The Symposium for All Midwives and Associated Professionals
30 Years of Compassion: Cultivating the Next Generation of Midwives
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.
We are thrilled to announce our 2026 events series, a special year marking our 30th anniversary!
This year, we are expanding our reach with a four-venue series under the theme “30 Years of Compassion: Cultivating the Next Generation of Midwives.” Join us in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and Thaba Tseka – Lesotho as we honor our past and envision a compassionate future for maternal and child care, focusing on raising the next generation of midwives.
Programme Highlights
The 2026 Sensitive Midwifery Symposium Series offer a comprehensive blend of clinical mastery and heart-centred advocacy, designed to empower the modern birth worker. Attendees will gain high-level insights into critical safety topics like PPH management, Pre-eclampsia diagnosis, and Pregnancy-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (PrAKI), while exploring innovative approaches to microbial care, antenatal colostrum harvesting, and maternal breathing physiology.
From Dr Margreet Barnardt’s vision for the “One Million More Midwives” mandate, to hands-on workshops on the new WHO partogram and simulation-based education, these events bridge the gap between advanced medical science and the “Sensitive Midwifery” philosophy. Whether navigating the complexities of perinatal palliative care or championing midwife-led collaboration in a medicalised environment, these symposiums provide the essential tools and community support to inspire and protect the future of midwifery across Africa.
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.
Durban
Registration
9 April 2026
Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel and Convention Centre
Johannesburg
Registration
6 & 7 May 2026
Indaba Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre
Cape Town
Registration
4 June 2026
Old Biscuit Mill Conference Centre
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.
