Pioneer midwife Terry folds up his scrubs

For more than 40 years, Terry Cameron has supported families through their most exciting, scary and unknown times. 

As a midwife, he’s supported women through pregnancy and labour, comforted anxious partners and welcomed into the world the babies who change their parents’ lives forever.

Mr Cameron, now a grandfather, has helped deliver more than 700 babies at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, but has just four more births ahead, before his well-deserved retirement begins.

For the last 17 years Mr Cameron has worked at Mater Mothers’ Hospital in South Brisbane, where for many years he was the only male midwife among a female workforce of hundreds. 

As a member of Mater’s Midwifery Group Practice – which is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year – Mr Cameron has been the primary midwife for hundreds of women during their pregnancy, labour, birth and first weeks of their baby’s life. 

“Being present at a woman’s birth is a privilege,” Mr Cameron said.

“The women are courageous and inspiring and each birth is very special and unique.

“A career as a midwife will see you laughing and crying, expecting the unexpected and being supported by an incredible bunch of health professionals.”

As one of just a handful of male midwives in Queensland, Mr Cameron has broken down many barriers. He’s faced skeptical glances of those wondering what a man was doing in the birthing suite and the occasional request for a female midwife, but he wouldn’t have traded a single shift. 

“I have always understood that my role is to make women feel comfortable and safe,” said Mr Cameron.

“I have been fortunate in that women have accepted me as their midwife, they see me as a genuine care giver, and that has enabled me to work in a mostly female profession.”

Mr Cameron began his nursing career in 1984 at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and a year later moved into midwifery as an elected speciality. He spent 15 years in Northern NSW before returning to the sunshine state in 2009 to join Mater’s Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) Team, where he’s remained since.

Mater’s MGP midwives work in teams of four or five, with each mother-to-be assigned a primary midwife, who is available to them 24/7. The program is extremely popular with public patients, while My Mater Midwife provides a primary midwife for private mothers-to-be. 

Mr Cameron has had many first-time mums request him as their primary midwife again, but most miss out. Allison Griffin, mum to Georgia (2) and Zoe (1), was one of the lucky ones.

“My experience with Terry as my midwife was truly above and beyond anything I expected from maternity care,” Ms Griffin said.

“He was consistently caring, supportive, and incredibly calm throughout the entire journey.

“As soon as I found out I was pregnant again, Terry was one of the first people I reached out to. Being able to have him as my midwife for a second time felt incredibly special. 

“At first, I didn’t realise Terry was a male midwife, as we initially communicated via text and his name could be either. When I found out, I was a little surprised simply because it’s not common - but I had no concerns at all. If anything, I thought it was pretty great!”

“I remember telling a neighbour and friend how amazing Terry was. It turned out she had also had him as her midwife and felt the same way. 

“Then, during one of my home visits, another neighbour saw him and came over to say hello – he had been her midwife too! It really speaks to the kind of impact he’s had on so many people.”

According to the latest data from Australia’s Nursing and Midwifery Board, just 1 in 70 midwives are male.

“Being a midwife is not just a job, it is a passion which requires a special set of skills,” Mr Cameron said.

“It took me a while to work out the right time for retirement. To reference Wayne Bennett, I did not want to go a season too long.

“They say retirement is about the three G's: Grandkids, gardening and golf. I have the first two covered, but I will swap golf for going travelling.”

Mater MGP Midwifery Unit Manager Sally Higgs said Mr Cameron has been a crucial part of their team.

“Terry has provided holistic care to so many families over the years,” Ms Higgs said.

“His calmness and laid-back approach allows women to feel safe and at ease during some of their most precious moments.”