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Course snapshot
Domestic snapshot
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Start Date
-
Duration
3 years full-time; 6 years part-time
3.5 years minimum for students commencing Session 2 -
Location
-
Placements
NA
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ATAR
90 / 6
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Inherent Requirements
NA
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Entry Requirements
-
Course abbreviation
BMid
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Course code
3007229
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Credit points
288
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Equivalent units
24
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Indicative Fee
Overview
Midwives are responsible for the care of women, babies and their families during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, labour, birth and the early infancy period. They provide direct clinical care and support for healthy women and babies and work collaboratively with doctors and other members of a health care team when there are risks or complications.
The Bachelor of Midwifery is specifically designed to develop graduates for entry to professional midwifery practice. The course prepares graduates with skills, knowledge and attitudes to provide high quality woman-centred care through safe and effective midwifery practice in accordance with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Midwife.
Graduates are equipped to apply sound evidence-based reasoning skills to their midwifery practice; work in continuity-of-care models in partnership with women; and collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams to promote effective outcomes. The degree aims to produce graduates with the capability, confidence and flexibility to adapt to changes and contribute to innovation in the midwifery profession and the health care system, focusing on women and their needs through a primary health approach.
Pathway for Registered Nurses: In accordance with the admission requirements, a Registered Nurse (RN) only needs to complete the midwifery specific units, (60% of the total course, mostly part-time) in order to complete the Bachelor of Midwifery. Students do not begin midwifery placements until session 2 of year 1, but are thereafter in practice continuously except for the University break at the end of the year. Students may be able to negotiate to meet their practice requirements either partly or fully whilst in paid employment as a RN midwifery student.
For further information about midwifery, visit the School of Health and Human Sciences midwifery page.
| Graduate Attribute | Course Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| Intellectual rigour | Function in accordance with legislation and common law affecting midwifery practice Assess, plan, provide and evaluate safe and effective midwifery care Use research to inform midwifery practice. |
| Creativity | Consistently demonstrate imaginative and creative responses to intellectual and social challenges and professional practice |
| Ethical practice | Accept accountability and responsibility for own actions within midwifery practice Base midwifery practice on ethical decision-making |
| Knowledge of a discipline | Assess, plan, provide and evaluate safe and effective midwifery care for the woman and/or baby with complex needs Promote safe and effective midwifery care |
| Lifelong learning | Identify personal beliefs and develop these in ways that enhance midwifery practice Act to enhance the professional development of self and others |
| Communication and social skills | Communicate information to facilitate decision-making by the woman Advocate to protect the rights of women, families and communities in relation to maternity care Develops effective strategies to implement and support collaborative midwifery practice |
| Cultural competence | Actively support midwifery as a public health strategy Ensure midwifery practice is culturally safe |
Students will be required to undertake supervised placements that will enable them to focus on woman-centred care and provide continuity of care with women across their pregnancies; attend antenatal and postnatal assessments/visits with women; provide direct care to women during labour, assist women during birth; support women and their babies with diverse needs across pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postnatal period, and experience the full scope of midwifery practice.
Please be aware labour and birth can be unpredictable and occur at any time of the day or night. Therefore the continuity of care component in the program requires you to be ‘on call’. The professional experience rostered placement may occur ‘away’ from your campus and place of residence. Students are responsible for any cost incurred for travel and accommodation.
Professional experience placements require students to fulfil certain pre-requisites prior to attending any placements. Before applying for this course, it is important that you understand what these requirements are.
The course includes studies in:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Midwifery theory and practice
- Primary health care
- Psychosocial sciences
- Women’s health.
| Location | Teaching period | UAC code | QTAC code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffs Harbour | Session 1 , Session 2 , Session 3 | 335153 | 055451 |
| Gold Coast | Session 1 , Session 2 , Session 3 | 335167 | 055861 |
Career Outcomes
The Bachelor of Midwifery is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and provides the necessary qualification for graduates to be eligible to register and practise as a midwife in Australia.
Requirements
We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.
Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.
Entry requirements
- As an alternative to Rule 2 Section 2 of the Rules Relating to Awards, applicants for admission to candidature may be selected where the applicant is a nurse who holds a Bachelor of Nursing degree, who is registered with NMBA and has current or recent practice as a registered nurse (i.e. equal to one year of full-time practice within the past 3 years).
