The preliminary findings of a national study of midwifery point to some serious challenges in maternity care according to the Chief Investigator, Professor Lesley Barclay of UTS.

Professor Barclay, who is director of the UTS Centre for Family Health and Midwifery, said the issues identified include shortages of midwives, especially in rural and remote areas, and problems with standards of midwifery education, contemporary models of practice and issues of regulation.

There has been an early release of findings to stakeholders in the three-year Australian Research Council-funded study, which is due to be completed in March next year.

Partners in the project include two state health departments, Women's Hospitals Australasia (a group of the largest employers of midwives) and the Australian College of Midwives.

Professor Barclay said the work has also highlighted counterproductive divisions within and between the professions of midwifery, nursing and medicine, and inadequate communication among those involved in the provision of maternity care and the organisation of midwifery.

However, the purpose was not merely to isolate problems, but to help address them.

"Our project has an 'action research' component and we have actively worked to improve communication and the knowledge of key stakeholders," Professor Barclay said. "This consultation and sharing of the results is part of this process."