New midwifery leader appointment to strengthen maternal health outcomes

There’s not much in the field of midwifery that Kelly Kara hasn’t done.  

Over a career spanning more than two decades, she has supported families across both regional and tertiary hospitals, became a midwifery academic and has helped establish a 24-bed midwifery-led birthing unit in central Christchurch, New Zealand.  

“We joke that there's not really anything in midwifery that I haven't done yet,” Kelly said, her easy charm belying her experience and learnings as a midwife.  

Now serving as Grampians Health’s Senior Midwifery Officer and Director of Women & Childrens Services, Kelly is drawing on that breadth of experience to strengthen maternity care across the region and improve outcomes for local families. 

“People in regional areas deserve the same high‑quality, supportive care as anyone else,” she said. “We already know there can be barriers to accessing services, so it’s incredibly important that regional health services are strong, thoughtful and responsive to their communities.” 

Kelly’s role of Senior Midwifery Officer was newly created within Grampians Health to further enhance maternity care across the region.  

“This is an incredibly forward‑thinking role,” Kelly said. “Having a dedicated Senior Midwifery Officer means there’s a clear and consistent midwifery voice at both operational and strategic levels, and that’s critical for improving experiences and outcomes for women and families. 

“When midwives feel supported and valued, that flows directly through to families. That’s what this role is all about.” 

More than 1500 babies are born each year across Grampians Health’s hospitals in Ballarat and Horsham. A key priority for Kelly - whose role also encompasses women’s and children’s health more broadly - is expanding models of care that are proven to improve both experiences and clinical outcomes, particularly continuity of midwifery care. 

Grampians Health already offers continuity models through programs such as the First Nations Midwifery and Infant Support Service (MIMS), Family Services, COCO (Continuity of Care Option) and the Midwifery Antenatal and Postnatal Service in Horsham. Demand for these services continues to grow, with more families requesting to access this style of care, Kelly added. 

“Seeing the same midwife or small team throughout pregnancy makes such a difference,” she said. “The research is very clear – continuity of care leads to better outcomes and more positive experiences for families. That’s something we want more local families to be able to access and that is one of my key priorities.” 

Later this year, Kelly and her team are looking to introduce water birth in Ballarat – a first for Grampians Health and a relatively rare option in regional Victoria. 

“Water birth can make a really big difference to women’s experience of labour,” she said. “It’s something many women actively seek out, and it’s wonderful to be able to offer more choice here in Ballarat.” 

The service will initially use inflatable birthing pools, ahead of the move into the new hospital, which includes a purpose‑built birthing pool. 

Having been raised in regional Southland in New Zealand, Kelly moved to Australia last year after her husband secured a job locally. She and her family chose to settle down in Ballarat, which fondly reminded her of her hometown, Invercargill.  

“My husband visited Ballarat first and said it looked like Invercargill — but with way more light and way more sparkle,” she said. “So we decided it would be a fantastic place to move, and it really has been.” 

While Kelly has chosen her home in Ballarat, she also regularly travels to Horsham as part of her role, supporting teams across both campuses. 

Having worked extensively in regional areas, Kelly is no stranger to challenges facing healthcare, especially within recruitment. 

“Regional services face unique challenges, particularly around workforce recruitment,” she said. “That’s why growing our own midwifery workforce is essential.” 

Grampians Health supports the growth of local workforce through initiatives such as the paid postgraduate midwifery program for nurses and the Registered Undergraduate Student of Midwifery (RUSOM) model, which allows students to work in maternity services during their studies. 

“Our Horsham campus, in particular, is doing phenomenal work in building a sustainable, home‑grown midwifery workforce,” Kelly said. 

“Supporting people from the local community to become midwives means they’re far more likely to stay and care for their own community in the long term.” 

Grampians Health Chief Operating Officer Ben Kelly said the creation of a Senior Midwifery Officer’s role is a significant step forward for maternity services.  

“We’re delighted to welcome Kelly to Grampians Health,” he said. “Her passion for regional healthcare, commitment to continuity of care and focus on building a strong local midwifery workforce align closely with our priorities for safe, sustainable and high‑quality care.”