Informa Australia is part of the Informa Connect Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

Choose Location

Register Your Interest

Comments

Obstetric Medico-Legal Conference

Facilitating constructive discussion and debate around the legal, ethical and medical issues surrounding conception, pregnancy and birth

13-14 August 2025 | Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne

Register Your Interest Genomic Testing Forum

overview

The 16th Annual Obstetric Medico-Legal Conference will continue to bring together legal and medical professionals to discuss and explore the legal issues related to maternal and infant care. The conference will cover a range of topics including birth injuries and medical errors in prenatal or postnatal care.

The event provides a unique platform for legal and medical experts to share their knowledge and experiences, discuss emerging trends and best practices, and network with colleagues from across the industry. Attendees also have the opportunity to participate in interactive sessions designed to enhance their understanding of the legal and medical aspects of obstetrics care.

Every year, the event grows and receives excellent feedback from our delegates, and it has become a “must-attend” for legal and medical professionals involved in obstetrics care and those interested in improving the quality and safety of maternal and infant care.

KEY TOPICS INCLUDE

  • Medicine Shortages in Obstetrics’
  • First line treatment for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy at birth and its efficacy
  • Patient safety and Practitioner risk in the online era
  • Emerging legal issues in midwifery practice
  • How to mitigate liability against a patient who refuses treatment or is aggressive
  • The influence of Artificial Intelligence on obstetrics – who bears liability?
  • Birth Trauma Parliamentary Inquiry
  • How to navigate the balance between informed consent and the duty to act in the best interest of the patient
  • The role of consent in posthumous reproduction, the ethical and legal considerations
  • Home births in Australia: Insights from medico-legal cases, highlighting common challenges, outcomes, and lessons learned?

 


CPD Endorsed Activity

2024 Speakers

Professor Steve Robson

President, Australian Medical Association

Tom Ballantyne

Principal Lawyer, Maurice Blackburn

Ian Murray

Principal Solicitor, Blumers

Emily Hart

Principal Lawyer, Arnold Thomas & Becker Lawyers

Alice Tuson

Registered Midwife

Dr Nisha Khot

Vice President & Board Member, RANZCOG; Clinical Director of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Peninsula Health

Bill Madden

Senior Legal Counsel, Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers, Adjunct Professor, Australian Centre for Health Law Research (QUT)

Dr Amelia Bock

Regional Director of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Central Hume

Kate Betts

Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Dr Vijay Roach

Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Past President, RANZCOG

Kate Waterford

Partner, Maliganis Edwards Johnson

Dr Amber Moore

Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, St Vincent’s Private Hospital and Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne

Dr Jenny Dowd

MD, FRANZCOG, Founding Member, Women’s Obstetric & Gynaecology Specialists

Eliza Faulk

Partner, Makinson d'Apice Lawyer

Adam Clements

Lawyer, Kate Williams Medical Law Specialists

Ruanne Brell

Senior Legal Advisor, Avant Mutual Group

Karen McClay

Registered Midwife & Director, Calmbirth

Dr Kate Levett

Senior Research Fellow, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney School of Medicine

Professor Tina Cockburn

Director, Australian Centre for Health Law Research

Samuel Wolfhagen

Associate, Maliganis Edwards Johnson

Justine Anderson

Senior Solicitor, Crown Solicitor's Office of NSW

Dr John Short

Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

Fiona Reid

Member, RN/ BaMid/MaMid/ Endorsed (Credentialled) Midwife, Waminda Senior Clinical Manager, Birthing on Country, Clinical Advisory Committee, ABTA, Consumer Group Midwifery Clinical Consultant, Better Births Illawarra

Christian Wright

Nurse & Midwife, Maternal Health Researcher and Educator, Member, Clinical Council NT PHN & Advisory Panel, Australasian Birth Trauma Association

Amanda Seguna

Partner, Lander & Rogers

Julie Shooter

Special Counsel & Head of Health and Medical Law, Sydney, Lander & Rogers

Dr Danny Tucker

Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Associate Professor, James Cook University

Jessie Taylor

Barrister, Victorian Bar

Kim Tomasic

Solicitor, Remedy Law Group

Seun Idowu

Partner, Hall & Wilcox

Genomic Testing Forum

The Genomic Testing Forum will be held concurrently with the Obstetric Medico Legal Congress on the 16th September this year providing a unique opportunity to meet two distinct, but related audience groups.

