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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


Overview

The Bachelor of Midwifery prepares you for entry to professional midwifery practice. You will develop the skills and knowledge necessary to provide quality, woman-centred care through safe and effective midwifery practice in accordance with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council standards for practice.

Study areas include anatomy and physiology, midwifery theory and practice, primary healthcare, perinatal mental health, care during preconception, pregnancy, labour and birth, and early parenting.

Graduates will be equipped to work in multi-disciplinary teams and in partnership with women to contribute to healthier outcomes for mother and baby.

Graduates of this degree will be eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and practice as a Registered Midwife across a range of settings.

Key information to be aware of prior to enrolling:

Course Learning Outcome

GA1: Intellectual rigour

Demonstrate woman centred care acknowledging the physiological, psychological, spiritual and cultural needs of women and their families during the child birthing journey

GA2: Creativity

Provide safe, evidence-based and ethical woman-centred continuity of care supporting and advocating women's decision-making in their care within the socio-political context.

Apply knowledge, skills and creativity for problem solving, clinical reasoning, and self reflection for professional practice as a midwife.

GA3: Ethical practice

Meet and adhere to relevant national professional, ethical and legal standards to ensure safe, competent and ethical midwifery care using the relevant NMBA frameworks.

GA4: Knowledge of a discipline

Critically review the theory and practice of contemporary midwifery care within dynamic professional, culturally diverse, national and global in a primary healthcare contexts.

GA5: Lifelong learning

Develop academic, digital technology and research skills for contribution to scholarship for ongoing professional inquiry and evidence-based midwifery practice/leadership.

GA6: Communication and social skills

Consult, collaborate and communicate respectfully with the woman as an active participant in her care and other members of the healthcare team to provide quality outcomes for women and their babies

GA7: Cultural competence

Integrate an understanding and respect for the diverse cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People into culturally appropriate care for women, their babies, families and their communities.

To meet the practice requirements of a registered midwife, you undertake approximately 1,000 hours of supervised midwifery professional experience. You will attend antenatal and postnatal assessments/visits with women; provide direct care to women during labour; assist women during birth and support women and their babies with diverse needs across pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postnatal period.

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.

Midwifery Professional Experiences requires 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 essential 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 the skills and knowledge necessary to provide quality woman-centred care through safe and effective midwifery practice in accordance with AHPRA Midwifery 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: To be considered for the RN pathway, applicants need to provide evidence of their completed Bachelor of Nursing degree. For further information, visit the Faculty of Health midwifery page.

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

Career Outcomes

The Bachelor of Midwifery is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and provides the necessary academic qualification for eligibility as a Registered Midwife in Australia.

As a midwifery student, it is important to be aware of the registration standards required by the NMBA. See the details on the NMBA website.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Midwifery will be registered by Southern Cross University with NMBA as an enrolled student and will remain registered for the duration of study. Please see the AHPRA website for more details.

Graduating students will have the necessary qualification to be eligible to register and practise as a midwife in Australia. Further training may be required to practice in other countries or to work as a privately practising midwife.

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

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is responsible for the registration and accreditation of various health professions in Australia. If you are enrolled in a course to enter one of these professions, we will provide AHPRA with your details for student registration.

You do not need to apply or pay for your student registration. We will provide all the required information to AHPRA directly. You can find more information about AHPRA student registration and what we are required to report to AHPRA on their website.

Please be aware that as part of the registration process, AHPRA will collect your personal information (including your USI). AHPRA’s Privacy Policy explains how you may access and seek correction of your personal information held by AHPRA; complain to AHPRA about a breach of your privacy; and how a complaint will be dealt with. AHPRA’s Privacy Policy can be accessed on AHPRA’s Privacy webpage.

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

If admission is being offered on the basis of completion of the Preparing for Success or Transition to Uni programs, students need to achieve a Credit average or above.

To meet the University’s minimum English Language Proficiency requirement an applicant must:

1.  provide a written declaration that English is their primary language1;

or

2.  have achieved:

  1. the IELTS (academic module) with a minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components: or
  2. the OET with a minimum score of B in each of the four components; or
  3. the PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills; or
  4. 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.

1Refer to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia requirements regarding English as Primary Language.

In order to register to practice, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency [AHPRA]’s standards for English language must be met. See AHPRA’s English Language Skills page for further information.

Language requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows

CategoryScore
Overall Score7.0
Overall Score or equivalent7.0
Reading7.0
Writing7.0
Listening7.0
Speaking7.0

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 the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points), comprising:

  • 24 core units (288 credit points)

Professional Experience Learning

This course includes professional experience learning. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on Faculty of Health 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

Any student wishing to take a break of one or more study periods must consult with the Course Coordinator.

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 Equity and 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 Equity and 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 Notes

Complete units in the following order to satisfy the Requirements for the Award

First Year

HLTH1004 The Reflective Learner and Health Science Scholar
Term1,3
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term1,3
Term1,3
Gold Coast
Term1,3
Term1,3
Lismore
Term1,3
Term1,3
Online
Term1,3
Term1,3
MIDW1006 Midwifery Professional Experience 1
Dual Term2
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Dual Term2
Dual Term2
Gold Coast
Dual Term2
Dual Term2
Enrolment information This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities that require students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL activity. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements.
MIDW1003 Foundations of Midwifery
Term2
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term2
Term2
Gold Coast
Term2
Term2
MIDW1005 Well Woman - Pregnancy, Labour and Birth, Postnatal
Term2
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term2
Term2
Gold Coast
Term2
Term2
Pre-requisites Must have completed or be currently enrolled in MIDW1003 - Foundations of Midwifery
Enrolment information Please note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7 which will require attendance on-campus. Details will be provided closer to the time.
MIDW1004 Preconception to Early Parenthood
Term3
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term3
Term3
Gold Coast
Term3
Term3
INDG2001 Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples
Term2,4
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term2,4
Term2,4
Lismore
Term2,4
Term2,4
Online
Term2,4
Term2,4
STAT2001 Foundations of Evidence for Health Science Practitioners
Term1,4
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term1,4
Term1,4
Gold Coast
Term1,4
Term1,4
Lismore
Term1,4
Term1,4
Online
Term1
Term1
Pre-requisites 36 credit points
HBIO1009 Introductory Anatomy and Physiology
Term2,3,5
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term2,3,5
Term2,3,5
Gold Coast
Term2,3,5
Term2,3,5
Lismore
Term2,3,5
Term2,3,5
Enrolment information Please note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7. Details will be provided closer to the time.

