Global Midwifery Update 2026

The Global Midwifery Update is back in 2026!

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

Event Date

to

Summary

GMU-Email-Headers.png#asset:16370

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. 

Read on to find out about our Topics, Speakers and when tickets go on sale! 

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 

Kara Blackburn

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

Elvira Earthstar 

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

Professor Christine Catling

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

Ms Debra Bourne

  • Chief Executive Officer, Northern Health 

Laura Aileone 

  • National Chief Midwife, New Zealand. 

Madeline McKinley

  • Austin Pathology.

Jo Quinn

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

Jenni Leverington

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

Professor Brett Manley

  • Professor of Neonatal Medicine, Mercy Hospital for Women 
  • Director of Neonatal Research, The University of Melbourne 

Dr Natalie Elphinstone

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

Dr Kathryn Johns

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

Dr Natalie Duffy 

  • Neonatalogist & Researcher, Royal Children's Hospital 

Amanda Morris 

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

Jessica Kahan

  • Founder and Director, Holistic Lactation Consulting 

Dr Teresa MacDonald

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

Dr Laura Whitburn

  • Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead (Anatomy), School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University 
  • President-Elect, Australian Society of Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology 

Associate Professor Ali Fung

  • Clinical Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Mercy Hospital for Women 

Professor Sue Walker AO

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

Professor Stephen Tong

  • Co-Director, Mercy Perinatal 
  • Professor, The University of Melbourne

...and more to be announced soon

Registration

Global Midwifery Update tickets will go on sale Monday 9th December 2025. 

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 Sponsors

We are grateful for the support of our GMU 2026 Sponsors: 

GMU-Sponsors.png#asset:16412

Interested in Sponsoring GMU2026? 

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