- Applicants from non-English speaking backgrounds who have less than 2 years of high school education in Australia or other English speaking country must be able to demonstrate proficiency of English as required by Australian Nurses and Midwives Board i.e. an IELTS of 7.0 with a score of no less than 7.0 across each of the bands of reading, writing, speaking and listening.
- An applicant who has completed a Certificate III qualification will not be admitted solely on the basis of this qualification.
Credit for prior learning
- Candidates admitted under Rule 2 Section 2 may be granted advanced standing for equivalent units of study completed at university during the past 3 years. Equivalence will be based on evidence provided by the applicant which demonstrates to the Course Coordinator that the applicant has completed studies that are 70% equivalent to one or more of the units in the Bachelor of Midwifery.
- Candidates admitted under Admission Requirements, clause (a), will be granted advanced standing for all units listed in Part A and Part C of the Schedule of Units attached to these Rules (equivalent to 114 credit points of advanced standing). This is the maximum advanced standing that is possible for a candidate who is admitted solely on the basis of being a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Nursing degree.
Course requirements
To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Midwifery a candidate shall successfully complete the prescribed number of units as follows:
-
applicants admitted under Rule 2 Section 2 of the Rules Relating to Awards, will be required to complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points) comprising:
- all units listed in Part A; and
- all units listed in Part B; and
- all units listed in Part C; and
- complete all clinical placement hours assigned to the units in which they are enrolled.
- registered nurse applicants admitted on the basis of Admission Requirements, clause (a), will be required to complete all units listed in Part B (174 credit points) and complete all clinical placement hours assigned to the units in which they are enrolled.
Course structure
Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.
Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment.
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Credit points | Level of learning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Please refer to Rule 4.1(a) Admission to candidature for admission requirements for this pathway. | |||||
| Students can complete NUT00214 Food and Nutrition in Health in either Session 2 or Session 3. Refer then to the Shortened pathway for RNs for all midwifery units commencing the following year. | |||||
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Credit points | Level of learning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete one or both of the units under Session 3 below and then follow the Course Progression for Session 1 Commencement less the completed unit/s. | |||||
| BIO10662 - Systemic Anatomy | Introductory | ||||
| BIO00307 - Human Physiology | Introductory | ||||
Note 1:
Half-weighted Unit
Note 2:
Double-weighted Unit
Note 3:
Health Unit Recommended
Note 4:
Intensive Delivery Mode
Note 5:
Available in other Years/Sessions - please refer to the Schedule of Units
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Level of learning | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part A |
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Interdisciplinary Units |
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| BIO10662 | Systemic Anatomy | Introductory | |||
| BIO00307 | Human Physiology | Introductory | |||
| MWF10663 | Research and Evidence Based Practice | Intermediate | |||
| PHA00315 | Introductory Pharmacology | Introductory | |||
| CMM10580 | The Australian Health Care System | Introductory | |||
| CUL00408 | Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | Intermediate | |||
Part B |
|||||
| MWF10661 | Midwifery Foundations | Introductory | |||
| MWF10745 | Primary Health Care Midwifery | Introductory | |||
| MWF10746 | Optimising Health in Childbearing I | Introductory | Note 2 | ||
| MWF10747 | Midwifery Continuity Partnerships A | Introductory | |||
| MWF20001 | Optimising Health in Childbearing II | Intermediate | |||
| MWF20002 | Midwifery Continuity Partnerships B | Intermediate | |||
| MWF20003 | Optimising Health in Complex Childbearing | Advanced | |||
| MWF20004 | Midwifery Practice in Complex Childbearing | Advanced | |||
| MWF20005 | Midwifery Continuity Partnerships C | Advanced | |||
| MWF30001 | High Acuity Midwifery | Advanced | Note 2 | ||
| MWF30002 | Midwifery Continuity Partnerships in Practice I | Advanced | Note 1 | ||
| MWF30003 | Transition to Registered Midwife | Advanced | |||
| NUT00214 | Food and Nutrition in Health | Introductory | |||
Part C |
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| Any 1 University Wide Elective (12CP) | |||||
| MWF10681 | Mental Health and Wellbeing | Advanced | |||
| MWF30004 | Midwifery Internship | Advanced | |||
| MWF30005 | Midwifery Continuity Partnerships in Practice II | Advanced | Note 1 | ||