Shared Maternity Care Workshop 2: Improving Outcomes in Pregnancy: Preterm Birth, Growth Restriction and Family Violence

Over two evening webinars, the annual Shared Maternity Care Collaborative workshops cover important antenatal topics. Join leading obstetrician and gynaecology experts from Northern Hospital, Mercy Health, the Royal Women’s Hospital, and Western Health.

This presentation will cover the identification, classification, and management of foetal growth restriction (FGR), a key contributor to perinatal morbidity. Bethany Sampson will discuss evidence-based surveillance strategies and when to escalate care for optimal maternal and foetal outcomes.

Tanya Ellis will build participants’ understanding of how family violence is defined and responded to within practice. The presentation will cover recent legal reforms, the MARAM framework, mandatory screening requirements, and available referral pathways.

Speakers

Professor Fabricio Costa, MD, MSc, FRANZCOG, DDU, COGU (AU), PhD (BR), Dip Fetal Medicine (UK) is a Consultant at the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Gold Coast University Hospital and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Griffith University. Fabricio’s integrated program of perinatal research spans laboratory-based discovery research, clinical trials, implementation science, and health policy. Fabricio’s current research interests focus on the use of first trimester ultrasound to predict risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes, the impact of low-dose aspirin on trophoblast function in pre-eclampsia and the clinical application of cell-free fetal DNA testing for chromosomal abnormality. Fabricio is the national leader for the adaptation, validation and clinical implementation of a Clinical Decision Tool in Australia. Fabricio has over 220 peer-reviewed publications to date

Dr Tanya Ellis is a qualified clinical Social Worker and has also completed a Diploma in Management & Leadership and Workplace Training & Assessment. Tanya has extensive clinical experience working across the health, government and community sectors. She also has experience as a Training Officer, Team Leader and Program Manager. The majority of her experience is working with vulnerable individuals and their families, who are experiencing complex medical and social issues. Tanya has a particular interest in family violence practice and is passionate about working with both children and adults who have experienced complex trauma.  

Dr Bethany Sampson is a generalist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist working full-time for Western Health. She is currently the clinical lead of maternity and gynaecology for Bacchus Marsh Hospital, which provides low-risk obstetrics and gynaecology to outer western Melbourne. This role spans the full continuum of women’s health—from antenatal care and childbirth to postnatal support, gynaecology clinics, abortion care, and surgical services.

Learning outcomes:

• Identify women at risk of preterm birth and preeclampsia early in pregnancy.
• Describe risk factors and clinical implications of fetal growth restriction and integrate current guidelines into antenatal management.
• Define family violence, identifying key legal reforms, as well as selecting an appropriate referral pathway.

Be sure to register for both webinars sessions.

Registration page - Shared Care Maternity session 1 (Sept 16)

By registering for this workshop, you acknowledge and consent to your personal details being shared with the participating hospitals for the purposes of program delivery and administration