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'... Birthspirit belongs to all women and families. She manifests that which has been unsaid, expressing her self in the language of women. Knowing her fills the void that exists from the loss of story telling in our families and our communities. She enables us to see the depths - and to see the simplicity.' more About Birthspirit |
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Birthspirit's Midwifery Skills for Emergencies Intensives These Intensives are centered on scenario discussions and support evidence-informed practice, with demonstration of relevant midwifery skills with ample time allowed for ‘hands on’ practice. The Intensives are live-in workshops giving opportunities to meet and network with other midwives working in a variety of midwifery environments throughout (mainly) New Zealand and Australia. See Intensives dates and registration and further information. Other elective education courses will also be held throughout New Zealand as Maggie’s practice, research and writing commitments allow. Feel free to contact Maggie at maggiebanks@birthspirit.co.nz or Ph (64) 07 856 4612.
Why have Birthspirit's Techical Skills Workshops stopped? Birthspirit was the very first compulsory education provider approved by the Midwifery Council of New Zealand to run Technical Skills Workshops as compulsory education in the Recertification Education Programme from 2005. Our Technical Skills Workshops were attended by 208 midwives and we consistently received very positive course evaluations. Equally, after Midwifery Council’s own positive audit, it commended us for our “clearly well received" Technical Skills Workshops. Despite this, Midwifery Council withdrew the ability of any private education provider, including Birthspirit, to be approved to provide compulsory education from April 2008. We wish to acknowledge the many, many midwives who have contacted us and urged that we continue to seek approval to be compulsory education providers. This is non-negotiable with Midwifery Council. The good news is, however, we remain committed to providing midwifery education that is appropriate to primary care settings as opposed to obstetric hospitals. As a result, we will continue with the Midwifery Skills for Emergencies Intensives for the 6th successive year and will apply for elective education points towards the Recertification Programme. This course has been attended by nearly 300 midwives and is identical to our Technical Skills Workshops that we have run over the last 3 years. We will, however, be pleased to omit the out of context issues beyond the perinatal period that we were obliged to add to comply with Council’s prescription, for example, referral to well-child services.
Birthspirit is delighted to support the Wise Woman Archives Trust (WWAT), which is incorporated under the provisions of the Charitable Trusts Act 1957. WWAT is a new initiative with the purpose of collecting, preserving and making available for research and learning purposes historical materials relating to maternity services in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Trust’s first major acquisition is the secretarial archive of the Domiciliary Midwives Society (Incorporated) – the contents of which can be viewed on the webpage Domiciliary Midwives Society of New Zealand (Incorporated). The DMS, as the Society was known, was established in 1981 to enable practising domiciliary midwife members to communicate efficiently, speak out effectively as one body, and manage their own affairs; to oppose and correct misrepresentation and misunderstanding of the philosophy of home birth and the policies of domiciliary midwives; and, to protect the reputation and interests of all domiciliary midwives by seeking to obtain membership from all midwives providing home birth services. The DMS was very active from the 1980s with the Home Birth Associations and Home Birth Support Groups throughout New Zealand in securing the viability of the home birth option prior to 1990. Wise Woman Archives Trust is interested in receiving donations of material from individual or groups – maternity consumer or professional - in particular, but not exclusively, of minutes of meetings, correspondence, submissions, newsletters and birth statistics. Archives are housed in Birthspirit Cottage and can be accessed by appointment by contacting WWAT (email: wwat@ihug.co.nz).
Facilitating Breech Birth - Midwifery (and Women's) Business! by Maggie Banks. For full article go to Birthspirit's 'Articles' page or click here.
Midwifery Council's competency requirements for practising midwives All of the on-going competency requirements for practising midwives are set out in Midwifery Council's - Recertification Programme: Competence-based practising certificates for midwives. This and other informative documents are on their website at www.midwiferycouncil.org.nz |
Birthspirit is pleased to let you know that we now have a third week-long, live-in midwifery workshop planned which embraces the mind, body and spirit of midwifery. This workshop runs from Sunday 23rd January through until Saturday 29th January 2011. Throughout this time you are provided with onsite accommodation, nutritious meals and refreshments and a beautiful space to immerse yourself in the tradition of the wise-woman midwife ... read more
.Joan
Donley (1916 - 2005)
Joan Donley's Compendium
Written with her usual wit and humour, Joan provides a complete compendium of information to answer any question about having babies and keeping healthy. It will be a valuable resource for midwifes and is a must for all women wanting a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby ... " (Go to Joan Donley's Compendium) There is limited stock of this book left, and it will not be reprinted |
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