Who is Queensland's Chief Midwife Officer?

Liz Wilkes has come a long way from her early days as a student midwife and registered nurse in Newcastle more than 30 years ago.

As we celebrate International Day of the Midwife on May 5, we look at what it takes to be Queensland’s inaugural Chief Midwife Officer.

Supporting the more than 3,000 midwives working in Queensland, newly appointed Chief Midwife Officer Liz Wilkes has a big task ahead of her.

With decades of experience and an impressive background, including leading the largest private midwifery organisation in Australia, a board member of the Australian College of Midwives and holding an adjunct position with Charles Darwin University, Liz brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the coveted position.

More than two months into the role, Liz is hopeful that her experience and drive to improve maternity services across Queensland hospitals will help to empower and support the midwife workforce.

“Queensland hospitals provide quality maternity services to thousands of women and families every year,” Liz said.

“Midwifery is increasingly distinct from nursing as a profession, so the establishment of this role is, nationally, the most significant step that has been made in demonstrating this to the midwifery profession.

“I hope to provide midwives across the state with a greater level of visibility of midwifery as an important part of the maternity sector, while also guaranteeing that Queensland women and their babies receive the highest quality, safe midwifery care.”

Originally the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer (OCMNO) oversaw both nursing streams; now the introduction of the new role separates the Chief Midwife Officer and Chief Nurse Officer roles recognising the value and importance of representing both the nursing and midwifery as two distinct professions with its own needs and challenges.

The new role will see Liz focus on building a strong and sustainable midwifery workforce while driving reforms to improve the overall quality of maternity services.

Setting a clear direction for the future of midwifery in Queensland, crafting policies that ensure safe, accessible, and culturally appropriate care and closely working with stakeholders to find innovative solutions to improve access to birthing services, especially in regional, rural, and remote areas, will also keep Liz busy.

Liz has already hit the ground running in her short time in the role, including:

• providing scholarships to Bachelor of Midwifery students to support those financially struggling while completing their degree;
• attending the Midwifery Futures forum in Sydney bringing together midwives in all aspects of midwifery, including clinical, professional, industrial, education, to future proof the profession;
• recruiting Melina Connors as the inaugural First Nations Midwifery Director;
• being a part of the education and development of the statewide roll out of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) immunisation;
• providing the keynote address to the Queensland Maternal and Neonatal Clinical Network statewide forum; and
• paving the way with consultation and engagement around ratios, rural and remote services, birth trauma, midwifery workforce, midwifery leadership, Midwifery Group Practices and more.

Liz is also set to embark on a tour of regional and remote hospitals, starting with Weipa at the end of May.

Already Liz has experienced many positives in the new role, particularly in returning birthing services to rural and remote areas.

“Rural maternity care is one of my highest priorities, so supporting the additional workforce support over the next seven months is a key focus,” Liz said.

“Our funding commitments around rural and remote maternity services will also start to demonstrate some meaningful changes over the next few months.

“I will continue to focus on growing and developing the exciting programs of work already underway, such as Growing Deadly Families and publicly funded home births.

“I guess the most important thing for me is the visibility of midwifery that this position assists – we can have midwives at senior leadership tables and that is important for the profession particularly as we grapple with serious workforce issues.

“I am extremely excited and honoured to be appointed as Queensland’s first Chief Midwife Officer.”

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman, is just as excited about the experience Liz brings to the important role.

“The Queensland Government is establishing a dedicated Chief Midwife Officer role to champion reforms, enhance care across Queensland, particularly in regional areas, and build a robust, skilled midwifery workforce,” Ms Fentiman said.

“The national shortage of obstetric professionals, including midwives, is an ongoing issue; a dedicated Chief Midwife Officer can focus specifically on strategies to attract, retain, and develop a midwifery workforce, addressing this challenge more effectively.

“Ms Wilkes will lead crucial improvements in maternity care, expanding access for regional women and guaranteeing a strong, qualified midwifery workforce now and in the future.

“Her leadership and experience will strengthen our hospital care and elevate the vital role of midwives in providing safe, high-quality, and culturally sensitive care.”

The creation of the new role forms part of the Queensland Government’s $94 million investment to enhance the level of maternity care, including expanding regional, rural and remote birthing services, recruiting additional staff and providing a Nursing and Midwifery Student Placements Allowance.

International Day of the Midwife, celebrated each year on May 5, celebrates the profession as we recognise their work and contribution to maternal and newborn health.