The maternity models of care in the MoC NBPDS are classified at the maternity service level. Services identify and describe the models of care they offer and each model has a unique model of care number. The coverage of the MoC NBPDS has improved over the past year. In 2022, most maternity services with birth facilities in Australia (93%) had at least 1 model of care classified in the MoC NBPDS, an increase from 90% of services in 2021. Since 2021, the number of services with models of care classified increased by 9, from 242 to 251 services, and the total number of models reported across all services increased by 59, from 828 to 887.
While the total number of models of care classified in the MoC NBPDS has increased, the key characteristics of the models of care remain the same. This suggests that any further improvements in coverage of the MoC NBPDS will not significantly change what these models of care look like at a national and jurisdictional level, and that this information reflects the maternity care options available to women in Australia.
It is also important to note that models of care in different locations may be similar with respect to their key characteristics. All models of care can be grouped into 11 major model categories, and this means it is possible to report on the range of models of care available to women using common terminology. This information sheet describes each major model category (PDF 203 kB).
Maternity models of care – at a glance
In 2022, around 890 maternity models of care were reported as being in use across 251 maternity services. Most of these (89%) were in public maternity services. Around 41% of maternity services have 1 model of care, just over one-third (36%) have between 2 and 5 models of care, and 23% have 6 or more models of care. The median number of models is higher in public maternity services (3 models of care), than private maternity services (1 model of care).
Around 2 in 5 models (40%) fall within the major model category of public hospital maternity care. This is followed by shared care (15% of models), midwifery group practice caseload care (15% of models), and private obstetrician (specialist) care (11% of models). The map below shows the number of models of care in use in each state and territory and the 3 most common major model categories these fall under.