Why a NSQHS Standard for Maternity Care Matters

Australia’s National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards reflect a national commitment to safer, better healthcare for all. They set the benchmark for quality and safety—protecting the public, strengthening governance, and building trust across our health system.

What the NSQHS Standards deliver:
• Genuine partnership with consumers
• Clear, consistent expectations for care
• Transparency—consumers know what quality care looks like
• Risk identification and prevention to protect the public
• Safer systems to reduce harm and manage the unexpected
• Data-driven quality improvement
• Stronger clinical governance for reliable, high-quality care
• Greater confidence in our health services

These principles are the foundation of safe, effective, and respectful care—every time, for everyone.

So why not apply the  principles directly to maternity care?
Pregnancy, birth and the time after birth deserve the same national commitment to safety, transparency, and respect. That’s why we’re calling for a dedicated NSQHS Standard for maternity care—one that centres women, protects families, and strengthens accountability.

It’s time to embed woman-centred care into the national safety framework.

#MaternalHealthMatters #Pregnancy #RespectfulMaternityCare #WomanCentredCare #SafetyInBirth