
What is the Maternity Connect Program (MCP)?
The Maternity Connect Program (MCP) is a Department of Health and Humans Services initiative (DHHS) 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 and Human Services. The MCP is funded until June 2021, and its success is contingent on the demand for the program and its outcomes.
What is Maternity Services Education Program (MSEP)?
The Women’s Maternity Services Education Program (MSEP) is a 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 centered, high quality, evidence based and culturally safe care.
Our 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.
MSEP offer three unique education programs facilitated by midwifery educators, obstetric and paediatric consultants. These programs are:
- Maternity and Newborn Emergencies (MANE) Program: Two- day education program for interdisciplinary clinicians (maternity services level 2-4) focused on maternal and new born emergencies using simulation and hands on workstations.
- Maternity Update Program: One-day education program focused on midwifery practice essentials and skill updates.
- Emergency Birthing for non-birthing and Level 1 Services Program: One-day program focused on non-birthing services (level 1). Preparing non-midwifery trained or practicing clinicians with the knowledge and skills required to manage an imminent birth within their hospital.
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. The MCP 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 click on this link below to find more information on what the Maternity Services Education Program (MSEP) can provide for your health service.
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Contact Us
Project Sponsors:
Sandy Schutte Director of Education & Learning
Suellen Bruce Executive Director People, Culture & Communication