Doula Network Australia responds to RANZCOG and ACM “Call on Health Ministers to End Freebirth Deaths”

FULL MEDIA STATEMENT

5 November 2025

As the national professional association representing birth doulas, the Doula Network Australia (DNA) is deeply committed to the safety, dignity, and informed autonomy of pregnant women and their families. We welcome open discussion about safety; however, targeting doulas is a distraction from the very real and systemic harm being caused by an under-resourced, over-medicalised maternity system. Authorities would do better to focus on improving outcomes within the system rather than placing blame on non-clinical support workers or the women they serve.

Respect for informed choice and doula support

Doulas are non-clinical professionals who provide physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and after birth. Their role is not to replace clinical oversight, but to complement it. DNA members strongly advocate for birth plans that include appropriate clinical back-up and informed decision-making.

While we are deeply concerned about preventable harm in any setting, it remains every woman’s right to decide whether or not to involve clinicians in her care. Freebirthing, meaning giving birth without a registered health practitioner present, is not illegal in Australia. Women should not be criminalised for exercising bodily autonomy or for seeking alternative pathways when the system has failed them, and nor should doulas. Criminalising birth workers who offer non-clinical support not only misrepresents their role but also risks pushing families further away from safe, supported care.

Evidence-based models protect safety and choice

Research, including from the World Health Organization and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, consistently shows that models offering continuity of midwifery care result in better outcomes for both mothers and babies. When continuity is unavailable, fragmented care increases fear and drives some families to consider freebirth. The solution is expanding relationship-based care, not restricting choice.

Addressing the real reasons behind freebirth

To meaningfully reduce risk, we must address why some women choose to freebirth, including lack of access to quality maternity care, previous birth trauma, coercive hospital experiences, and the desire for safety and autonomy. These are not fringe concerns but reflect systemic gaps in how maternity services respond to women’s needs. Doula support can play a crucial role in rebuilding trust, helping families navigate their options, and bridging communication with clinicians when appropriate. But doulas must never be scapegoated for failings that lie within the system itself.

Preventable harm exists within all systems

While the recent tragedies linked to unassisted births are heartbreaking, preventable harm also occurs within hospitals and under medical care, through obstetric violence, inadequate staffing, restricted birth options, and disrespectful treatment. True safety cannot be achieved through regulation alone; it requires compassionate, evidence-based care that respects women’s voices and rights.

Acknowledging scope

Doulas provide support, not clinical management. While RANZCOG and ACM propose legislation restricting birth management to medically registered personnel, DNA urges policymakers to clearly distinguish between clinical care and support roles. Doulas are not unregistered midwives, not alternative clinicians, and not performing restricted practices. They provide continuity, communication, and advocacy support that strengthens safe maternity care.

Risks of over-regulation

Sweeping or poorly defined legislation risks criminalising women’s choices and the supportive people who stand beside them, including partners, family members, and doulas. Any new regulatory approach must include consumer representation and a human-rights lens, ensuring that autonomy and informed consent remain central to maternity care. Regulation should protect families, not punish them.

Call for collaboration

DNA stands ready to participate in meaningful policy discussions that centre women’s lived experiences. We call on RANZCOG, ACM, health departments, and consumer groups to work collaboratively to:

• Define clear and distinct roles for doulas and registered health practitioners.

• Address workforce shortages and inequities that push women out of the system.

• Develop trauma-informed maternity care and accountability for harm within hospitals.

• Ensure all women have access to safe, respectful, and culturally appropriate care, wherever they choose to birth.

• Provide public education that distinguishes between planned homebirths (with registered professionals) and unassisted births, without stigma or fear.

Strengthening doula professionalism

DNA continues to uphold high professional standards through education, peer support, and accountability processes for members. We encourage all doulas to work transparently, within their scope, and in collaboration with maternity care teams wherever possible. By building bridges, not barriers, doulas contribute to safer, calmer, and more empowered births across Australia.

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“Every woman deserves safe, respectful, and informed care, and doulas can play a vital role in that journey,” said Samantha Gunn, President of the Doula Network Australia. “We share the concern about preventable harm, but the solution lies in addressing the systemic issues driving women away from mainstream maternity care, not in vilifying those seeking to support them.”

About Doula Network Australia

Doula Network Australia (DNA) is the national professional association representing birth and postnatal doulas across Australia. DNA advocates for safe, respectful, evidence-based maternity care, promotes professional standards within the doula profession, and works collaboratively with health, consumer, and policy stakeholders to improve outcomes for women, babies, and families.

Contact: Samantha Gunn — President, Doula Network Australia | 0409 161 262 | [email protected]