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In the lead up to the 2026–27 Federal Budget, ACRRM is calling on the Australian Government to commit to the principles of the National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services, including sustainable funding to prevent further closures of birthing services. 

ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says access to maternity care is becoming increasingly difficult for women and families in rural, remote, and First Nations communities with closures and service bypass continuing across Australia. 

“All Australian women have the right to access safe maternity care in their own communities,” Dr Martin says. 

“When rural and remote birthing services close, families face long travel, relocation, and significant financial, social and emotional costs. Closure often compromises other services in town as well” 

ACRRM warns the ongoing loss of birthing services places widens health inequities between rural and urban Australia. 

The College is calling for targeted support to: 

  • Prevent further closures of maternity services 

  • Assist communities to re-open services where possible 

  • Strengthen the long-term viability of local birthing care. 

Dr Martin says Rural Generalists are central to keeping rural maternity services viable, particularly in smaller hospitals where specialist obstetric services are not available. 

“Rural Generalists with advanced skills in obstetrics and anaesthetics are the backbone of safe and comprehensive rural maternity care,” Dr Martin says. 

 “Without a sustainable Rural Generalist workforce, many smaller communities simply cannot maintain safe birthing services.” 

Rural Generalists are trained to deliver comprehensive primary care alongside advanced procedural skills tailored to community need, enabling integrated care across antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal services. 

“Keeping maternity care local is critical for the health of mothers, babies and communities,” Dr Martin says. 

“This Budget is an opportunity to protect services families rely on.” 

For more information on ACRRM’s pre-Budget submission, click here. 

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In the lead up to the 2026–27 Federal Budget, ACRRM is calling on the Australian Government to commit to the principles of the National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services, including sustainable funding to prevent further closures of birthing services. 

ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says access to maternity care is becoming increasingly difficult for women and families in rural, remote, and First Nations communities with closures and service bypass continuing across Australia. 

“All Australian women have the right to access safe maternity care in their own communities,” Dr Martin says. 

“When rural and remote birthing services close, families face long travel, relocation, and significant financial, social and emotional costs. Closure often compromises other services in town as well” 

ACRRM warns the ongoing loss of birthing services places widens health inequities between rural and urban Australia. 

The College is calling for targeted support to: 

  • Prevent further closures of maternity services 

  • Assist communities to re-open services where possible 

  • Strengthen the long-term viability of local birthing care. 

Dr Martin says Rural Generalists are central to keeping rural maternity services viable, particularly in smaller hospitals where specialist obstetric services are not available. 

“Rural Generalists with advanced skills in obstetrics and anaesthetics are the backbone of safe and comprehensive rural maternity care,” Dr Martin says. 

 “Without a sustainable Rural Generalist workforce, many smaller communities simply cannot maintain safe birthing services.” 

Rural Generalists are trained to deliver comprehensive primary care alongside advanced procedural skills tailored to community need, enabling integrated care across antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal services. 

“Keeping maternity care local is critical for the health of mothers, babies and communities,” Dr Martin says. 

“This Budget is an opportunity to protect services families rely on.” 

For more information on ACRRM’s pre-Budget submission, click here.