The Symposium for All Midwives and Associated Professionals
Back to the Essence: Reclaiming Midwifery Power and Sensitive Birth
The Sensitive Midwifery Symposium, initiated in 1996 by the Sister Lilian Centre, is one of Africa’s largest and most prestigious midwifery and perinatal conferences. It provides a unique and innovative blend of expertise updates, advocacy for sensitive care, and professional inspiration. Our mission is to make a positive difference in midwifery, maternity, and child care by challenging harmful practices and celebrating the dedication of the professionals involved.
In a healthcare landscape increasingly dominated by the overmedicalisation of birth and the complex challenges of obstetric violence, returning to what truly works is both a necessity and a radical act.
The Sensitive Midwifery Symposium 2027 invites you to step Back to the Essence.
This series is dedicated to honing core clinical mastery, deepening our trust in birth physiology, and reconnecting with the true power and skill of the midwife. Being a sensitive midwife is far from passive—it is a powerful, precise, and courageous discipline. Together, we will polish fundamental skills, champion respectful care, and stand firm as advocates for birthing families and the sacred art of midwifery.
Join us in 2027 to reclaim your professional autonomy, recharge your passion, and celebrate the transformative power of sensitive, evidence-based care.
Key Highlights of the 2027 Series
- Honing Foundational Skills: Elevating clinical assessment, hands-on techniques, and physiological care.
- Standing Against Obstetric Violence: Practical tools for advocacy, ethical practice, and humanised birth spaces.
- Knowing Your Midwifery Power: Strengthening professional confidence, scope, and autonomy in modern practice.
Partner With Us
The Sensitive Midwifery Symposium is more than an event—it’s a community. We invite you to join us by showcasing your brand and products to a passionate network of maternal healthcare professionals. Through sponsorship or exhibition, you can engage with an audience that values innovation and compassion in care.
For more information and to learn how you can get involved, click the button below.
Sensitive Midwifery Members
All Sensitive Midwifery members receive a 10% discount on their Symposium ticket.
For more information on the Sensitive Midwifery membership packages, click the button below.
Johannesburg
5 & 6 May 2027
Additional Workshop: 7 May 2027
Registration opens soon
Durban
10 June 2027
Additional Workshop: 11 June 2027
Registration opens soon
East London
22 September 2027
Additional Workshop: 23 September 2027
Registration opens soon
Bloemfontein
21 October 2027
Additional Workshop: 22 October 2027
Registration opens soon
See what delegates have to say about the Symposium:
“Sensitive Midwifery Symposium should be part of our midwifery, gynaecology and obstetric training programs. You will be transformed by the information you get from these 2 days. It’s truly an investment that will benefit you long after the time of the event. Empower yourself now for the long term benefit of yourself and your clients. The last 2 years of my attending means I know not to miss the next one. We rise to our challenges together.”
– Janay Alexander-Gilchrist, Birth Preparation Practitioner, General Manager Kids & Baby at Curaden South Africa
“The Sensitive Midwifery Symposium on Empowered Through Knowledge was an enlightening and impactful event for me as a young midwife. It offered a wealth of information, showcasing the latest in midwifery practices, research, and advocacy. The speakers were highly knowledgeable, and their discussions were particularly inspiring. Overall, it was an excellent opportunity for professional development, fostering both personal and collective growth in the field especially for a young midwife like myself.”
– Princess Mhlanga, Midwife
“I love to hear about research and developments happening within Midwifery, and the symposium is the best place for that. You always have such interesting speakers and where else can a midwife hear directly from SANC and government? I love talking to my fellow midwives and sometimes I get to reignite their original passion for childbirth all over again. We work so hard to serve women and their families and once a year we have the opportunity to come together to appreciate each other.”
– Sharon Marsay, Independent Midwife in Gauteng
“Attending the Sensitive Midwifery Symposium was an enlightening and deeply inspiring experience. The theme, “Empowered Through Knowledge,” resonated throughout the event, reinforcing the importance of lifelong learning, mentorship, and advocacy in midwifery.
One of the most striking moments was witnessing how midwives from different backgrounds came together to share their challenges, triumphs, and solutions. It reminded me that midwifery is more than just a profession, it is a calling to serve, nurture, and uplift women during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Perhaps the most profound takeaway was the emphasis on self-care and mental well-being. Midwifery is rewarding but also emotionally demanding. The symposium reminded me that caring for myself is just as important as caring for my patients, because a well-supported midwife is an effective midwife.
Leaving the symposium, I felt recharged, empowered, and more determined than ever to use my knowledge, skills, and passion to make a lasting impact on maternal and newborn health. I left with a renewed commitment to mentorship and education, knowing that the knowledge I pass on will shape the future of maternal health. I also left with the intention to make a change where I live through imparting midwifery knowledge and even if it’s 1% a year it will make a great difference in the years to come.”
– Nosipo Maseti, Midwife from Mtata
Sensitive Midwifery Accreditation
Sensitive Midwifery is a recognised educational brand in South Africa’s midwifery and nursing industry, considered by many to be one of the ‘big influencers’ of midwives and mothers. Sensitive Midwifery Academy is in the process of seeking accreditation as a CPD provider and has an internal CPD accreditation system, pending the formal points system in South Africa.
Symposium presentation notes are included for each delegate, and certificates of attendance are granted to delegates who attend the full proceedings. Speakers’ presentations will be made available post-event.
There is vast evidence to support the need for more sensitive midwives
in South Africa and the world.
That’s why Sensitive Midwifery Academy is proud to offer its post-basic Certified Sensitive Midwife Course to all midwives. Successfully pioneered in the Eastern Cape in 2019, the course now runs every year.
