Page 981 - Week 03 - Thursday, 30 March 2006

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(2) The Canberra Midwifery Program was established in 1999 when the existing Birth Centre and Community Midwifery Program were amalgamated. In 1999 493 women accessed the program and in 2005 484 women accessed the program.

(3) The Government is aware that the CMP has ongoing waiting lists and some women who wish to access the program cannot. A survey of demand for the CMP is about to be conducted that will provide data on the total demand for the program. This information will then inform planning for improved access to the CMP.

(4) There were 135 full-time equivalent midwives employed at the Canberra and Calvary hospitals (as at February 2006).

(5) ACT Health continues to be proactive in developing recruitment strategies to address nursing and midwifery workforce shortages and initiatives to retain our skilled and experienced nurses and midwives and our new graduates. This includes systems, organisational and professional level initiatives to promote healthy workplace environments based on best practice; work-life balance, and support for the application of and research into evidence based-practice.

Twelve student midwives graduated from the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery in January 2006. This joint ACT Health / University of Canberra program will continue.

Vacancy rates for midwives within ACT Health are relatively low. As at February 2006, the midwifery vacancy rate was 3.5% or 5 full-time equivalents.

Health—dieticians
(Question No 945)

Mr Smyth asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 16 February 2006:

(1) How many dietetic students have commenced professional placements in and around the ACT region since the cohort placement round commenced in August 2005;

(2) What is the Government doing to ensure that these dieticians are retained in the ACT and region once their placement is completed;

(3) What is the current demand for dieticians in the ACT and is there a shortage of dieticians.

Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) 9 dietetic students have commenced professional placements in and around the ACT region since the cohort placement round commenced in August 2005.

(2) When dietician positions become available the Government encourages graduates from the ACT region to apply. ACT Health is currently in the process of recruiting 2 permanent dietician positions, both of which are suitable for new graduates.

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