Overview

The Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies (QCMB) is an independent research centre based at The University of Queensland in Brisbane and is funded by the Queensland Government. The role of the QCMB is to work towards consumer-focused maternity care that is integrated, evidence-based, and provides optimal choices for women in Queensland. To learn more about the centre, view the QCMB website.

The WISE Maternity Care Program is a new initiative that has been developed by the Communication and Collaboration Team at QCMB. In 2010, the Communication and Collaboration team conducted a survey asking maternity care providers to share their experiences of providing maternity care in Queensland. It was found that inadequate or problematic communication was identified by maternity carers as an important obstacle.

A model of communication was developed to map effective communication and collaboration in Queensland maternity care. The model was developed from theory and research in health care and contains practical elements integrated through consultation with maternity care providers, opinion leaders and other stakeholders from Queensland. The SIP program is in its pilot stage, and is a learning guide for dissemination of the model and the guidelines that are based on the model.

In 2012, the Program was piloted at three sites in Queensland. Feedback from these pilot sites has been used to redevelop and refine the program into a more relevant and flexible professional development activity