Please join us for another educational and rejuvenating Midwifery Today conference—this time in Byron Bay, Australia. My conference co-planner, Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos, and I are so excited about this line-up of teachers for our first conference in Australia. Each of these excellent speakers will bring you their best skills to help you change birth practices in Australia and around the world. There will be an emphasis on midwifery skills so we don’t lose our hands-on skills to the onslaught of technology! Our great hope is for you to gain insight and inspiration as well as a renewed passion for your work.

The Byron Bay location is absolutely beautiful. The venue is a couple of blocks from a gorgeous beach in the heart of a very charming town with lots of restaurants, shops and places to stay. This is one of those dream locations, and right on a swimming beach. We planned the dates so we have a full moon during the conference. We thought the beach would be beautiful with a full moon. This is a very romantic location for the thing we love: midwifery and birth!

Jan Tritten

Learn from These Inspiring Speakers

Please click linked names to view speaker biographies.

• Lesley Barclay
• Jenny Blyth
• Sarah Buckley
• Sue Cookson
• Robbie Davis-Floyd
• Carol Gautschi
• Tine Greve
• Fiona Hallinan
• Gail Hart
• Angelina Martinez Miranda
• Sister MorningStar
• Rachel Reed
• Jodi Selander
• Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos
• Jan Tritten
• Gail Tully

Attend These Exciting and Informative Classes!

These are some of the topics we plan to present at the conference. Please see the conference program for the complete list of classes.

• Shoulder Dystocia and “Malpresentations”—A two-part class
• Midwifery Issues and Skills: 2 full days—Many speakers and courses
• Mexican Traditions and Techniques
• Sex in Pregnancy and Childbirth
• Emergency Management of Breech Birth
• The Anthropology of Reproduction
• Postpartum Recovery—Placenta and the Parents
• The Power of Touch and Tenderness
• And many more rich classes!

Conference Location

The Byron Community Centre is run by the not for profit organization Byron Bay Community Association and is an important part of the local community. It is located just five blocks from the beach and only one block away from the Byron Bay Rail Station. Its location is right in the hub of town, within walking distance to dining, shopping, breweries, hotels and hostels.

Byron Bay is a popular vacation spot, boasting many wonders such as humpback whales cruising past the headland, rainbows on the mountains across the bay and hang-gliders coasting above the lighthouse. This paradise is known for its sweeping surf beaches, trademark lighthouse, lush rainforests and colorful mix of people. It’s the place to try yoga on the beach at sunrise, massages and mud wraps at hinterland retreats and some of Australia’s best regional dining.
visitbyronbay.com

Travel

Byron Bay is located in the Northern Rivers region in NSW, just off the Pacific Highway, 800 km north of Sydney, 170 km south of Brisbane (about 90 km south of the Gold Coast). There are two airports in the vicinity with a train station and bus depot located in the center of town.

By Car:

Byron Bay is about a 9-hour drive from Sydney and about 2-hour drive from Brisbane. Ample parking is available at Byron Bay Community Centre.

By Bus and/or Train:

Bus travel to Byron Bay is a popular budget way to travel with buses arriving regularly at the Bus Depot located in the center of town. Most bus companies located on the east coast of Australia have a regular service to Byron Bay.

Travel by bus with Greyhound Australia. Phone: 1300 GREYHOUND (1300 473946)

Travel by train or bus with NSW TrainLink: Refer to website below for timetables, fares and online booking.
Tel: 13 22 32 (local) / +61 2 4907 7501 (international)
Website: http://www.nswtrainlink.info
Contact: http://www.nswtrainlink.info/about/contact

Travel by public transportation: GoingPlaces.org.au

By Air:

The closest commercial airport to Byron Bay is at Ballina (32.9 km away), but most people use the larger Gold Coast airport (67.4 km away).

From either airport there are many affordable options for transport to Byron Bay. Please see the Byron Bay visitor’s center website for more information and to book your tickets.

Continuing Professional Development Credits

The Australian College of Midwives (ACM) has accredited this program as a continuing professional development (CPD) activity under the ACM’s MidPLUS program. MidPLUS Points have been approved for midwives who complete this activity (equivalent to the number of actual activity hours). For more information about ACM’s MidPLUS program, please visit their website: www.midwives.org.au

More Information

• To receive a printed program by mail, please e-mail us with your request.
• Children at the Conference: Mothers may sit with babes in arms in the classrooms. However, out of respect for others, and because we are recording some of the classes, if a baby makes any noise, we must ask mother and baby to leave the room. Attendees must make their own arrangements for childcare.
• Learn more about birth resources in Australia.
• Thanks to Caroline E. Brown for the use of her photos in promotional materials for this conference.
• Attend other Midwifery Today Conferences around the world!