Maternity care — public and private
Public is free through Medicare; private gives you continuity of obstetrician and a single room. What private hospital cover with maternity actually costs, and the federal Paid Parental Leave changes.
Published 17 May 2026 · Last reviewed 17 May 2026
The Australian maternity system gives you a choice between public and private care.
Public
- Free through Medicare. You're admitted to a public hospital, cared for by midwives and rotating doctors, with continuity of care varying by hospital and program.
- Midwifery-led programs (Midwifery Group Practice, MGP) offer continuity through pregnancy and birth.
Private
- Choose your own obstetrician — verify current out-of-pocket fees with the obstetrician's rooms.
- Private hospital admission (single room more likely).
- Requires hospital cover with maternity included, with a 12-month waiting period — start cover before trying to conceive if going private. See private health insurance.
Paid Parental Leave (PPL)
- The federal government's paid parental leave scheme has expanded — as of 2026, eligible primary carers can receive up to 24 weeks of PPL at the National Minimum Wage. The scheme will reach 26 weeks by 1 July 2026.
- You apply through Services Australia. You don't have to be a permanent resident — see eligibility at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/parental-leave-pay
- Your employer may also have its own paid parental leave on top.
If you're weighing public vs private, the practical comparison is continuity (same OB throughout vs rotating midwives), accommodation (single room more likely in private), and length of post-birth stay (often longer in private). Medical outcomes for low-risk pregnancies are equivalent in both. For complications, well-resourced public maternity units are sometimes better-staffed than private.