensive in both care and energy consumption. However, NICUs can play an…
Advocacy for women throughout their maternity journey
and women’s health services continues to be a strategic priority for WHA.
We are committed to continue to advocate for the provision of culturally safe
environments that are responsive to the diverse needs of women & families.
Organisational Membership
– Connecting, supporting and developing our community.
WHA Membership is open to all public and private hospitals/health networks providing maternity car. All staff at member hospitals are welcome to participate in WHA networks that interest them.
Associate Membership is available* for other organisations that share WHA’s commitment to excellence and innovation in maternity healthcare (*on approval from our board).
WHA connects over 3,200 professionals in maternal and newborn care from more than 145 hospitals and hospital networks.
Organisational Membership
– Connecting, supporting and developing our community.
WHA Membership is open to all public and private hospitals/health networks providing maternity car. All staff at member hospitals are welcome to participate in WHA networks that interest them.
Associate Membership is available* for other organisations that share WHA’s commitment to excellence and innovation in maternity healthcare (*on approval from our board).
WHA connects over 3,200 professionals in maternal and newborn care from more than 145 hospitals and hospital networks.
What our members are saying
WHA provides a place for health care professionals of all disciplines to come together to share evidence, practice and feedback enabling provision of the best care available... To gain information and experience from peers across Australia from like-minded people.
Jackie Kitschke
Midwifery Unit Manager, Midwifery Group Practice, Women's and Children's Hospital, SA
Thanks everyone for sharing - it has been good to hear what is happening across the nation.
Joanne Clarke
Nursing Director, Toowoomba Hospital, Darling Downs Hospital & Health Service, QLD (in response to participation in one of our COVID-themed web conferences)
I've loved your presentation and what an important body of work - thank you for sharing. I look forward to getting the resources and sharing with my teams.
Simone Stewart Noble
Maternity Unit Manager, Mid North Coast Local Health District, NSW [in response to participation “Healing the Past” web conference]
Thank you for the teleconferences that we have been involved in at KEMH across the year. The LOS teleconferences were excellent and fantastic timing for us.
Brodene Straw
Program Manager Service Improvement Unit, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Women and Newborn Health Service, WA
Is my employer a member?
Great! [organization] is already a WHA member!
As a staff member of this hospital, you are invited to have your own unique log in to access all of the great discussions & resources being shared by WHA members online.
Sorry, [organization] is not currently a member of the WHA community. To find out about the benefits and costs of joining WHA.
