The Mackay Birth Centre Community Reference Group will play an important role in ensuring that the Birth Centre infrastructure is designed in line with the agreed principles and reflects the needs and desires of the community.
The group will represent the community’s perspective, ensuring that diverse voices are heard throughout the process and in particular, those of women, families and First Nations people. They will work to balance the clinical requirements with a home-like environment that is woman-centred and family friendly.
The Community Reference Group will make informed recommendations to the Health Infrastructure Queensland design team by gathering input from the community using various methods, such as surveys and forums. They will facilitate effective communication and feedback among group members and the community, building trust and engagement.
Throughout the process, the Community Reference Group will consider the project’s principles, budget and timelines to ensure that the birth centre is designed and developed to meet the community’s needs while considering the project’s constraints, governance and delivery plans.
Members will encourage a collaborative approach and seek to partner with us to contribute to the successful delivery of this important service for the Mackay community. These membership roles are voluntary and Health Infrastructure Queensland and the Mackay Hospital and Health Service commit to respecting and valuing the time of the Community Reference Group members.
Expressions of interest for Mackay Birth Centre Community Reference Group can be submitted here.
Applications close 31 December 2024.
Register your interestThe Expressions of Interest form is available for download and print here. Submission details are on the form’s last page.
Membership criteria
The membership aim is to have about twelve representatives who reflect the diversity of the broader Mackay community, as well representatives from Mackay Hospital and Health Service and Health Infrastructure Queensland.
It is recommended that the twelve MBC Community Reference Group members include people to represent:
- KemKem Yanga (1 role)
- Aboriginal communities (1 role)
- Torres Strait Islander communities (1 role)
- Australian South Sea Islander communities (1 role)
- Friends of the Birth Centre (2 roles)
- Mackay Birth Centre midwives (1 role)
- Cultural and linguistic diversity (1 role)
- Mackay community (1 role)
- Broader community (outside Mackay, within MHHS catchment) (2 roles)
- Younger people / future users (1 role)
Note: While the Community Reference Group will be formed to focus specifically on community needs and perspectives, it will include clinical representation to support an integrated approach. Additional clinical engagement will be undertaken through other processes.
Read more about the Mackay Birth Centre co-design approach and Mackay Birth Centre Community Reference Group.