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Maternity services in rural Victoria

5-minute read

Key facts

  • Depending on where you live in Victoria, you may you may be able to choose where you give birth.
  • You may also be able to choose the health professionals who will care for you during your pregnancy.
  • You might be able to claim some travel costs through the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS).
  • Birthing on Country programs may be available for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mothers and babies.

What are my choices for maternity services in rural Victoria?

Depending on where you live in Victoria you can choose who will care for you during your pregnancy.

You may choose to get care from:

You will usually need a doctor’s referral to access a hospital-based midwife.

Midwifery continuity of care

Midwifery continuity of care is when a midwife or team of midwives cares for you through your pregnancy and labour.

Getting continuity of care from your midwife has many benefits, such as:

To help you choose the best type of care for you, talk with your doctor or midwife.

Read more about maternity care in Australia.

Where can I give birth in rural Victoria?

It’s your choice where to give birth.

You may choose to get care from:

Depending on where you live you might choose:

Rural hospitals may be supported by the Paediatric infant perinatal emergency retrieval (PIPER) service.

Speak with your doctor or midwife about the best option for you.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

What support is there for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in rural Victoria?

Birthing on Country in rural Victoria

Birthing on country is about giving Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander babies the best start in life. It includes supporting you in your transition to parenting through culturally appropriate care.

Ask your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker or midwife about programs in your area.

Find an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) near you.

You can also visit the Aboriginal maternity services page on the Health Victoria website.

What if I need to travel long distances to give birth in rural Victoria?

The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) provides financial help for your travel and accommodation costs.

It can cover:

If you need to travel a long distance to give birth, try to plan ahead.

Resources and support

The Royal Women’s Hospital has information on pregnancy care and birthing options.

Find out more about the Victorian patient transport assistance scheme for people who need to travel for care.

Find out more about parenting in regional and remote areas.

If you are unhappy about the care you get, you may want to learn about making a healthcare complaint.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

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Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?

Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?

1800 882 436

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