Toowoomba woman Krystal Fanning to apply for federal government scholarship to become endorsed midwife

Just 1000 other people are in the position Toowoomba’s Krystal Fanning hopes to achieve — that’s one for every 26,000 Australians. Now her dreams have been given a big government boost:

Toowoomba midwife Krystal Fanning has begun her journey to become an endorsed midwife, of which there are just 1000 across Australia. Her goal could be boosted if she secures a scholarship thanks to the federal government.

The role that midwife Krystal Fanning hopes to become is one shared by just 1000 other people in Australia — and that dream has received a huge boost.

The Toowoomba woman is hoping to secure a scholarship from the federal government that will help accredit her as an endorsed midwife, which is practically the profession’s highest level.

As an endorsed midwife, the Charles Darwin University graduate would be able to practise alone, order scans and pathology tests for women and even prescribe certain medications.

Toowoomba midwife Krystal Fanning has begun her journey to become an endorsed midwife, of which there are just 1000 across Australia. Her goal could be boosted if she secures a scholarship thanks to the federal government.

It is a rare role within an already rare and labour-strained profession in Australia, which has just 33,000 midwives — of which 1089 are endorsed.

“It’s like a one-stop shop and we can collaborate with an obstetrician at the Toowoomba Hospital — for low-risk women, we can order all of that pathology tests and scans,” she said.

“We get a number with Medicare, and it means we can admit women to hospital through our private care, like a doctor would.”

Ms Fanning, who works privately with MyMidwives Toowoomba, said she had set her sights on the position after she decided to avoid the public health sector.

“Universities don’t typically offer placements in private practice, but I contacted the head of MyMidwives because I knew I didn’t want to work in the hospital system,” she said.

“If I wasn’t intending on being a midwife, I wouldn’t be with MyMidwives — for endorsement, the only pathway is to be in the private system.

“I am a registered midwife so I can provide education and assist women in the hospital system, but I’m a bit limited because I don’t have that endorsement.”

Achieving endorsement requires 5000 hours as a registered midwife along with a graduate certificate that includes prescribing as a course, something Ms Fanning has already enrolled in through Griffith University.

“We submit all our information to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and then they endorse us,” she said.

Her goal has been boosted by the Albanese government’s new $50m Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program, which will potentially cover the cost of her $2500 graduate certificate.

“This program will not only develop our nursing and midwifery workforce, but also see improved care for all Australians across the country,” assistant health minister Ged Kearney said.

“We know that attracting and retaining nurses and midwives in primary and aged care has been a challenge – particularly in our regions.”

Ms Fanning said she was thrilled to see the initiative, noting she was planning to remain in Toowoomba once she became endorsed.

“I’m playing on staying in Toowoomba long-term — I love the MyMidwives’ model and I think Toowoomba is beautiful,” she said.

Shift in childbirth culture needed

Toowoomba midwife Krystal Fanning has begun her journey to become an endorsed midwife, of which there are just 1000 across Australia. Her goal could be boosted if she secures a scholarship thanks to the federal government.

Ms Fanning said she hoped increasing the number of higher-skilled midwives would shift the nation’s “medicalised” culture around childbirth.

“The culture in Australia around birth is very medicalised, and we’re moving away from that by trusting women,” she said.

“It’s not one-size-fits-all — it needs to be individualised care, because it’s not just the cases that are different but the woman’s wishes.

“A lot of trauma is mostly when women don’t feel like they’ve been listened to, or if things were to go down a path they didn’t want.”

Ms Fanning said this distinction was most noticeable for her when she took part in her first home birth.

“I’d seen videos of home births, but to actually experience it and see the difference between a home and hospital birth, it was mind-blowing,” she said.

“As soon as I felt that energy at home, I knew there was no going back.

“When you’re at home, you don’t have that many options, so the woman is feeling everything so she’s in her full power.

“Going to work isn’t hard, we just love it so much.”