Australian College of Midwives president Joanne Gray. “Midwives contribute to the wellbeing of society in such an important way,” says Joanne Gray, president of the Australian College of Midwives. A midwife herself, with more than 30 years experience, Ms Gray says: “What we know as the gold standard of evidence throughout the world and Australia, is that when a woman has a midwife throughout her pregnancy to her birth she achieves better outcomes – both for herself and for her child. “It’s so important for women to understand the choices they have, and having a day like this helps make women more aware of midwives and helps achieve these better outcomes.”