The Queensland Government has announced an upgraded midwifery program to help address a projected 50 percent increase in demand by 2032.
The Midwifery Clinical Facilitator Program aims to support and retain midwives in regional and rural communities.
Funding will be provided for new clinical facilitators across Townsville, Cairns and Hinterland, Central Queensland, Darling Downs, Mackay and West Moreton Hospital and Health Services.
It will be used to boost local training capacity and help more midwives build careers closer to home.
The announcement is in response to the Queensland Health Workforce Gap Analysis.
The analysis found demand for midwives would increase by more than 50 percent by 2032, with regional and rural areas facing the greatest pressure.
Clinical Midwife Facilitators are experienced registered midwives who support, mentor and assess students and graduates during their clinical placements, acting as a critical bridge between training and frontline care.
By expanding their numbers, an 56 additional graduate midwives can be trained and recruited.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the Workforce Gap Analysis made it clear that without targeted action, Queensland would face worsening shortfalls in key frontline and maternity roles like midwifery.
