This course was developed in consultation with the Australian College of Midwives & remote and rural health practitioners, following an identified need for a short course that specifically targeted maternity emergency care for non midwives working in a remote or isolated setting.
Factors of geographical isolation, minimal staffing and poor transport results in delays in transporting patients to definitive specialist care, which necessitates core skills at the remote or isolated location to care for the pregnant patient - antenatal, intrapartum and post partum, in some cases for extended periods of time.
Declining obstetric services in rural and remote areas result in a generalist work force having to respond to specialist needs. The situation is compounded by the fact that the expectations of many remote consumers have changed. Some pregnant women are choosing to birth outside of regional tertiary centres.

This course would improve the quality of health services for the pregnant woman in remote and isolated areas, thereby improving overall health outcomes.