THE FOCUS ON REDUCING INSTANCES OF BIRTH-TRAUMA THROUGH TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE Preventing birth trauma needs to be shared responsibility across entire maternity care system
With
Dr Nisha Khot, Obstetrician / Gynaecologist &
President, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) &
Clinical Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
Bayside Health Peninsula, Victoria
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | July 2026
Leading into Birth Trauma Week 2026, in an interview with Australian Health Journal, Dr Nisha Khot, President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), highlighted the growing focus on reducing birth trauma through trauma-informed, multidisciplinary care.
Reflecting on her career, she described an unexpected path into obstetrics and gynaecology, driven by a commitment to improving women’s health despite the specialty often being overlooked. As she explained, “Women’s health has always been something that hasn’t been adequately recognised and funded.”
Dr Khot discussed the increasing recognition of birth trauma following recent inquiries in New South Wales and the United Kingdom, which revealed that many women experience not only physical injury but also lasting psychological trauma. She emphasised that birth trauma is rarely the result of an individual’s actions, but rather reflects broader systemic issues requiring coordinated responses across maternity services.
A key initiative has been RANZCOG’s 2025 pilot program delivering interdisciplinary workshops to maternity teams across Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. The program focused on recognising, responding to and managing birth trauma, with positive feedback supporting the case for a national rollout.
Dr Khot stressed that improving informed consent, communication and education must remain central to future reforms, bringing together obstetricians, midwives, general practitioners, allied health professionals and mental health clinicians. Looking ahead, she called for sustained investment in women’s health research and services, stating, “I would like to see more funding for women’s health.”
Source: Adapted from transcript
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