Expressions of interest are now open. Find out how to get involved.
About the project
In this pilot project, we are partnering with 5 Victorian maternity services to strengthen safety culture in birth suites. The project focuses on practical ways to help maternity teams work together, communicate openly, and respond quickly to risks – making care safer for mothers and babies.
Objectives
The pilot aims to understand what it takes to establish a positive safety culture as the foundation for high-quality care in birth suites. By embedding safety in all aspects of care, we aim to reduce avoidable harm, strengthen outcomes for women and babies and improve staff satisfaction.
Background
A strong safety culture reflects the collective mindset and behaviours shaping care. Embedding safety in daily practice helps teams to:
- identify risks early
- speak up confidently
- work together to prevent harm.
This depends on open communication, shared accountability, and continuous improvement.
A positive safety culture supports calm, coordinated responses in a fast-paced, high-risk environment of a birth suite. This is reinforced by clear roles, structured communication, and consistent processes. Conversely, poor safety culture erodes trust, discourages reporting, delays escalation, and causes communication breakdowns - leading to higher rates of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes and staff burnout.
Solution design
We will partner with 5 Victorian birthing hospitals in a 12-month pilot.
Each health service will assess its current safety culture and identify strengths and areas for improvement. Teams will use the Model for Improvement to test new ideas and address barriers to change. The project will enable teams to respond rapidly to emerging insights, anchored in safety culture principles that drive care and resilience.
How to get involved
We are now accepting expressions of interest.
Applications close Tuesday 16 December 2025, 5:00 PM (AEST).
Check you are eligible
Victorian maternity services with a birth suite are eligible to apply.
Apply to participate
1: Review the documents
Review the Project Charter and Safer Together Program (STP) FAQs.
2: Identify your team
Identify your project team, including your executive sponsor.
3: Complete the form
Submit an Expression of Interest using either:
- the online application form
- the downloadable application form (send completed applications to maternitynewborn@safercare.vic.gov.au).
You will receive an email confirmation after submission.
4: Submit your baseline data
Email your baseline data (as outlined in the application form) to maternitynewborn@safercare.vic.gov.au.
For more information, please contact the Maternity and Newborn Improvement Team at maternitynewborn@safercare.vic.gov.au.
Priority area
This project supports our broader effort to reduce avoidable harm and unnecessary variation in healthcare.