Birthing Options in Mandurah: What You Need to Know
If you’re planning your birth in Mandurah or the Peel region, understanding your maternity care options is essential. Unlike other areas of Perth, Mandurah does not currently offer access to the Community Midwifery Program (CMP) or Midwifery Group Practice (MGP). These models provide continuous, personalised care from a known midwife through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, but they are not available locally at this time.
Below are the main birthing options for families in Mandurah and surrounds:
Photograph by Sarah Del Borrello, Mother Mother Doula
Planning a Waterbirth or VBAC?
Jump to the bottom of this guide to explore your options.
Birthing Options in Mandurah
If you’re planning your birth in Mandurah or the Peel region, understanding your maternity care options is essential. Unlike other areas of Perth, Mandurah does not currently offer access to the Community Midwifery Program (CMP) or Midwifery Group Practice (MGP). These models provide continuous, personalised care from a known midwife through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, but they are not available locally at this time.
Here are the main birthing options for families in Mandurah and surrounds:
Local Birthing Options
1. Public Hospital Care at Peel Health Campus (formerly Peel Private)
As of August 2024, Peel Health Campus is now part of the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS), operating as a public hospital. This means all maternity care there is public and subject to the SMHS care model.
Cost: Free for Medicare eligible women
Women within catchment areas of 6180, 6207, 6208, 6210 & 6211 will be referred to Peel.
Peel Health Campus provides comprehensive maternity services, including antenatal, labour, birth, and postnatal care.
- It does not offer a Midwifery Group Practice or Community Midwifery Program.
Read more here: Peel Health Campus - Maternity
2. Public Hospital Care at Rockingham General Hospital (RGH)
- Cost: Free for Medicare eligible women
- Women within catchment areas of 6165 & 6167 to 6176 will be referred to RGH.
- It offers standard public care with access to obstetricians, midwives, and support services.
- It does not offer a Midwifery Group Practice or Community Midwifery Program.
- VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) support is well established here.
Read more here: Home - Rockingham Peel Group - Maternity services
3. Privately Practicing Midwives (PPM)
- PPMs provide comprehensive, continuity-based care across pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. They operate within the full scope of midwifery practice, including the ability to refer to specialists, request ultrasounds and pathology tests, and manage care independently in low-risk pregnancies.
- Cost: Approximately $5,500-$6,500 out of pocket.
- Self referral process, contact PPMs directly as early as possible.
- They support homebirths, including waterbirths, focusing on low-intervention, physiological birth practices.
- Longer, individualised appointments usually done from within your home.
- Some PPMs can also support hospital births if the women needs or wishes to. If the PPM has admitting rights it means they can be your primary Medicare provider within a hospital or birth center setting. This is often at FSH or KEMH but RGH is in the process of accepting admitting rights from PPMs too. Here you can read the 'Public Maternity Services for Privately Practising Endorsed Midwives Policy'.
Medicare Rebates For Private Midwives:
Medicare provides limited rebates for antenatal and postnatal visits. For example;
- Antenatal Visits: Rebates of approximately $47.25 per visit.
- Postnatal Visits: Rebates of approximately $67.40 per visit.
- Birth Plan Meeting: Rebate of approximately $295.
- Labour and Birth:
- Homebirth: Currently, there is no Medicare rebate for the intrapartum (labour and birth) portion of care provided at home.
- Public Hospital Birth with a PPM: If your private midwife has admitting rights at a public hospital, you can claim a Medicare rebate for intrapartum care. The rebate amount can be up to $783.85, depending on the specific Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item billed
- More info on Medicare Rebates here: Item 82105 | Medicare Benefits Schedule
Private Health Insurance for Private Midwives:
A small number of insurers—such as Defence Health and Australian Unity—may offer rebates for private midwifery care. However, most families find that the cost of maintaining a policy with this level of coverage (with Gold hospital cover averaging approximately $3,300 annually for singles and $6,000 for families in 2025) outweighs the limited rebate provided. It is important to confirm coverage details directly with your insurer, as policies vary and are often subject to strict eligibility criteria.
Read more about homebirth here: Homebirth Australia Website
Find a Private Midwife here: Privately Practising Midwives in Western Australia | Back to Basics Birthing
Perth Metro Birthing Options
Family Birth Centres (FBC)
At King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) & Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH)
- Cost: Free for Medicare eligible women
- Catchment zones are not relevant as long as women can commit to attending all appointments on-site.
- Self Referral via online form (apply ASAP).
- Midwifery-led care in a homelike setting for healthy women with low-risk pregnancies.
- Continuity of care from a small team of midwives, with waterbirth and minimal intervention encouraged.
- VBAC, induction, caesarean births, twins, breech and pharmaceutical pain relief (with the exception of nitrous oxide/gas and air) are not supported within the birth centres. Women requiring these options will be transferred to the main hospital unit for labour and birth.
- Other common reasons for exclusion include: suspected macrosomia (baby weighing over 4kg), Gestational diabetes that is uncontrolled and/or requiring medication, placenta concerns and labour onset before 37 weeks or after 42 weeks.
