Why Are There So Many Midwifery Contracts… and Not Enough Midwives?

If you work in or around maternity services, you’ve probably noticed it too.

Plenty of midwifery contracts. Constant advertising. And yet — services are still short.

So what’s actually going on?

It’s not a lack of work — it’s a lack of available midwives

The demand for midwives across Australia isn’t new, but several factors are colliding at once:

• Leave restrictions and workforce fatigue

  Many permanent midwives are struggling to access leave at all, let alone enough time to trial a short-term contract elsewhere. Burnout is real, and ironically, the people who need a change the most are often the least able to take one.

• Permanent roles still feel “safer” With cost-of-living pressures and uncertainty across health systems, walking away from a permanent position — even temporarily — can feel like a big risk. For many midwives, contracts sound appealing in theory but daunting in practice.

• Not all midwifery roles are interchangeable Midwifery is not a single, uniform skill set. Requirements vary significantly depending on the service:

  • Labour & Birth Suite competency

  • Antenatal and postnatal ward experience

  • Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) or continuity models

  • Rural and remote scope, often with expanded autonomy

  • A midwife who is exceptional in one setting may not be credentialed or supported to step straight into another — and that limits who can safely fill certain contracts.

Why it feels like “everyone” is advertising the same contracts

You’re not imagining it.

Many agencies are advertising identical roles, often with very similar wording, rates, and promises. From the outside, it can feel like midwifery contracts are interchangeable — but the support behind them rarely is.

And that matters.

Why we choose to do things differently

We’re an agency founded by a dual-qualified midwife, with midwifery leadership at the core of what we do.

That means:

• We understand that midwifery is not just another area of nursing

• We recognise the distinct scope, responsibility, and philosophy of midwifery care

• We understand the nuanced environments midwives work within across the Australian maternity care system

• And when you pick up the phone, you’re speaking to people who genuinely get it

Creating realistic pathways into travel midwifery

Not every midwife wants — or is able — to pack up their life and relocate indefinitely. And they shouldn’t have to.

Our focus is on creating low-risk, supported opportunities for midwives who:

• Want to try travel midwifery without a massive life upheaval

• Can access short periods of leave from permanent roles

• Are curious about regional or different models of care

• Want to build experience without burning bridges

Sometimes a 6–12 week contract is enough to reignite a career. Sometimes it confirms what you don’t want — and that’s just as valuable. And sometimes? People fall in love with the work, the community, and decide to stay.

Supporting growth — not just filling shifts

We believe midwives deserve:

• Honest conversations about scope and expectations

• Contracts that match their skills and confidence

• Clinical and professional support while on placement

• Opportunities to expand experience safely and intentionally

Midwifery is complex, relational, autonomous work — and it deserves to be treated that way.

The bottom line

There aren’t “too many contracts.”

There’s a system that hasn’t made it easy for midwives to step sideways, try something new, and return stronger — without risking their stability or wellbeing.

Our goal is to change that, one supported contract at a time.

If you’ve ever been curious about travel midwifery — even just a little — we’re always happy to have a no-pressure chat. You never know where it might lead.

Flick us an email! admin@kenmorehealthrecruitment.com.au