Models designed for specific groups of women
Some models of care are designed for specific groups of women with similar characteristics. This may be based on geographical area, risk status, obstetric or medical conditions or social or cultural characteristics. A model of care may support more than one group of women.
In 2025, nearly two-thirds (64%) of models were designed for groups of women who share a common characteristic or set of characteristics, while 36% were not specifically designed for any group of women (Figure 7). This was similar to 2024.
Figure 7: Models of care designed for a specific group of women, by jurisdiction, Australia, 2025
The infographic shows that nearly two-thirds (64%) of maternity models of care in Australia are designed for a specific group of women who share a common characteristic.
| State | With a target group | Without a target group |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | 70.7% | 29.3% |
| Vic | 67.3% | 32.7% |
| Qld | 54.4% | 45.6% |
| WA | 58% | 42% |
| SA | 57.6% | 42.4% |
| Tas | 77.3% | 22.7% |
| ACT | 52% | 48% |
| NT | 64% | 36% |
| Australia | 63.8% | 36.2% |
Notes
- Some models of care are designed to support a specific group of women, while others are available to all women.
- Based on the models of care being used by maternity services with birthing facilities in April 2025.
Source: AIHW analysis of the Maternity Model of Care Data Set.
The broad groups of low risk or normal pregnancy and all excluding high risk pregnancy were reported in 18% and 11% of models of care, respectively. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identification is a target group in 11% of models and this was higher in the Northern Territory (32%). There were 8 more models in 2025 with this target group, an increase from 117 models in 2024 to 125 in 2025.
Over one-third of maternity services across Australia (38%) have a model of care designed for First Nations women, an increase from 36% in 2024.
Complex or high-risk pregnancy is a target group in 6.8% of models and 19% of services have a model of care that supports women having this type of pregnancy.
The data visualisation below (Figure 8) shows maternity models of care by their target group category for all maternity services and models of care. Use the button to view trend data.
Figure 8: Maternity models of care, by target group category, Australia, 2021–2025
The data visualisation shows that the broad group of low risk or normal pregnancy is the most common target group. It is reported in 18% of models of care and 40% of maternity services have a model of care that targets this group of women.
