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Bachelor of Midwifery

Bachelors Degree

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    BMid

  • Course code

    3007229

  • Credit points

    288

  • Equivalent units

    24

  • Indicative Fee

    Commonwealth supported

Overview

**Please note that applications for the Bachelor of Midwifery for 2020 are now closed as we have reached full capacity for this course.

To speak to a Future Student Advisor about our other course options please call 1800 626 481.**

Take part in the most significant event in most people’s lives by training for a rewarding and challenging career as a midwife.

The Bachelor of Midwifery will combine your talent and dedication with the skills you need to provide holistic care for a woman and her child during pregnancy, childbirth and early infancy. This course offers a solid grounding in midwifery theory and practice, primary healthcare, women’s health and psychosocial sciences. You will be equipped to work in multi-disciplinary teams and in partnership with women to contribute to healthier outcomes for mother and baby.

Placements in this degree give you the opportunity to follow the journey of women throughout their pregnancies, to experience the full range of midwifery practice.

Graduates of this program will be able to register and practice as midwives across a range of settings, including public and private hospitals, clinics and as midwifery educators.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. This year we are joining the WHO in celebrating the Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020, by sharing the stories and successes of the Southern Cross nursing and midwifery community.

Course Learning Outcome

Applies clinical reasoning, problem solving and communication skills to support the delivery of evidence informed midwifery and individualised care within a range of specific and diverse practice contexts

Critically review the theory and practice of contemporary midwifery care within the dynamic professional national and international contexts

Applies knowledge and skills of reflection, critical analysis and research to recognise areas that promote advancement of the discipline of midwifery throughout their career

Applies clinical reasoning, problem solving and communication skills to support the delivery of evidence informed midwifery and individualised care within a range of specific and diverse practice contexts

Provide evidence informed practice to the women in their care, using primary healthcare principles and a woman-centred philosophy by applying NMBA standards and codes of Midwifery

Conduct professional practice in collaboration with others within broad parameters to provide seamless and appropriately targeted midwifery care in order to enhance high quality outcomes for women and their babies

Examines normal physiological mechanisms of the human body and how this relates to the childbearing continuum for woman and fetus/baby

Critically review the theory and practice of contemporary midwifery care within the dynamic professional national and international contexts

Engage in educational, political and professional collaboration and make an active contribution to advance the philosophy of midwifery across policy, practice, education, research and evaluate service development

Applies knowledge and skills of reflection, critical analysis and research to recognise areas that promote advancement of the discipline of midwifery throughout their career

Provide evidence informed practice to the women in their care, using primary healthcare principles and a woman-centred philosophy by applying NMBA standards and codes of Midwifery

Conduct professional practice in collaboration with others within broad parameters to provide seamless and appropriately targeted midwifery care in order to enhance high quality outcomes for women and their babies

Applies clinical reasoning, problem solving and communication skills to support the delivery of evidence informed midwifery and individualised care within a range of specific and diverse practice contexts

Engage in educational, political and professional collaboration and make an active contribution to advance the philosophy of midwifery across policy, practice, education, research and evaluate service development

Critically review the theory and practice of contemporary midwifery care within the dynamic professional national and international contexts

Students are required to undertake about 1,000 hours of supervised placements and may 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 (e.g. a working with children check and National Police Certificate). Prior to applying for this course, please consider the important information regarding these requirements.

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 Midwife standards for practice.

Study areas include:

  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Midwifery theory and practice
  • Primary health care
  • Psychosocial sciences
  • Women’s health.

Pathway for Registered Nurses: In accordance with the approved pathway, 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. 

To be considered for the RN pathway, applicants need to provide evidence of current Nurse Registration with AHPRA, proof of employment equivalent to one year full-time working as a RN within the last three years and a copy of their completed Bachelor of Nursing degree

For further information about midwifery, visit the School of Health and Human Sciences’ midwifery page.

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Coffs Harbour Session 1 N/A N/A
Gold Coast Session 1 N/A N/A

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.

Further training is required to work as a privately practising midwife.

[Please note: In order to register to practice, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency [AHPRA]’s standards for English language must be met. See the AHPRA web site for further information.]

