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Midwifery Grace Professional Development Award for CMWA and CMP Midwives and Educators

Remembering Grace and acknowledging Abbey and Marilyn

On 18^th October 2009 Grace Erica Rees was born under the care of Community Midwifery Program midwives Abbey Rodda and Marilyn Allen. Grace died in her sleep in the early hours of the 19^th. Grace's death was a rare and tragic outcome for a normal pregnancy, birth and baby. Abbey and Marilyn's support the day of Grace's death gave her parents precious time and memories with their baby girl. When Grace's parents were paralysed by tragedy, they kept them safe. In the days, weeks and months following, Abbey, as primary carer, continued to support Grace's mother and father on the long road towards healing and acceptance.  Abbey's and Marilyn's grace to just know what was needed and to care as they did will never be forgotten.

In birth and in death midwifery grace, shown through continuity of care, plays a central role in helping parents do the best they can for their children. The Midwifery Grace Award, established by Grace's maternal grandfather, recognises the exceptional services Community Midwifery WA gives. It remembers Grace's life as loved and cared for by Abbey and Marilyn who gave her the best possible start.

The Inaugural Midwifery Grace Award was offered for the first time in 2010.  The CMP Midwives requested to have a single, joint application for a Team Building activity and attended the presentation "Train Your Mind to be Focused, Calm and Clear".   The Midwifery Grace Award is to be offered every second year by Community Midwifery WA to support professional development activities for Community Midwifery Program midwives and Educators working for Community Midwifery WA. 

The 2012 Funding Round was finalised in October 2012, with four applications received.  Two CMP Midwives have been funded to undertake Midwifery Practice Reviews, one CMP Midwife has been given funding towards the Pharmacology Unit at Flinders University that has to be completed by Eligible Midwives to be able to prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests.  The final request was for access to the British Journal of Midwifery, and it was determined that this access is already available through WA Health.

If you have any enquiries, please contact Pip Brennan on manager@cmwa.net.au