Maternity services return to rural Queensland

Birthing services at both Cooktown and Biloela have returned so more local mums are able to have their babies closer to home.

The Queensland Government is delivering for rural and regional Queensland along with significant work by both hospital and health services (HHSs) to strengthen local clinical teams, upgrade facilities and establish high-quality, safe and sustainable models of care.

This ends a difficult period where women in these areas often had to leave their communities to give birth in hospitals hours away; and now, they have health services when they need them.

Cooktown is expecting over 40 births each year.

Maternity services return to Cooktown and Biloela

Cooktown MPHS Midwifery Unit Manager Debbie Bannan said the return of birthing represented an exciting new chapter for the community.

“The return to birthing in Cooktown is a significant milestone for our community,” Ms Bannan said.

“Giving women the opportunity to birth close to home is significant in that it alleviates the disruption of having to leave their homes and their support people that are most important to them in such a pivotal moment of their lives.”

Biloela Hospital celebrates after being on bypass for more than four years

For Biloela Hospital Maternity Unit Manager Diane Tamariki the return of local birthing services was a moment the community had been eagerly awaiting.

“There has been tears of joy and happiness since we found out that birthing services were returning to Biloela,” Ms Tamariki said.

Along with upgrading the hospital’s theatre, recovery area and birthing suite for the return of services, new staff accommodation is being built to attract and retain skilled workers and support ongoing local maternity care.

Over recent months, Central Queensland HHS worked with maternity staff, nurses, medical officers and support teams on training and simulation exercises.

These sessions were designed to strengthen clinical skills, teamwork and emergency response capability.

For women requiring care outside the scope of the local service, established referral and escalation pathways would continue to support access to higher-level maternity and specialist services.

Learn more about Cooktown maternity here: Service Locations | Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service

Learn more about Biloela maternity: Service Locations | Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service

Last updated:

25 September 2026