Meet The Leeton Midwifery Group Practice

Leeton Midwifery Group Practice (LMGP) ensures birthing mothers have access to positive and safe childbirth choices and continuity of care.

LMGP engages and collaborates with General Practitioners, obstetricians and paediatricians to provide health assessment and care throughout the antenatal, birth and postnatal experience of the woman and her family.

Midwives provide education, information and support, including exercise and nutrition, strategies to enhance the birthing experience and breastfeeding support.

Meet the LMGP team:

Leeanne Driscoll, Registered Nurse and Midwife

Leeanne began her career at Leeton District Hospital in 1991. Over the past 30 years, Leeanne worked in a variety of rewarding and challenging roles, including midwifery, nursing in the general wards, emergency department nursing, acute care, theatre nursing and Nurse Unit Manager positions.

“I found that during my tenure as a manager, I really missed patient contact, so when we no longer had a full-time General Practitioner Obstetrician, I was keen to join the Leeton Midwifery Group Practice model of care,” Leeanne said.

Leeanne is passionate about giving birthing mothers in her community the support and care they need without having to travel to larger facilities such as Wagga or Griffith hospitals.

“I wanted to be part of the solution for women’s birthing options for our town and surrounding areas,” Leeanne said.

“I love my town, I was born here at the hospital on the second floor. “Thinking about it, I think I have delivered half of the people in this town, so I feel very attached and want the best outcomes for the people who live here.

“I am thankful to have been able to raise my family in such a wonderful nurturing community.

“It worries me that there is a misconception in our area that birthing mothers do not have proper access to maternity services, because they do.

“We are right here at Leeton Hospital.

“We want to let everyone know about our wonderful service and the options available at your doorstep.

“I believe that the idea many people have around wanting doctors to routine births is not sustainable and, in fact, doctors often miss the main event.

“Midwives have a specialised set of knowledge and expertise and can offer a very personalised and safe service.”

The LMPG program essentially allows birthing mothers to get to know their team of local specialised midwives throughout the term of their pregnancy and enables care to be focused on an individual’s needs.

“Every parenting journey is different and we are passionate about recognising a woman’s rights to determine their birthing choices, pain relief options and post-natal birth care, including aftercare from the comfort of their home if needed,” Leeanne said.

“High-risk pregnancies are more complicated and often require the birthing mother to deliver at either Griffith or Wagga.

“However, we are able to collaborate with GPs, obstetricians, paediatricians and other specialists and monitor patients in the leadup to their birthing, often saving our birthing mothers the inconvenience and expense of travel for routine check-ups.

“Women in high-risk pregnancies still get to develop a good relationship with us and find it comforting to have us by their side even if they are not able to birth at our facility.

“We are still able to support birthing mothers and families during their pregnancy and afterwards.

“I love midwifery and everything it is about.

“It gives you the opportunity to work both autonomously and in a highly specialised field, in sometimes challenging environments and adapt to changes quickly.

“It is extremely rewarding.

“This model of care is not just about the birth, but the entire journey leading up to and afterwards and we are so proud to be able to offer the program to our community.

“We encourage all pregnant women to book with the LMGP from 16 weeks gestation.

“Certain health issues may prevent some women from birthing with the LMGP, however, antenatal and postnatal care is offered to most women who fit the criteria.

Rebecca Quiring, Clinical Midwifery Educator

Rebecca began nursing in 2007 and became a midwife two years later.

“I grew up in Hillston, then moved to Armidale to complete my Bachelor in Nursing in 2007,” Rebecca said.

“I qualified in Midwifery in 2009 and spent much of my career working in tertiary hospitals and in the community.”

Rebecca and her family made the decision to relocate to Leeton in 2019.

“We did a bit of research on the town and when I saw that Leeton was operating under a midwifery group practice model it was the deciding factor for us,” she said.

“Midwifery-led group practice is not a new concept in Australia, with research telling us the continuity of care we deliver really is the gold standard.

“The model really does give women the best possible outcomes.

“Babies are less likely to be born premature and mothers are more likely to report a positive birthing experience.