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

Applicants must have achieved:

  1. satisfactory completion of at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed in English in one of the Recognised Countries (see below), including at least two years between years 7 and 12; or
  2. completed at least two years (full time equivalent combined secondary and/or tertiary and/or vocational education taught and assessed solely in English, in one of the Recognised Countries; or
  3. the IELTS (academic module) with a minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components: or
  4. the OET with a minimum score of B in each of the four components; or
  5. the PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills; or
  6. the TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test: 24 listening, 24 reading, 27 writing, and 23 speaking; or
  7. successful completion of the English for Academic Purposes 3 program at SCU College. Applicants who enrol via this pathway will need to separately meet the English language requirements of registration to practice.

Recognised Countries means the following countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, UK and USA.

Please note, Rule 2 Schedule B test scores equivalencies do not apply to this course.

In order to register to practice, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency [AHPRA]’s  standards for English language must be met. See  https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx for further information.

An applicant who has completed a Certificate III qualification will not be admitted solely on the basis of this qualification

Credit for prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is available for this course. For more information please view the Bachelor of Midwifery RPL Guide.

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Midwifery, students must complete 288 credit points, comprising all core units.

Exit Awards

Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Health and Human Sciences after completing 192 credit points, comprising any 16 core units.

Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Health and Human Sciences after completing 96 credit points, comprising any 8 core units.

Professional Experience Learning

This course includes professional experience learning. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on School of Health and Human Sciences Professional Experience page must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.

Progression

Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 12 months between study of any two (2) units with professional experience learning.

Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 12 months between study of a theory unit that relates specifically to a particular unit with professional experience learning.

Students who have an interrupted study sequence of more than 12 months will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may be required to undertake a specified supported professional experience placement to ensure professional experience currency prior to continuation of the course.

Duration

The maximum duration for completion of the award of Bachelor of Midwifery is six (6) years in total which includes any period for a leave of absence.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Access & Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Access & Inclusion website for further information and contact details.

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
Year 1, Session 1
BIO10662 -  Systemic Anatomy Introductory
BIO71002 -  Human Physiology I Introductory
Year 1, Session 2
BIO71003 -  Human Physiology II Introductory
Year 2, Session 1
MWF10661 -  Midwifery Foundations Introductory
MWF10745 -  Primary Health Care Midwifery Introductory
Year 2, Session 2
MWF10746 -  Optimising Health in Childbearing I Introductory Note 1
MWF10747 -  Midwifery Continuity Partnerships A Introductory
Year 3, Session 1
MWF20001 -  Optimising Health in Childbearing II Intermediate
MWF20002 -  Midwifery Continuity Partnerships B Intermediate
Year 3, Session 2
NUT00214 -  Food and Nutrition in Health Introductory
CUL00408 -  Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples Intermediate
Year 4, Session 1
PHA00315 -  Introductory Pharmacology Introductory
MAT71004 -  Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners Introductory
Year 4, Session 2
MWF20003 -  Optimising Health in Complex Childbearing Advanced
MWF20004 -  Midwifery Practice in Complex Childbearing Advanced
MWF20005 -  Midwifery Continuity Partnerships C Advanced
Year 5, Session 1
MWF30001 -  High Acuity Midwifery Advanced Note 1
Year 5, Session 2
MWF73003 -  The Role of the Midwife as Leader, Mentor and Educator Advanced
Year 6, Session 1
MWF10681 -  Mental Health and Wellbeing Advanced
MWF73006 -  Midwifery Continuity Partnerships D Advanced
Year 6, Session 2
MWF30003 -  Transition to Registered Midwife Advanced
MWF30004 -  Midwifery Internship Advanced


Note 1:

Double-weighted Unit

Unit Code Unit Title Level of learning Notes
Core Units
BIO10662 Systemic Anatomy Introductory
BIO71002 Human Physiology I Introductory
MAT71004 Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners Introductory
PHA00315 Introductory Pharmacology Introductory
BIO71003 Human Physiology II Introductory
CUL00408 Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples Intermediate
NUT00214 Food and Nutrition in Health Introductory
MWF10661 Midwifery Foundations Introductory
MWF10745 Primary Health Care Midwifery Introductory
MWF10746 Optimising Health in Childbearing I Introductory Note 1
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 1
MWF73006 Midwifery Continuity Partnerships D Advanced
MWF73003 The Role of the Midwife as Leader, Mentor and Educator Advanced
MWF30003 Transition to Registered Midwife Advanced
MWF10681 Mental Health and Wellbeing Advanced
MWF30004 Midwifery Internship Advanced