Maternity models of care in Australia

Each individual model of care is grouped into one of 11 different model categories based on its specific characteristics. These describe the intent of the model of care, although not all women in a model of care will necessarily follow the same journey or receive the same care pathway. See Major model category definitions.

The most common model category in 2025 was public hospital maternity care (42% of models of care). This was followed by midwifery group practice caseload care (16% of models), shared care (14% of models), and private obstetrician specialist care (8.7% of models). The proportion of services providing these different models of care in 2025 were generally similar to 2024, however, the proportion providing midwifery group practice caseload care increased from 42% of services in 2024 to 46% in 2025 (from 104 to 115 services).

Public hospital high risk maternity care made up around 6.4% of models, an increase from 5.6% in 2024. Other, less common models include general practitioner obstetrician care (3.4%), combined care (2.5%), private midwifery care (2.1%) and team midwifery care (1.6%).

In 2025, public hospital maternity care was the most common model category in all states and territories, except the Northern Territory where remote area maternity care (28% of models) and shared care (24% of models) are more common. Queensland and South Australia have relatively high proportions of models classified as midwifery group practice caseload care (26% and 20%, respectively).

Around two-thirds of services in Queensland (69%) and the Australian Capital Territory (67%) had a model classified as midwifery group practice caseload care, compared with 46% of services overall. Victoria had a higher proportion of services with a model classified as private obstetrician specialist care (54%, compared with 37% overall).

Figure 3: Maternity models of care, by major model category, Australia, 2021–2025

Models of care may differ within the same model category

There may still be differences between models of care with the same model category. Public hospital maternity care is the model category with the most variation (Donnolley et al. 2017). It broadly describes a model of care where antenatal care is provided by midwives and/or doctors in onsite or outreach clinics. Intrapartum (labour and birth) and postnatal care is provided in hospital by midwives in collaboration with doctors as needed. This category is used to describe models that cover a range of clinics, including those led by midwives that support low risk women, to those led by public specialist obstetricians for women with obstetric complexities such as gestational diabetes, multiple pregnancy, or next birth after caesarean section. In 2025, around three-quarters (75%) of models classified as public hospital maternity care were designed for a specific group of women, compared with 64% of models overall.

In contrast, models classified as midwifery group practice caseload care (also known as midwifery continuity of carer) have less variation. This category describes models where antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care are provided within a publicly funded caseload model by a known primary midwife, with secondary backup midwives providing cover and assistance, and collaboration with doctors and other health professionals as needed. Antenatal care and postnatal care are usually provided in the hospital, community, or home with intrapartum care in a hospital, birth centre or home. This model category, by definition, has a public midwife as the designated carer and continuity of carer for the whole maternity period. It is also more likely to be designed for women with low risk pregnancy (32%, compared with 18% overall in 2025) and to provide residential postnatal care (100%, compared with 77% overall in 2025).

A shared care model category describes models of care where antenatal care is provided by a community service provider (doctor and/or midwife) in collaboration with hospital medical and/or midwifery staff, under an agreed schedule of care. Intrapartum and early postnatal care usually takes place in the hospital, by hospital midwives and doctors, often in conjunction with the community doctor or midwife (particularly in rural settings). In 2025, over half (55%) of models of care in this category were designed for a specific group of women, compared with 64% overall, and 26% were designed for low risk pregnancy.

Private obstetrician specialist care describes models of care where antenatal care is provided by a private specialist obstetrician (as the lead carer) in their private rooms or at a hospital. Intrapartum care is provided in either a public or private hospital by the private specialist obstetrician in collaboration with hospital midwives. Postnatal care is usually provided in the hospital by the private specialist obstetrician and hospital midwives, and care by midwives may continue in the home. Most (84%) models in this category provide continuity of carer across the whole maternity period. These models are not usually designed for specific groups of women; only 8.3% had a target group 2025.