“I really felt it was a great way for me to contribute to something that will have an amazingly positive outcome for the women we care for, their families and the community in and around Leeton.

“Offering a quality, safe midwifery service close to home is so important to rural women.

“Women have the opportunity to develop a long-lasting relationship with their midwives throughout their pregnancy, to well after their baby is born and then again for subsequent pregnancies.

“This high-quality service is right here in Leeton - so there is no need to travel.

“Being able to maintain ongoing and quality woman-centred care service and to be able to offer additional care and support from specialist services from Wagga, Griffith and Canberra is just so important for regional towns.

“It is the most important thing we do as midwives.”

Rebecca reflected on her time so far in Leeton and the way she and her family felt welcomed.

“We have been able to develop some wonderful community connections and the town really has exceeded all my expectations,” she said.

“For a smaller community town, it has all the facilities of a larger city with the bonus of feeling like part of something more personal. “The community spirit in Leeton is amazing.

“Attending the Sunrice Festival with my family was heart-warming; everyone is so friendly.

“I am proud to work in the Leeton Midwifery Group Practice.”

Beth Herlihy, Registered Midwife

Beth first trained as a Naturopath in Byron Bay before making the decision to pivot to midwifery.

“I enjoy the holistic approach to healthcare and had an opportunity to broaden my skills as a direct entry midwife at Lismore Hospital back in 2011,” Beth said.

“Practicing as a naturopath and registered midwife in Byron Bay for 25 years gave me an opportunity to really decompress from my previous life living and working in Sydney and allowed me the time to really focus on community and the person-centred care you really can deliver as a healthcare provider in a smaller town.

“At the completion of my degree in midwifery, I spent my graduate year in midwifery at both the RPA in Sydney and at Parkes Hospital in the Central West.

“I was meant to stay in Parkes for six months but loved living in a regional area so much I stayed for over five years.”

When the opportunity to apply at Leeton as a midwife in the LMGP team became available, Beth jumped at the chance.

“I was emotionally ready to assist women in their birthing experience, without a doctor present because as a midwife one is then able to work at our full scope of practice, which is a wonderful thing,” she said.

Beth has lived and worked in Leeton since January, adjusting well away from the Coast.

“The ocean is over-rated,” Beth said.

“I am getting to know the people in this gorgeous little community and I just love the palm trees, that’s all the reminder I need of the tropics.

“As a midwife, it is just so important to have the opportunity and time available to develop meaningful professional relationships with the women who use our service and look forward to birthing their babies and offering continuity of care throughout their whole journey.

“Here at the LMGP, we have a beautiful midwifery team who have the time to provide the absolute highest level of care.

“We are all about a cohesive and caring work environment and take pride in our ability to educate and empower women and their families about the choices available to them.

“You would be hard-pressed to find a better team anywhere else.”

Shona Kaio, Registered Midwife

Shone was initially introduced to Leeton as an agency midwife.

She loved it so much that she applied to be a permanent casual midwife in the LMGP team and looks forward to her three monthly posts to her second home.

“I am very happy here, let me tell you that,” Shona said.

Originally a registered midwife in New Zealand, Shona is used to providing individualised care for her patients during the course of their pregnancy and following birth.

“It is my 16th year practising as a midwife, and I just now feel like I really know my stuff,” Shona said.

“Midwifery is such a specialised and important role, it is a very specific skill set and I feel privileged to be part of every woman’s birthing journey.

“My values and skill set are very well placed here because the setting is smaller, the care is one-on-one, and you have the opportunity to really get to know your patients.

“It's not a tick-and-flick scenario.

“I enjoy providing one-to-one care, giving that continuity and reassurance to birthing mothers, it is a perfect way to help women who really need it.

“In Leeton, the sun shines every day.

“It is a lovely small community, very friendly and accepting of others.

“My work environment is friendly and supportive and the most rewarding thing about my job is relationships I have built with my peers and the community really make it feel just like home.

“I feel I now have an extended family here in Leeton and what better way to say thank you than to help offer a service that is safe, midwife-led, community-based, and women-centred? “We are here for you.”

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