Australia’s first independent private Gold Coast birthing centre has opened in Southport, offering families a new, midwifery-led option outside the traditional public and private hospital system.
Matrescence Birthing Centres Gold Coast officially launched in February 2026, responding to growing demand for continuity of care and more personalised maternity experiences.
Founded by long-time midwife Shellanda Eller, the centre operates as a licensed private health facility and provides midwifery-led care with obstetric support. The model combines continuity of care, clinical governance and a range of holistic wellbeing services, while remaining fully regulated under Queensland legislation.
Ms Eller said the centre had been years in the making and was designed to support women and families through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
“Birth is not just a clinical event,” she said. “It’s a major life transition, and families deserve care where they feel supported, respected and known from start to finish.”
Private Gold Coast birthing centre offers continuity of care
Interest in the Gold Coast birthing centre has been strong ahead of its opening, reflecting a broader national conversation about maternity care. While the majority of Australian births still occur in hospital settings, many families report challenges including fragmented care, limited access to the same caregiver throughout pregnancy, and reduced postnatal support once a baby is born.
Ms Eller said many enquiries had come from parents seeking continuity, time and emotional support in a calmer environment.
“Families are telling us they don’t want to feel rushed or processed,” she said. “They want to feel safe, informed and supported physically and emotionally.”
The centre’s wrap-around model of care extends beyond birth itself. Services include continuity of midwifery care, personalised pre- and postnatal care plans, pelvic health and lactation support, mental health screening, nutrition guidance, birth education, water birth options and extended postnatal care, including in-home support for up to six weeks after birth.
Safety and governance remain central to the model. The facility is approved for Level 2 maternity and neonatal services, accredited to national safety standards, and has formal emergency transfer arrangements in place with local hospital networks.
Ms Eller said the aim was not to replace hospitals, but to expand choice for families.
“This model sits between hospital and home,” she said. “It’s nurturing and personalised, while being properly regulated and clinically designed.”
This new Gold Coast birthing centre is now accepting bookings for families due from February 2026 onwards, with complimentary information sessions available for expectant parents exploring private, continuity-focused maternity care.
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