It is with pleasure I report on the activities of the Tasmanian NACE group.  With a current membership of 16, we have gained 2 new members over the last year, and not lost any old ones.  We cover all three major regions of the state with members.  There is childbirth education being offered in all public and private maternity hospitals as well as community based private classes.  Our 2010 AGM was initially attended by 5 members and later ratified by email discussion with Sally Gregor as president, Athlene Petterwood treasurer, Suzie Bennett secretary and Dianne Haworth state delegate.

The National Conference in Brisbane last October was attended by 7 members, several had received financial support from the state committee, and all found the experience beneficial.  Tasmania held the national conference in 2006, following Sydney (2004, and  2012), discussion will be needed in the next few months to decide if we apply to run the 2014 gathering.

This year we have held a lunch meeting in June in Launceston, attended by 10 enthusiastic members from across the north of the state.  Sally conducted an Educators Workshop in April in Latrobe, ably assisted by Di McArthur, both report good attendance and great potential amongst participants.

Our next activity will be a Study Day and AGM on October 28^th in Launceston.  We are very fortunate to have Lynne Staff, midwife and dynamic presenter from Queensland, now living in Tasmania and she will be our guest speaker to discuss supporting a client through VBAC,  and ensuring LUSCS is a positive experience; along with several local health workers discussing ‘Calmbirth’, engaging adolescents, and babies being skin to skin safely.  It promises to be an enlightening day, just what we need to recharge the enthusiasm battery. 

Thank you every Tas member who has cared and shared with new Tasmanian parents, their knowledge, enthusiasm and support, to ensure the next generation feels empowered to birth and parent according to their wishes.  There are ongoing challenges with budgets and limited care options causing problems in some areas, so I implore you to keep up to date and remember many changes in maternity care are consumer driven, do not underestimate the power of enthusing new parents with your passion and drive for natural, normal, oxytocin driven birth.

Until next we meet, keep up the good work

Dianne Haworth

Tasmanian NACE delegate