Pregnancy and childbirth are some of the most significant health events in a woman's life — yet Australia's maternal health system has significant gaps and disparities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women face significantly higher maternal mortality rates. Perinatal mental health conditions affect 1 in 5 mothers. Rural women give birth in regional hospitals far from home with limited specialist support. Grant funding supports research, services, and advocacy that improve outcomes for Australian mothers and babies.
Overall performance
Australia has generally good maternal health outcomes by international standards:
- Maternal mortality rate: approximately 6 per 100,000 (lower than US, higher than some European countries)
- Most births are safe with good access to obstetric care
- Skilled birth attendance is nearly universal
Disparities and gaps
However, significant disparities exist:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander maternal mortality: approximately 2-3x the non-Indigenous rate
- Rural maternal outcomes: worse access to specialist obstetric care
- Perinatal mental health: undertreated nationally
- Birth trauma: significant proportion of women experience trauma during birth
- Fertility treatment: expensive, with equity of access issues
Key maternal health challenges
Department of Health and Aged Care
Commonwealth funds maternal health through:
- Medicare (antenatal and postnatal care, midwifery services)
- Midwifery Practice Research Collaborative
- Perinatal mental health funding
- Stillbirth prevention research
State health departments
States fund maternal health services:
- Public hospital maternity units
- Midwifery-led continuity of care models
- Maternal and Child Health (Victoria)
- Perinatal mental health services
AIHW
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare produces maternal health data — not a funder but important data source.
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
PANDA provides national perinatal mental health support:
- Helpline (PANDA Helpline)
- Resources and information
- Advocacy for better perinatal mental health care
- Research investment
Red Nose (formerly SIDS and Kids)
Red Nose focuses on stillbirth, sudden infant death, and safe sleep:
- Research grants (stillbirth research)
- Bereavement support
- Public education
The Royal Women's Hospital Foundation (Melbourne)
Research and programme funding for women's and maternal health.
Perinatal Wellbeing Centre
Perinatal mental health research and service delivery — philanthropically funded.
Australian College of Midwives Foundation
Midwifery research and education.
Mater Foundation (Brisbane)
Maternal and child health research — significant Queensland investment.
Perinatal mental health
Indigenous maternal health
Birth trauma
Midwifery models
Stillbirth prevention
Premature birth
Gestational diabetes
Breastfeeding
Equity framing
Australia's maternal health disparities by race (Indigenous), geography (rural), and socioeconomic status are significant and well-documented. Applications that address these equity gaps are compelling.
Perinatal mental health urgency
1 in 5 mothers experiences perinatal mental health conditions — often undertreated. The downstream effects on child development are significant. Frame perinatal mental health as urgent and underfunded.
Birthing on Country
Enabling Indigenous women to birth near Country is culturally significant and evidence-based for better outcomes. Applications supporting Birthing on Country models are well-aligned with current maternal health policy.
Bereavement sensitivity
Applications addressing stillbirth, miscarriage, and neonatal loss require particular sensitivity — these are traumatic losses. Show trauma-informed and sensitive approaches.
Continuity of midwifery care evidence
The evidence for midwifery continuity of care models is strong — reduced intervention, better satisfaction, good safety outcomes. Reference this evidence for midwifery programme applications.
Tahua's grants management platform supports maternal health funders and perinatal organisations — with programme participant tracking, maternal health outcome measurement, perinatal mental health data, and the reporting tools that help maternal health funders demonstrate their investment in safer pregnancies and better starts for Australian families.