In Australia, genomic testing is experiencing a significant upward trend, with healthcare providers increasingly incorporating genetic analysis into diagnostic and treatment protocols to deliver more personalized and effective patient care. Given the recent introduction of new rebates for essential carrier screening tests, Australia looks set for significant growth in genomic testing – particularly in reproductive genetic carrier screening.

This is an enormously exciting growth space however, there are key considerations that stakeholders should be aware of.

This forum will explore where we are at with genetic testing in Australia and unpack:

  • What the new opportunities are
  • The quality of the tests
  • Are we ready for the influx of these tests and what will happen?
  • What are the risk profiles?
  • Concerns with insurance discrimination
  • Where the opportunities are for improvement?
  • What are the available indemnity options for clinical practice through to clinical trials?

View Genomic Testing Forum Website

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved in the Obstetric Medico Legal Conference! Showcase thought leadership in the program or explore our brand opportunites associated with the event, get in touch today to learn more!

There are many opportunities for networking including social events such as networking drinks, lunch and refreshments breaks making this not just a conference… but an all-encompassing industry experience.

Sponsorship or exhibiting will allow your organization to:

  • Build relationships with potential and existing clients
  • Generate leads from a high-level, targeted audience
  • Close sales in a more personal manner than via phone
  • Demonstrate your product in person
  • Network with the industry
  • Build brand awareness

To see what is on offer please contact:

Danielle Newman
Senior Business Development Manager
E: danielle.newman@informa.com
T: +61 (2) 9080 4318

Insights

Improving the accessibility of drugs for pregnant women
Reproductive age women make up a substantial portion of the general population, yet are seldom represented in clinical trials for pharmaceuticals – including ones that cater to common pregnancy-related ailments. Read more >>


The appropriate way for doctors to handle surrogacy births – insights from a surrogate mother and lawyer
The world of surrogacy is often a foreign one to health professionals, with many clinicians feeling as though they are in treading in a legal quagmire when handling the care of surrogate mothers. Read more >>


Why all clinicians need to learn trauma-informed care
Clinicians have long known that women who misuse drugs and alcohol, experience domestic violence, or have a history of trauma, are considered ‘vulnerable’ along the child-bearing continuum, but a striking proportion have not yet received training on how to care for this patient cohort. Read more >>


How this male midwife is building trust with his patients
Read more >>

Using technology for better obstetric decision making
Read more >>

Increasing maternal awareness of DFM – a suitable stillbirth prevention measure?
Read more >>

Rethinking morbidity and mortality review meetings in maternity care
Read more >>

Perinatal mortality cases – what can we do better?
Read more >>

ConnectMe + Streamly

ConnectMe • Networking enhanced

All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.

 

Streamly • On-Demand video vault

Streamly is a new video platform from Informa Connect – hosting hours of session recordings from our events and more. Select the Streamly add-on at the checkout to receive year round access to exclusive On-Demand session recordings from all of our related healthcare events*. Login information will be sent post event.

* Note: In a minority of cases, speakers may request their sessions to be excluded from Streamly access.

Sustainability

Our Commitment to Sustainability

In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.

We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.

To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.

Event Code Of Conduct

We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.

when & where

13 - 14 Aug 2025

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne
328 Flinders St,
Melbourne VIC 3000

contact

Still have a question?

General Information & Registration
Customer Service
+61 2 9080 4307
info@informa.com.au

Speaking Enquiries
Katrina Bowns
Senior Conference Producer
+61 2 9080 4322
katrina.bowns@informa.com.au

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Danielle Newman
+61 2 9080 4318
Danielle.Newman@informa.com

Marketing & Media Enquiries
Libbie Sinclair
Libbie.Sinclair@informa.com

Get all the latest on Informa news and events

Informa Connect Australia is the nation's leading event organiser. Our events comprise of large scale exhibitions, industry conferences and highly specialised corporate training.

Find out more