About Jo

I have been working with new families since 1990, first as a mothercraft nurse in the UK, then as a birth and postnatal doula and childbirth educator, and now as a privately practising endorsed midwife.

My involvement in the homebirth movement started in 1998 when I worked for 10 years in a voluntary role for Homebirth Access Sydney. I also served as National Convenor for Homebirth Australia for six years, which included lobbying and advocacy for homebirth.

I have lived in the Blue Mountains since 1998, having moved from Sydney’s inner west. I have four children who were born between 1996 and 2001. My first baby was born in water at a Sydney Birth centre and my following three children were born in water at home. My first homebirth experience in 1998 left me with a strong desire to become a midwife. After experiencing firsthand the many benefits of one to one midwifery care, I was supported in achieving uninterrupted, non-medicalised, exhilarating and powerful childbirth. This is where my passion for midwifery began.

It is well documented in the literature that models of continuity of midwifery care improve both safety and quality in maternity care for mothers and babies.

I work to the international definition of the midwife and as such offer care that is focused on the womans’s individual unique needs, expectations, and aspirations. I recognise that the woman has the right to self-determination in terms of choice and control and my care encompasses the needs of the baby, the woman’s family, her significant others, and her community. I offer care from 12 weeks pregnant through to 6 weeks postnatal.

I am an endorsed midwife which means you can get a partial refund from Medicare for your midwifery care. I can also order ultrasounds and tests relating to pregnancy, birth and the newborn period and I am able to prescribe certain medications.

I have visiting rights at Westmead Hospital which means I can provide care in collaboration with a private obstetrician to women planning a hospital birth.

In January 2017 the law changed and it became a requirement to have two midwives in attendance during a homebirth. As a result I work with a collective of other privately practising endorsed midwives.

My Qualifications

Bachelor of Midwifery with distinction,
University of Technology, Sydney

Screening, Diagnostics, Pharmacology
and Prescribing for midwives,
Griffith University, QLD

Midwifery Practice Review,
Australian College of Midwives, 2011, 2014 and 2017

Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)
Graduated with first class honours
Western Sydney University, Parramatta

Certified Doula and advanced Childbirth Educator,
Birth Central, Sydney

Associate Diploma of Social Science (child studies),
TAFE, Petersham