Join your midwifery colleagues in Port Macquarie to share stories, insights, and experiences. Stay informed on developments across NSW and beyond at the 2025 NSW State Conference.
Program
Speakers
Dr Alison Teate
Alison is Vice President of ACM after serving as Midwifery Director on the ACM Board since 2020. With a work history in private practice in the ACT and NSW, Alison recently returned home to SA. Her PhD examined why midwifery continuity of care works. Prior to her academic role/s she worked in NSW State government in policy, research and leadership positions. In her early and mid-career years, Alison worked in SA, Qld and NSW and was a change agent for models of midwifery care including midwifery group practice, public-funded homebirth and group antenatal care.
Professor Christine Catling
Christine Catling is an NHMRC Research Fellow within the Faculty of Health, and conjoint Professor of Midwifery Research between UTS and Northern Sydney Local Health District. A former Director of Midwifery Studies at UTS, she is currently conducting a five-year research project involving 12 maternity sites in a project called Group Clinical Supervision for Midwives in Sydney. Previous roles include Director of Midwifery Studies, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with the WHO Collaborating Centre, Research Assistant within the Centre for Health Services Management and Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, coordination of the National Publicly-funded Homebirth Consortium, Clinical Midwifery Consultant at St George Hospital (policy development), clinical midwife and Antenatal Educator. Currently Christine is the Chair of the Australian Midwifery History Project. She supports and supervises many Higher Research Degree students within the Collective for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, which she co-leads. Her current focus is on the wellbeing of the midwifery workforce and the culture of maternity workplaces
Leona McGrath
Leona McGrath is a descendent of the Woopaburra people of Great Keppel Island and the KuKu Yalanji people of Far North QLD. Leona is a mother, grandmother, artist and registered midwife. Leona completed her Bachelor of Midwifery in 2008 and worked clinically prior to moving into policy. Leona has held a variety of positions including managing the NSW Health Aboriginal Nursing & Midwifery Strategy for over eight years, Operations manager at the Congress of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Nurses & Midwives, the NSW Health Cancer Institute and is currently the Senior Policy Officer, in the Aboriginal Maternal Child & Family Health Team, NSW Health. She is managing the Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service evaluation implementation plan. Leona works closing with key stakeholders in NSW Health including maternity leads and Aboriginal key stakeholders in particular the Aboriginal health the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW to support culturally safe and respectful models of midwifery care for Aboriginal women and families in NSW.
Leona is also passionate about supporting the recruitment and retention of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwifery workforce. She is currently undertaking a Masters of Indigenous Health (Research) at the University of Technology, Sydney, aiming to explore the clinical experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives working in maternity settings.
Leona is a current board member of the Rhodanthe Lipsett Indigenous Midwifery Charitable Trust and a board member of the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern.
Dr Andrew Bisits MD
Andrew Bisits is the Director of Obstetrics at Sydney's Royal Hospital for Women, which sees over 4,000 births per year. Previously he was Head of Obsetrics at John Hunter Hospital. Dr Bisits has been a strong support for, and respectful advocate of, midwives and midwifery centred care for many years. With a strong interest in breech birth he, has worked on several initiatives to promote normal birth by establishing primary midwifery care for women and also created a vaginal breech training course, Becoming a Breech Expert (BABE). Currently a board member at AMaRE with responsiblity for the not-for-profit's Research Portfolio, Andrew contributes his extensive experience on breech birth delivery.
The Hon Emma Hurst MLC
Emma Hurst is the first female Animal Justice Party MP, elected to the Upper House of NSW Parliament. A former psychologist, Emma has worked tirelessly for the rights of humans and animals, with a background in campaigning, political lobbying, and media work. In 2021, Emma founded the ‘Parliamentary Friends of Women’s Health’ to bring a spotlight to under-recognised issues affecting women in the healthcare system. A primary focus of Emma’s work in this space has been advocating for greater awareness of the impacts of obstetric violence and birth trauma, which led her to establishing the first Parliamentary Inquiry into Birth Trauma in the world.
Tickets
Early Bird registration is available until 31 March 2025. From 1 April 2025, regular prices apply.
The conference dinner is an optional add on during the registration process. Dinner Tickets are $80.00 per person.
| |
Early Bird |
Regular |
| Member |
$370.00 |
$400.00 |
| Non-Member |
$520.00 |
$580.00 |
| Affiliate Member |
$370.00 |
$400.00 |
| Graduate Member |
$300.00 |
$340.00 |
| Student Member |
$260.00 |
$290.00 |
| |
|
|
Pre Conference Social
On Thursday 19 June from 5:30pm relax and mingle with fellow delegates over drinks and choose from Rocksalt’s delicious menu at your leisure. Rocksalt is located at the Marina, just across from Panthers.
Conference Dinner
** Please note we are almost at capacity for the conference dinner. Please see ACM Events at registration or email [email protected] if you are looking to attend and do not yet have a ticket.
We'd love to see you at the conference dinner on Friday 20 June! The theme for the dinner is 'Bring on the 80's - Breaking at the Breakwall'. Get creative with what you wear! Think fluro, bold or pastel colours, teased/permed/crimped hair, rah rah and bubble skirts! We look forward to seeing the theme come alive. Tickets are $80 per person for a 3 course meal and DJ to dance the night away. Arrival drinks are sponsored by Huggies!
Tickets can be purchased by adding the Conference Dinner Program Item to your registration.
Cultural Walk - Friday 20 June 7:30am
Dr Aunty Rhonda Radley, Birpai Elder is offering an interactive experience, connecting you with Country through story, deep listening and the spirit of the water. She will share the language of the land and ancestral knowledge. Her obligation as a Custodian to protect and nurture ensure that breath comes from and through the heart into all living things. A short 45 min (return journey) along the waterway, river to the sea will allow you to view this beautiful place through a historical and cultural lens. The walk will commence and conclude at Panthers Port Macquarie , 1 Bay Street. Please register your attendance here or add the program item to your registration.
Conference Venue / Car Parking
The conference is taking place in the Auditorium at Panthers Port Macquarie , 1 Bay Street. There is ample parking in the large open air car park in front of Panthers as well as the adjacent shopping centre multi-storey car park.
Accommodation Offer
Rydges Port Macquarie and Sails Port Macquarie are offering conference delegates 25% off Best Available Rate for stays from 18 June - 21 June 2025. To access these special rates, please visit www.rydges.com and follow these steps:
1. Select your preferred hotel, Rydges Port Macquarie or Sails Port Macquarie, enter your dates and number of people
2. Click on “BOOK NOW”
3. Click on “I HAVE A CODE” and in the “BLOCK CODE” field enter your block code : ACM25SAVER
4. Click “UPDATE BOOKING”
5. Your special rates will appear on the rates screen
Parking is available at Sails for guests at $15 per night. Information about parking at Rydges available here.
Qualify for CPD Hours
Cancellation Policy
We understand that circumstances can change, however ACM has contractual commitments with venues for in person events and as such requires adequate written notice for any cancellations. From 1 January 2024, the following will apply to requests for cancellations/refunds:
| Cancellation more than 28 days prior to event date |
|
- Full refund provided (minus an admin fee of $75.00) |
| |
|
|
| Cancellation less than 28 days, but more than 14 days |
|
- Credit applied to profile for future use (minus an admin fee of $75.00) |
| |
|
|
| Cancellation 14 days or less prior to event date |
|
- No credit or refund provided
|
| |
|
|
Please contact [email protected] regarding any event cancellations. Refunds will only be available if written notice is provided well in advance of the event date.
Please click here to read our full event cancellation terms and conditions.