If you are in early labour or problems are anticipated during the pregnancy, it is ideal that you labour and give birth to your baby at the place where the appropriate intensive care facilities will be available immediately after the birth. In this respect all efforts are generally made to transfer the woman before the birth (whether this is weeks, days or hours if in labour, depending on the circumstances and how far away the hospital is).
If the baby has already been born a team of neonatal intensive care professionals with specialised intensive care equipment will come via road or air ambulance to transfer your baby to the nearest Level 3 bed available within your state. While your caregivers will make all efforts, there are no guarantees that you and / or your partner will be transferred with the baby at the same time. If the mother is unwell then transfer for her may not be possible. It may be that your partner or support person is faced with the decision of either going with the baby or staying with you. This may be something you should discuss if you think this could be a possibility.
Some private hospitals are situated on the same grounds or in the close vicinity of a major public hospital, meaning that transfer is just going next door. The trend these days is to build new private hospitals close to major public hospitals to cater for such emergency situations.
Each state in Australia has a budget allowing for a certain number of intensive care beds for very sick babies. Occasionally you or your baby may have to travel further than the closest hospital if all the neonatal beds at your closest hospital are full.