Global Midwifery Update 2026

GMU returns to the stunning Park Hyatt Melbourne on June 12-13 with two days of practical, practice-ready clinical updates designed by midwives, for midwives. Featuring an outstanding speaker lineup and 12 hours of CPD approved by the Australian College of Midwives, GMU 2026 delivers knowledge you can use the very next Monday.

Park Hyatt Melbourne, 1 Parliament Square, Melbourne, VIC 3002

Event Date

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Summary

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After our smash hit, sold out inaugural conference in 2025 - we are so incredibly excited to announce the return of the Global Midwifery Update in 2026! 

Once again, we have proudly crafted this bespoke conference, tailoring our topics to what midwives want to hear. Just like our first conference, GMU 2026 will provide you with clinical knowledge you can start putting into practice on the following Monday. GMU will again be hosted at the incredible Park Hyatt Melbourne, Friday June 12th and Saturday June 13th 2026.

Your feedback told us that midwives want more of the core topics and practical updates you can really sink your teeth into. We’ve listened! Over two days, a diverse range of amazing speakers will cover something for everyone.

PLUS! GMU 2026 is accredited for 12 hours of CPD points approved by the Australian College of Midwives! Bonus!

Read on to find out about our program and speaker lineup.


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Buy GMU2026 Now Pay Later with Afterpay. Afterpay allows you to buy now and pay in four instalments over 6 weeks. No interest.

Register

Our Topics

GMU will be filled with updates, presentations and panels discussing situations you face at the coalface everyday, including:

  • Responding when the Family Violence Screen is Positive
  • Cultivating Culturally Safe Birthing Services for First Nations Families
  • Neonatal Hypoglycaemia Update
  • The Hot/Cold Debrief done well
  • Supporting Breastfeeding Success
  • Maternal Assisted Caesareans 
  • Presenting Risk- Evidence Over Opinion
  • Pelvic Biomechanics & Optimal Positioning in Labour
  • Communicating Unexpected Early Pregnancy Results 

Our speakers

Meet our amazing Speakers: 

Professor Hannah Dahlen AM

  • Professor of Midwifery, Western Sydney University 
  • Associate Dean, Research and HDR, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University 

Professor Sue Walker AO

  • Co-Director, Mercy Perinatal 
  • Head of Department Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne 

Ms Debra Bourne

  • Chief Executive Officer, Northern Health 
  • RN RM

Prof Bill von Hippel

  • Psychologist, Author and Expert on Human Behaviour

Kara Blackburn

  • Clinical & Research Midwife, Global Women’s & Newborn Health 
  • Former Médecins Sans Frontières Women’s Health Advisor

Laura Aileone 

  • Former National Chief Midwife, New Zealand

Professor Christine Catling

  • NHMRC Research Fellow 
  • Conjoint Professor of Midwifery Research, University of Technology Sydney & Northern Sydney Local Health District

Jo Quinn

  • Ngemba/Wiradjuri woman
    Aboriginal Health Practitioner, Koori Maternity Service, Northern Health 

Elvira Earthstar 

  • Clinical Midwife Consultant, Women’s Alcohol & Drug Service 
  • Specialist in Addiction-Focused Maternity Care 

Jennifer Leverington

  • Clinical Midwife Maternal Fetal Medicine, King Edward Memorial Hospital 
  • Steering Committee Member, Australian Pre-term Birth Prevention Alliance

A/Prof Laura Whitburn

  • Physiotherapist
  • Discipline Lead (Anatomy), School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University 
  • Co-Chair of the Humanising Birth Research Network 

Dr Natalie Elphinstone

  • Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Mornington Peninsula
  • Maternal Assisted Caesarean Policy Maker & Advocate 

Dr Kathryn Johns

  • Osteopath, Pelvic Health Specialist
  • Director & Co-Founder Eastern Osteopathy 

Jessica Kahan

  • RM, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
  • Founder and Director, Holistic Lactation Consulting

Dr Natalie Duffy 

  • Neonatalogist & Researcher, Royal Children's Hospital 

Associate Professor Ali Fung

  • Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist
  • Clinical Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Mercy Perinatal

Dr Madeline McKinley

  • Anatomical Pathology Specialist, Austin Health

Amanda Morris 

  • Senior Program Manager Family Violence, The Royal Women's Hospital
  • Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence, Metropolitan State Wide Lead 

Professor Brett Manley

  • Professor of Neonatal Medicine, Mercy Perinatal
  • Director of Neonatal Research, The University of Melbourne 

Dr Teresa MacDonald

  • Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Mercy Perinatal
  • Clinician Scientist Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne 

Associate Professor Fiona Brownfoot

  • Obstetrician, Mercy Perinatal
  • Principal Research Fellow - NHMRC, The University of Melbourne

Professor Stephen Tong

  • Co-Director, Mercy Perinatal 
  • Professorial Fellow, The University of Melbourne

Registration

Global Midwifery Update 2026 are now on sale!

Early Bird Discount (before 31st December 2025) 

  • In-Person General: $750 
  • In-Person Student/Graduate: $550

In-Person Tickets (from 1st January 2026) 

  • In-person: General: $800 
  • In-person: Student/Graduate: $600
  • Conference Dinner (Venue TBC): $90
  • GMU T-Shirt - $35 (Pre-order only before Midnight Sunday May 3rd 2026). 

