Incentivising better patient safety

Putting women and babies first

When birth suite clinicians participate in best practice training, evidence shows improved outcomes for women and their babies. It also helps manage risk within a health service and improve teamwork, contributing to a healthier and safer community.

We all benefit when our health professionals are empowered to work at their very best. This simple philosophy drives our Incentivising Better Patient Safety program (IBPS).

About the program

Launched in 2018, the IBPS program was our first safety-focused incentive initiative.

Initially designed as a four-year program, it has been extended to seven years to support hospitals as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

The program rewards hospitals for training their clinicians in safer practices, with the goal of improving care quality and reducing maternity claims.

 

Giving back for doing better

When your health service has trained more than 80% of birth suite clinicians in the training criteria, VMIA will refund part of the obstetrics component of your Medical Indemnity (MI) premium.

Training criteria 2024-2025

Our 2024-2025 IBPS program includes three key areas of focus:

1. Multidisciplinary maternity emergency

This focus area includes:

• theoretical learning
• drill training 
• face-to-face simulation with at least two maternity emergency scenarios.

2. Fetal surveillance

This focus area includes:

• every two years
• completing a face-to-face training and gain a practitioner level 2, or greater
• every other year
• completing an online fetal surveillance education;

and

• completing a minimum two hours of interactive CTG training led by a senior clinician with a level 3 practitioner gained in the past two years
• during the training year at least 80% of clinical shifts to have access to a senior clinician with a practitioner level 3, gained within the past two training years.

3. Neonatal resuscitation

This focus area includes:

• training first responders, defined by each hospital
• theoretical learning aligned with ANZCOR guidelines
• providing practical education or individually assess practical competency in first response skills.

You’ll find all you need to know about the program in the 2024-2025 IBPS operating manual [PDF, 2.29MB]

Training criteria 2025-2026

Our 2025 – 2026 IBPS program includes four key areas of focus:

1. Multiple professional maternity emergency

This focus area includes:

• theoretical learning
• drill training
• face-to-face simulation with at least two maternity emergency scenarios.

2. Fetal surveillance

This focus area includes:

• every two years
• completing a face-to-face training and gain a practitioner level 2, or greater
• every other year
• completing an online fetal surveillance education; and

• completing a minimum two hours of interactive CTG training led by a senior clinician with a level 3 practitioner gained in the past two years

• during the training year at least 80% of clinical shifts to have access to a senior clinician with a practitioner level 3, gained within the past two training years.

3. Neonatal resuscitation

This focus area includes:

• training first responders, defined by each hospital
• theoretical learning aligned with ANZCOR guidelines
• providing practical education or individually assess practical competency in first response skills.

4. Operative Vaginal Birth (OVB) Safety Bundle

This focus area includes four key practices designed to improve safety, communication, and the overall birth experience for women, babies and their support persons.

Key features include:

• ultrasound before procedure
• pre-procedural time-out
• safety checklist
• birth experience pathway.

As part of our IPBS 2025-2026 criteria, only level 4 to 6 health services are required to attest they’ve commenced implementing the OVB Safety Bundle. Level 2 and 3 health services won’t need to attest to the OVB Safety Bundle.

You’ll find all you need to know about the safety bundle at Operative Vaginal Birth Safety Bundle.

For more information on implementing the safety bundle in your hospital, including for level 2 and 3 maternity services, please contact Monash Health at

saferbirthingcoe@monashhealth.org.

Our 2025-2026 operating manual is coming soon. Inside you’ll find all you need to know about the upcoming program and updates.

The attestation period

Each year, if you can demonstrate that you have met the attestation criteria, you’ll receive a partial refund of the obstetrics component of your MI premium.

You’ll find all you need to know about the attestation period at IBPS Attestation.

How to get your refund

You’ll need to deliver education and training to your birth suite clinicians in all key focus areas for the training year.

If you can demonstrate you’ve met the attestation criteria the training year, we’ll reward you with the premium refund in November.

What if my bank details have changed?

If your bank account details have changed this financial year, it’s important that you complete a VMIA Supplier Registration Form [PDF, 145KB] and email it with a deposit slip to contact@vmia.vic.gov.au.

Any questions?

You can call us on (03) 9270 6900 or email us at contact@vmia.vic.gov.au– we’re always here to help.