Women and families across Metro South Health can now access more maternity care directly through their midwife, helping reduce delays for medications, tests and ultrasounds.
Bayside Health Service Assistant Director of Nursing and Midwifery Mandy Clarris said Metro South Health’s first endorsed midwife, Shae Temple, would help make care simpler and more seamless for local families.
“Shae can now prescribe certain medications and order relevant tests and ultrasounds directly, so women can receive the care they need sooner,” Mandy said. “This means fewer delays and appointments, while providing women with greater continuity from a midwife they already know and trust.”
Shae, a midwife for 10 years, provides care to local First Nations families as part of the Birthing in our Community (BIOC) Midwifery Group Practice team.
“I work on call as part of a team of midwives, and we offer care for families across multiple pregnancies,” she said.
Shae said she was inspired to become a midwife following the birth of her second child and had since cared for many families through multiple pregnancies.
“We are incredibly proud of Shae and what this means for maternity care across Bayside,” Mandy said. “Her advanced skills will support safe, timely care closer to home, while ensuring women and babies are referred to medical specialists when they need additional support.”
To become endorsed, midwives must have extensive clinical experience, complete further study in diagnostics and prescribing, and receive endorsement from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.