Our Program

Day 1 - Friday 12th June

07:45 - 08:45

Registration

08:45 - 09:00

Welcome

09:00 - 09:10

Setting the Scene: Birth/Labour

09:10 - 09:35

Maternal-Assisted Caeserean Section

Dr Natalie Elphinstone (Obstetrician, Mornington Peninsula) 
09:35 - 10:00

Pelvic Biomechanics & Optimal Positioning in Labour

Dr Kathryn Johns (Osteopath, Director - Eastern Osteopathy) 
10:00 - 10:25

Mind in Labour: How States of Mind, Communication and Context Shape the Experience

A/Prof Laura Whitburn (Physiotherapist, Discipline Lead - La Trobe Uni) 
10:25 - 10:40

Questions/Panel Discussion

10:40 - 11:10

Morning Tea

11:10 - 11:15

Setting the Scene: Future Proofing

11:15 - 11:40

Supporting the next Generation of Midwives: Protecting our Future

Prof Christine Catling (NHMRC Research Fellow - Midwifery, UTS) 
11:40 - 12:05

Innovating for the Future

A/Prof Fiona Brownfoot (Obstetrician, Mercy Perinatal) 
12:05 - 12:30

Extending Scope of Practice - An NZ Perspective

Laura Aileone (Former National Chief Midwife, New Zealand) 
12:30 - 12:45

Questions/Panel Discussion

12:45 - 13:45

Lunch

13:45 - 13:50

Setting the Scene: Health Equity

13:50 - 14:15

Newborn Mental Health

Dr Nat Duffy (Consultant Neonatologist, Royal Children's Hospital) 
14:15 - 14:40

First Nations - Culturally Safe Birthing Services, Traditions & Practices

Jo Quinn (Ngemba/Wiradjuri woman, Aboriginal Health Practitioner) 
14:40 - 15:05

Global Midwifery

Kara Blackburn (Clinical & Research Midwife, Global Women's and Newborn's Health Group) 
15:05 - 15:20

Questions/Panel Discussion

15:20 - 15:50

Afternoon Tea
15:55 - 16:45

Special Event

Something Amazing! 
19:00 - 23:00

Conference Dinner @ Zinc Fed Square (Ticketed Event)

Day 2 - Saturday 13th

08:30 - 08:35

Setting the Scene: Communicating Well

08:35 - 09:00

Presenting Risk - Evidence over Opinion

Prof Hannah Dahlen AM (Professor of Midwifery, Western Sydney University) 
09:00 - 09:25

Midwives Leading Change

Debra Bourne (CEO, Northern Health - RN, RM) 
09:25 - 09:50

Something Amazing!

Prof Sue Walker AO (MFM Specialist, Co-Director - Mercy Perinatal) 
09:50 - 10:05

Questions/Panel Discussion

10:05 - 10:35

Morning Tea

10:35 - 10:40

Setting the Scene: High Risk/Complexities

10:40 - 11:05

VBAC - What are the Risks, Exactly?

Dr Teresa MacDonald (Obstetrician, Mercy Perinatal) 
11:05 - 11:30

Late Onset Fetal Growth Restriction

Prof Stephen Tong (Obstetrician, Co-Director - Mercy Perinatal) 
11:30 - 11:55

Autopsy in Context: Enabling Informed Decision Making for Families

Dr Madeleine McKinley (Pathologist, Austin Health) and A/Prof Ali Fung (MFM Specialist, Mercy Perinatal) 
11:55 - 12:10

Questions/Panel Discussion

12:10 - 13:10

Lunch

13:10 - 13:15

Setting the Scene: Antenatal/Pre-Pregnancy

13:15 - 13:40

Strengthening our Response to Family Violence

Amanda Morris (Manager Family Violence, Royal Women's Hospital) 
13:40 - 14:05

First Responders: Communicating Early Pregnancy Results

Jennifer Leverington (Clinical Midwife MFM, King Edward Memorial Hospital) 
14:05 - 14:30

Substance use in Pregnancy: a 2026 Update

Elvira Earthstar (Clinical Midwife Consultant, Women’s Alcohol & Drug Service) 
14:30 - 14:45

Questions/Panel Discussion

14:45 - 15:15

Afternoon Tea

15:15 - 15:20

Setting the Scene: Postnatal

15:20 - 15:45

Neonatal Hypoglycaemia

Prof Brett Manley (Consultant Neonatologist, Mercy Perinatal) 
15:45 - 16:10

Supporting Breastfeeding Success

Jess Kahan (RM, IBCLC, Director - Holistic Lactation Consulting) 
16:10 - 16:35

Superhero session!

Someone Amazing!
16:35 - 16:50

Questions/Panel Discussion

16:50 - 17:00

Closing

17:00

Farewell Drinks

Our Sponsors

We are grateful for the support of Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Besins Healthcare, Cell Care Australia, Device Technologies, Gidget Foundation, Haakaa, Laborie, Medicity, Pfizer, Pigeon, and Silverette for proudly supporting the Mercy Perinatal Global Midwifery Update in 2026.

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Interested in Sponsoring GMU2026? We have very limited spaces left. 

Our sponsorship prospectus for GMU2026 is available upon request! If your organisation would like to be part of this incredible event, we would love to hear from you at mercyperinatal@mercy.com.au.

We look forward to partnering with you! 

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Bella and Sarah at: mercyperinatal@mercy.com.au