Read more and apply here: KEMH - Family Birth Centre and FSH - Family Birthing Centre
KEMH FBC eligibility criteria's here: KEMH Eligibility criteria for clients birthing at the Family Birth Centre
FSH FBC eligibility criteria's here: Fiona Stanley Hospital Family Birthing Centre Eligibility Criteria
Tertiary Hospitals
At King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) & Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH)
- Cost: Free for Medicare eligible women
- These hospitals accept women from Mandurah and Peel if clinically indicated.
- Both have dedicated maternity facilities including birth suites and neonatal care.
Read more here: King Edward Memorial Hospital - Pregnancy and Birth & Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group - Maternity
Private Hospital Births
There are no private maternity hospitals in Mandurah. Families seeking private obstetric care typically travel to a hospital in Perth or Bunbury. Private care usually includes your choice of obstetrician, private rooms, and access to specialist services, but does not provide continuity-of-carer midwifery models.
Nearby private hospitals include
- St John of God Murdoch
- St John of God Subiaco
- St John of God Bunbury
- Cost: Out-of-pocket costs typically range from $3,000–$5,000 after private health insurance rebates. Gold-tier hospital cover is required, with annual premiums around $3,300 (single) or $6,000 (family). A 12-month waiting period applies, cover must be in place before conception to be eligible.
Photograph by Sarah Del Borrello, Mother Mother Doula
Birth Outcomes South Metro West Australia Comparing rates of caesarean sections, labour inductions, and VBAC success across south metro hospitals and homebirths. By Mother Mother Doula.
Birth Outcomes South Metro West Australia Comparing rates of caesarean sections, labour inductions, and VBAC success across south metro hospitals and homebirths. By Mother Mother Doula.
Maternity Outcomes: Rockingham General vs Peel Health Campus
Understanding local outcomes can help you make informed decisions about where to birth.
Caesarean Section Rates (2016–2018)
- Rockingham General Hospital: 25–30%
- Peel Health Campus: 36–52%
- Fiona Stanley Hospital: 36–39%
- King Edward Memorial Hospital: 37–41%
- King Edward Memorial Family Birth Centre: 13% (transferred from the FBC to main hospital for caesarean section)
- Planned Homebirth (WA): 2.0%-6.4%
Induction of Labour Rates (2016–2018)
- Rockingham General Hospital: 22–30%
- Peel Health Campus: 19–34%
- Fiona Stanley Hospital: 32–39%
- King Edward Memorial Hospital: 33–38%
- Planned Homebirth (WA): 4.3%-5%
Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) Success Rates
- Rockingham General Hospital: 85–90%
- Peel Health Campus: 7.7–18.2%
- Fiona Stanley Hospital: 80–84%
- King Edward Memorial Hospital: 80–83%
- Planned Homebirth (Australia): 87.6 % average
Note: VBACs, inductions, and caesarean sections are not performed in the Family Birth Centres (FBCs) at Fiona Stanley Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital. Women planning for VBAC or requiring induction or caesarean will receive care in the main hospital facilities.
References:
Australia's mothers and babies - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Summary information about births in Western Australia: Rockingham General Hospital
Summary information about births in Western Australia: Peel Health Campus
Summary information about births in Western Australia: Fiona Stanley Hospital
Summary information about births in Western Australia: King Edward Memorial Hospital
Models of Maternity Care: Updated Evidence on Outcomes and Safety of Planned Home Birth
WA Today - Perth's Family Birth Centre a 25 year labour of love
Detailed Models of Care Comparison – Western Australia Focus. By Mother Mother Doula
Taking Action: Improving Local Maternity Care
Access to continuous, personalised midwifery care through programs like CMP and MGP significantly improves birth experiences and outcomes. Currently, families in Mandurah and Peel do not have access to these services.
If this is important to you, there are steps we can take together:
- Writing to local health authorities and elected representatives to express the community demand for expanded maternity services.
- Engaging directly with Peel Health Campus and Rockingham General Hospital leadership to advocate for new models of care.
- Joining or supporting local maternity consumer groups pushing for improved options.
Your voice matters. Advocating for better, more personalised maternity care options in Mandurah helps create change for all families.
Photography by Sarah Del Borrello, Mother Mother Doula
If you have questions about birthing options in Mandurah or want support planning your birth, please get in touch. I’m here to help you navigate your journey with clear information and respectful, empowering support.
Say hello,
Let's work together!
Sarah Del Borrello
Birth Photographer & Doula
Email: hey@mothermotherdoula.com
Instagram: @mother.mother.doula
Facebook: mother.mother.doula
Sarah Del Borrello is a Doula, Birth Photographer, and Motherhood Photographer based in Baldivis, Western Australia. She supports families throughout the region between Perth and Mandurah, offering continuity of care across pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
Sarah attends births at Fiona Stanley Hospital, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Rockingham General Hospital, Armadale Health Service, St John of God Murdoch Hospital, and Peel Health Campus in Mandurah. She also supports clients planning homebirths across the Perth to Mandurah corridor.
