New graduates set to change the future of midwifery care
Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union Media Release 23 February 2026
Queensland still did not have enough midwives to meet population demands but the newest cohort of graduates were taking midwifery numbers in the right direction, Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union Assistant Secretary (Midwifery) Fridae King said.
Ms King said 2026 was an exciting time to be joining the profession.
“We are proud to be midwives and to deliver the extraordinary care, commitment and compassion that we see every day across Queensland as midwives support women and their families,” Ms King said.
She said graduates would now have the opportunity to support the ongoing introduction of midwifery ratios and to ensure health outcomes for Queensland mothers and babies were constantly improving.
“In Queensland we know we need substantive workforce growth, and we need to ensure we are strengthening pathways to midwifery for prospective students,” Ms King said.
“We need to ensure universities and health services are providing opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, especially those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island, migrant and refugee backgrounds.”
“We need more momentum for greater professional recognition and for employers to come-to-terms with our struggling health system and implement strategies and policies that are future-focussed and woman-centred.”
Ms King also encouraged new graduates to sign the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) “The World Needs One More Million Midwives” petition, a global initiative responding to the international workforce crisis in midwifery.
She said research released by the ICM last month highlighted the global midwife shortage and outlined international actions needed to meet present and future demand.
“The research also identified women were more likely to experience unnecessary interventions, mistreatment and rushed or fragmented care when midwives were missing or there was a midwifery shortage,” she said.
“Increasing our midwifery workforce in Queensland is essential for the delivery of safe, quality care for women and their families.”
Ms King said the QNMU would also be holding a dedicated graduate’s day for nurses and midwives on 1 April, 2026 in Brisbane.
“This is the perfect opportunity for midwife graduates to connect with their colleagues, to find out more about their role in their workplace and how they can advocate for their profession and the women and families they care for,” Ms King said.
