
What is the Maternity Connect Program (MCP)?
The Maternity Connect Program (MCP) is a Department of Health initiative (DHS) to support public Rural Maternity Services and their workforce to meet their maternity population care needs. This program focuses on supporting midwives and nurses working in maternity services to develop and maintain their skills and competence through a clinical exposure placement.
Western Health is operating the program on behalf of the Department of Health.
The MCP is funded until June 2024, and its success is contingent on the demand for the program and its outcomes.
For more information please select your role below:
Maternity Connect & MSEP
What is the Maternity Services Education Program (MSEP)?
The Women's Maternity Services Education Program (MSEP) is an outfacing state-wide clinical education program, delivering multidisciplinary education onsite in Victorian maternity services.
MSEP workshops are tailored to meet individual service needs, assisting clinicians to provide woman-centred, high quality, evidence-based and culturally safe care.
MSEP programs are accredited with the following professional colleges:
• Australian College of Midwives
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
MCP Partnership with MSEP
Moving forward the Maternity Connect Program (MCP) and Maternity Services Education Program (MSEP) will collaborate to support clinical education needs for rural and regional midwives. The joint initiative assists rural health services, who have engaged in any of the three education programs provided by MSEP.
Maternity Emergency Program: One-day education program providing multidisciplinary maternity emergency training for maternity clinicians working in Level 2 – 4 services.
Maternity Update Program: One-day education program focused on midwifery practice essentials and skill updates.
Emergency Birthing Program: One-day education program designed for Level 1 services, with a strong focus on preparing non-maternity trained or practicing clinicians to manage unplanned birth and care of the woman and newborn.
MSEP provides updates on the latest information, research, policies and guidelines influencing clinical care across the maternity continuum. Program content has been developed in accordance with latest evidence and in line with the policies, procedures and guidelines of The Royal Women's Hospital.
The aim of the partnership is for MCP to co-ordinate clinical placement and clinical education for midwives, ensuring that midwives have access to evidence-based clinical education in preparation for clinical placement activities. Maternity Connect will support and facilitate a clinical exposure placement for midwives to consolidate their knowledge base after completing any MSEP training. This will ideally occur within six months of completion of the program.
Please email [email protected] or click here to find more information on what MSEP can provide for your health service.

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Project Sponsors:
Sandy Schutte Acting Executive Director People, Culture & Communication