Neonatal Resuscitation Training in Australian Public Birthing and Newborn Care Facilities: A National Cross-Sectional Survey
- 1Westmead Hospital WSLHD
Abstract
BackgroundThe stabilisation of infants at birth is vital for survival and relies on clinicians being appropriately trained in neonatal resuscitation. The effectiveness of resuscitation is influenced by the skills, knowledge and equipment available to the responding clinician. In Australia, the absence of a standardised neonatal resuscitation training programme may contribute to variations in training practices. This study aimed to describe current training practices across Australian public services and explore educators perceptions of opportunities for national standardisation.
MethodsA cross-sectional survey was distributed to educators and representatives from birth and newborn care public facilities across Australia. A questionnaire was developed to gain knowledge on how newborn resuscitation is taught detailing staffing, equipment and training requirements.
Results197 completed responses were received. Responses were received from all Australian states and territories and levels of maternity/neonatal services. Accreditation in neonatal resuscitation was required by 173 (87.8%) of respondents programmes with training occurring at annual (n=95, 47.7%) or more frequent (n=21, 10.7%) intervals. NeoResus (n=134, 67.5%), Neonatal Advanced Life Support (n=45, 22.8%) and Newborn Life Support Training (n=41, 21.3%) were the most popular training programmes. Substantial variation was identified in equipment used for training. Most respondents (n=174, 88.3%) reported a need for a standardised national training programme.
ConclusionsNeonatal resuscitation training is widely available in Australian public facilities, but reported requirements, programmes, content, assessment methods and training resources vary. These findings support the development of standardised neonatal resuscitation training to promote consistent preparedness across Australian healthcare settings.
O_LIWhat is already known on this topic Regular neonatal resuscitation training is recommended by international guidelines and is associated with improved neonatal outcomes. Previous Australian studies have identified a variation in training access and requirements, but contemporary national data are lacking. C_LIO_LIWhat this study adds - summarise what we now know as a result of this study that we did not know before This study provides the first national baseline of neonatal resuscitation training practices across Australian healthcare services. It identifies substantial differences in training requirements, programme delivery and educational resources, providing support and information to inform a standardised national approach. C_LIO_LIHow this study might affect research, practice or policy - summarise the implications of this study The findings provide evidence to support development of coordinated national approach to neonatal resuscitation training and may inform future standards, educational policy and research to improve education. C_LI
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BibTeX
@misc{morakeas2026neonatal,
title = {{Neonatal Resuscitation Training in Australian Public Birthing and Newborn Care Facilities: A National Cross-Sectional Survey}},
author = {S. Morakeas and M. Tracy and N. Williams and M. Thio},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.21.26366083},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.21.26366083v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Neonatal Resuscitation Training in Australian Public Birthing and Newborn Care Facilities: A National Cross-Sectional Survey
AU - S. Morakeas
AU - M. Tracy
AU - N. Williams
AU - M. Thio
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.21.26366083
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.21.26366083v1
AB - BackgroundThe stabilisation of infants at birth is vital for survival and relies on clinicians being appropriately trained in neonatal resuscitation. The effectiveness of resuscitation is influenced by the skills, knowledge and equipment available to the responding clinician. In Australia, the absence of a standardised neonatal resuscitation training programme may contribute to variations in training practices. This study aimed to describe current training practices across Australian public services and explore educators perceptions of opportunities for national standardisation. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was distributed to educators and representatives from birth and newborn care public facilities across Australia. A questionnaire was developed to gain knowledge on how newborn resuscitation is taught detailing staffing, equipment and training requirements. Results197 completed responses were received. Responses were received from all Australian states and territories and levels of maternity/neonatal services. Accreditation in neonatal resuscitation was required by 173 (87.8%) of respondents programmes with training occurring at annual (n=95, 47.7%) or more frequent (n=21, 10.7%) intervals. NeoResus (n=134, 67.5%), Neonatal Advanced Life Support (n=45, 22.8%) and Newborn Life Support Training (n=41, 21.3%) were the most popular training programmes. Substantial variation was identified in equipment used for training. Most respondents (n=174, 88.3%) reported a need for a standardised national training programme. ConclusionsNeonatal resuscitation training is widely available in Australian public facilities, but reported requirements, programmes, content, assessment methods and training resources vary. These findings support the development of standardised neonatal resuscitation training to promote consistent preparedness across Australian healthcare settings. O_LIWhat is already known on this topic Regular neonatal resuscitation training is recommended by international guidelines and is associated with improved neonatal outcomes. Previous Australian studies have identified a variation in training access and requirements, but contemporary national data are lacking. C_LIO_LIWhat this study adds - summarise what we now know as a result of this study that we did not know before This study provides the first national baseline of neonatal resuscitation training practices across Australian healthcare services. It identifies substantial differences in training requirements, programme delivery and educational resources, providing support and information to inform a standardised national approach. C_LIO_LIHow this study might affect research, practice or policy - summarise the implications of this study The findings provide evidence to support development of coordinated national approach to neonatal resuscitation training and may inform future standards, educational policy and research to improve education. C_LI
ER -