Notes
Data quality statement
Acknowledgements
The AIHW acknowledges the families and loved ones whose losses are documented in this report and express their sincere condolences to them. Every maternal death is a tragedy and the AIHW, through compiling, analysing, and reporting national data, aims to assist in finding answers for those who experience such loss personally and for the healthcare professionals involved.
This report was prepared by the NMMDC’s manager Megan Fraser and Rachel Cordeiro of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), with valuable input from Louise Catanzariti, Michael Frost and Maddy Simpson; and assistance from various members of the Perinatal Data Unit.
Previous managers of the NMMDC, Dr Madeline Elkington, Alana Cameron and Jacqueline Rek, have made significant contributions to Maternal deaths in Australia reporting over the years.
The AIHW would also like to acknowledge the work of Dr Michael Humphrey AM and his enormous contribution to improving the evidence base for monitoring Australia’s maternal mortality and reporting over decades, including in his leadership of the National Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Clinical Expert Group (NMPMCEG).
The AIHW gratefully acknowledges NMPMCEG members and associates who provided advice throughout report development, in particular, Associate Professor Rose Boland, Professor Leonie Callaway, Dr Megan Halliday, Professor Mark Umstad, and Professor Edward Weaver.
The report has been made possible by the contributions of members of the medical and midwifery professions. The support of the state and territory maternal mortality committees (STMMCs), which undertake confidential review of maternal deaths, and the state and territory data custodians, data managers and staff, who compile the cases, has been invaluable.
This report was funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing as a component of the National Maternity Data Development Project.