Shared Maternity Care Affiliates

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About Shared Maternity Care credentialing

Shared maternity care is a model where a woman’s antenatal care is provided by a credentialed community-based GP, obstetrician or midwife, alongside some antenatal visits at the hospital. Labour, birth and immediate postnatal care are managed by the hospital.

The Women’s credentials GPs, obstetricians and midwives through the Shared Maternity Care Collaborative. If approved, you will be credentialed to provide antenatal care in partnership with the Women’s, with the option to also credential with Mercy Health, Northern Health (doctors only) and Western Health.

Credentialed affiliates receive shared maternity care guidelines, schedules of care and access to ongoing professional development.

How to apply

If you are currently employed at Mercy Health, Northern Health (doctors only) or Western Health, please apply directly through that service.

If applying through the Women’s, check the eligibility criteria and ensure you have the correct documentation (outlined below). When ready, click the link below to begin your application. You can save and return to your application at any time.

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Credentialing as a new affiliate

Obstetricians

To credential as a Shared Maternity Care Affiliate, obstetricians must provide:

  • Certified copy of proof of identity documents (100 points)*
  • National police check (within the last 12 months)*
  • Certificate of professional indemnity insurance*
  • Two professional referees*
  • Agreement to undertakings

*Not required if employed at the Women’s.

For enquiries, contact the GP Liaison Unit: gp.liaison@thewomens.org.au

General Practitioners

There are three pathways for GPs to achieve credentialing:

1. Postgraduate qualification within the last five years
One of the following (or equivalent):

  • Diploma of RANZCOG (former)
  • RANZCOG Certificate in Women’s Health (CWH)
  • RANZCOG Associate Training Program (Procedural or Advanced Procedural)

AND

  • No gap in clinical practice of more than 12 months (if there is a gap, you may be asked to provide further information)

2. Postgraduate qualification more than five years ago
One of the following (or equivalent):

  • Diploma of RANZCOG/RACOG (former)
  • RANZCOG/RACOG Certificate in Women’s Health (CWH)

AND

  • Recent involvement in maternity care (you will be asked to list services/hospitals and dates)

3. Fellow of RACGP/ACRRM who does not meet the above postgraduate requirements
Applications are assessed individually by designated registered medical practitioners at SMCC hospitals. Additional training may be required depending on your experience. Training may include:

  • Online learning (e.g. RACGP Antenatal and Postnatal modules)
  • Supervised attendance at antenatal clinics (including at least one session at a primary hospital site)
  • Other training (e.g. hospital questionnaire, workshops, CPD events)
  • Certificate of Women’s Health (if limited experience). See the RANZCOG website for details.

All applicants must provide a CV including:

  • Undergraduate and postgraduate experience and qualifications in obstetrics, antenatal clinics, gynaecology, women’s health, emergency and neonatal care (include dates, FTE loading, roles, responsibilities and institutions)
  • Clinical and academic appointments or teaching experience
  • Quality improvement activities
  • Experience as a shared maternity care provider

GPs must also provide:

  • Certified copy of proof of identity documents (100 points)*
  • National police check (within the last 12 months)*
  • Certificate of professional indemnity insurance*
  • Certified copy of postgraduate qualifications (if relevant)
  • CPD statements
  • Two professional referees
  • Agreement to undertakings

*Not required if employed at the Women’s.

For enquiries, contact the GP Liaison Unit: gp.liaison@thewomens.org.au

Midwives

To be credentialed as a Shared Maternity Care Affiliate, midwives must provide a CV including:

  • Undergraduate and postgraduate experience and qualifications in maternity care, gynaecology, women’s health, emergency and neonatal care, and/or Maternal and Child Health Nursing (include dates, FTE loading, roles, responsibilities and institutions)
  • Clinical roles, academic appointments or teaching experience
  • Quality improvement activities
  • Experience as a shared maternity care provider

Midwives must also provide:

  • Certified copy of proof of identity documents (100 points)*
  • National police check (within the last 12 months)*
  • Certificate of professional indemnity insurance
  • Two professional referees
  • Agreement to undertakings

*Not required if employed at the Women’s.

For enquiries, contact the Shared Care Office: sharedcare@thewomens.org.au

Recredentialing as an affiliate

Shared Maternity Care Affiliates must recredential every three years. The next recredentialing period is due by 31 December 2025. Affiliates will receive an email invitation around October 2025.

If you haven’t received communication or need to update your contact details, please email: sharedcare@thewomens.org.au

General Practitioners and Obstetricians

To recredential for the 2026–28 triennium, GPs and obstetricians must provide:

  • Evidence of at least five hours of pregnancy-related CPD undertaken during 2023–2025 (not required for obstetricians or those first credentialed in 2025)
  • Certificate of professional indemnity insurance
  • Agreement to undertakings

Midwives

To recredential for the 2026–28 triennium, midwives must provide:

  • Evidence of at least five hours of pregnancy-related CPD undertaken during 2023–2025 (not required for those first credentialed in 2025)
  • Certificate of professional indemnity insurance
  • Agreement to undertakings

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