Maternity and newborn services

Each year, over 75,000 women give birth in Victorian hospitals. Three-quarters of these births are in the public system. Special care nurseries and neonatal intensive care support 10,000 babies each who year need extra support and care.

The public maternity service system in Victoria includes metropolitan, regional and rural hospitals, as well as emergency retrieval and referral services.

A number of private hospitals provide maternity and special care nursery services for low- to moderate-complexity cases.

As well as providing less complex care for mothers and babies close to women’s homes, the public system also includes a small number of hospitals (known as tertiary hospitals) that provide specialist statewide services for women with complex or high-risk pregnancies and newborns that require intensive care.

Maternity and newborn services user guide

This guide, prepared by Safer Care Victoria and the department, provides Victorian maternity and newborn services with service specific tools and resources to strengthen clinical governance and quality and safety processes. Read the guide.

Capability frameworks for maternity and newborn services

A variety of birthing services are available in Victoria depending on the level of care required. Capability frameworks support and guide how planned maternity and newborn care is provided.

Newborn care in Victoria

Neonatal services in Victoria provide care for sick babies in the first few weeks and months of life.

Aboriginal maternity services

Koori maternity services improve access to culturally appropriate maternity care for Aboriginal women and babies.

Emergency referral and retrieval for pregnant women, newborns and children

There are services that provide advice and emergency transport of pregnant women and newborn children with serious and life-threatening conditions.

Victorian Maternity Record

The Victorian Maternity Record provides all pregnant women in Victoria with a uniform record of their pregnancy care.

Victorian Maternity Record - order form

The order form for the Victorian Maternity Record.

Reviewed 21 February 2023

Health.vic

Contact uetails

Maternity and Newborn Program

maternity@dhhs.vic.gov.au