BACKGROUND:
Worldwide high attrition among experienced midwives exists, impacting care and workforce stability. Reasons are complex and multifactorial, and unexplored in Australia.

OBJECTIVES:
Aim: To identify why midwives leave the workforce after 10+ years, and the resultant impact on them, the service, and consumers.

METHODS:
An online cross-sectional, mixed-methods survey explored attrition among experienced midwives in Australia. Data included demographics, career history, duration and type of practice, time since leaving, reasons, and reflections on leaving. The survey was posted on social media sites and snowball sampling through personal and professional networks. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics; qualitative responses were thematic analysed. Ethics approval: Flinders University (Ref: 7352) was gained prior to commencement.

RESULTS:
Overall, 107 midwives responded. Of these 61 were included in analyses. (reasons for exclusion: time-lapsed since leaving, left before 10 completed years, left after age 65). Each state and territory were represented. The majority of respondents were Australian-trained females, with a mean age of 46 years. Sixty percent left within the past year, though 91% remained registered. Reasons for leaving included, lack of career progression, inflexible working practices, lack of support, burn-out and inability to provide best care. Discussion: These findings demonstrate an acute rise in attrition suggesting that system reorganisation or change may encourage staff and expertise retention. Targeted strategies are urgently required.

CONCLUSIONS:
Experienced midwives are leaving. Most retain registration, suggesting potential to return, if conditions improve. Retention strategies that foster a supportive, sustainable, and valued midwifery workforce are crucial.

KEY MESSAGE:
Experienced midwives are leaving prematurely. They retain their passion for midwifery but the system fails them. To sustain safe, high-quality maternity care, we must retain the expertise of experienced midwives, urgently acting to ensure they are supported within the profession and health care system, optimizing outcomes for women, babies, and less experienced midwives. Workforce - sustainability 1 (including three-minute presentation competition)