Second Year

MIDW2010 Midwifery Professional Experience 2a
Tri Term1
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Tri Term1
Tri Term1
Gold Coast
Tri Term1
Tri Term1
Pre-requisites MIDW1006 - Midwifery Professional Experience 1 OR MIDW2001 - Midwifery Continuity Partnerships A; AND MIDW1005 - Well Woman - Pregnancy, Labour and Birth, Postnatal OR MIDW2002 - Optimising Health in Childbearing I
Enrolment information This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities that require students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL activity. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements.
PHAR2001 Introductory Pharmacology
Term1,3,5
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term1,3
Term1,3
Gold Coast
Term3
Term3
Lismore
Term3
Term1,3
Online
Term1,3,5
Term1,3,5
Pre-requisites Be admitted to 3007303 - Bachelor of Nursing OR 1209320 - Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry); OR HBIO1009 - Introductory Anatomy and Physiology OR HBIO1007 - Human Physiology I
MIDW2011 Caring for the Woman During Complex Pregnancy
Term1
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term1
Term1
Gold Coast
Term1
Term1
Pre-requisites MIDW1006 - Midwifery Professional Experience 1 OR MIDW2001 - Midwifery Continuity Partnerships A; AND MIDW2002 - Optimising Health in Childbearing I OR; both MIDW1004 - Preconception to Early Parenthood AND MIDW1005 - Well Woman - Pregnancy, Labour and Birth, Postnatal
MIDW2012 Caring for the Woman During Complex Labour and Birth
Term2
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term2
Term2
Gold Coast
Term2
Term2
Pre-requisites Must have completed or be currently enrolled in MIDW2011 - Caring for the Woman During Complex Pregnancy
MIDW2015 Midwifery Professional Experience 2b
Tri Term2
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Tri Term2
Tri Term2
Gold Coast
Tri Term2
Tri Term2
Pre-requisites MIDW1006 - Midwifery Professional Experience 1 OR MIDW2001 - Midwifery Continuity Partnerships A; AND MIDW2010 - Midwifery Professional Experience 2a AND MIDW2011 - Caring for the Woman During Complex Pregnancy AND MIDW2012 - Caring for the Woman During Complex Labour and Birth
Enrolment information This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities that require students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL activity. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements.
MIDW2013 Caring for the Woman with Postnatal Complexities
Term3
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term3
Term3
Gold Coast
Term3
Term3
Pre-requisites MIDW2011 - Caring for the Woman During Complex Pregnancy AND MIDW2012 - Caring for the Woman During Complex Labour and Birth
MIDW2009 Care of the Unwell Baby
Term4
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term4
Term4
Gold Coast
Term4
Term4
Pre-requisites HBIO1009 - Introductory Anatomy and Physiology OR (both HBIO1003 - Systemic Anatomy AND HBIO1007 - Human Physiology I); AND MIDW1004 - Preconception to Early Parenthood OR MIDW2002 - Optimising Health in Childbearing I; AND MIDW2011 - Caring for the Woman During Complex Pregnancy OR MIDW2003 - Optimising Health in Childbearing II; AND PHAR2001 - Introductory Pharmacology
MIDW2014 Perinatal Mental Health
Term5
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term5
Term5
Gold Coast
Term5
Term5

Third Year

MIDW3007 Midwifery Professional Experience 3a
Tri Term1
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Tri Term1
Tri Term1
Gold Coast
Tri Term1
Tri Term1
Pre-requisites 192 credit points; AND [173614] MIDW2010 - Midwifery Professional Experience 2a] OR MIDW2004 - Midwifery Continuity Partnerships B; AND MIDW2015 - Midwifery Professional Experience 2b OR MIDW2005 - Midwifery Continuity Partnerships C
Enrolment information This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities that require students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL activity. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements.
MIDW3006 Midwifery Practice: Mentorship A
Term1
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term1
Term1
Gold Coast
Term1
Term1
Pre-requisites MIDW1006 - Midwifery Professional Experience 1 OR MIDW2001 - Midwifery Continuity Partnerships A; AND MIDW2010 - Midwifery Professional Experience 2a OR MIDW2004 - Midwifery Continuity Partnerships B; AND MIDW2015 - Midwifery Professional Experience 2b OR MIDW2005 - Midwifery Continuity Partnerships C; AND Must have completed or currently enrolled in MIDW3007 - Midwifery Professional Experience 3a
HLTH3004 Transition to Practice
Summer Term
Term2
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Summer Term
Term2
Summer Term
Term2
Gold Coast
Summer Term
Term2
Summer Term
Term2
Lismore
Summer Term
Term2
Summer Term
Term2
Pre-requisites Students must complete 192 credit points in 3007229 - Bachelor of Midwifery OR 3005105 - Bachelor of Nursing OR 3007303 - Bachelor of Nursing OR 3005113 - Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science; OR Students must complete 192 credit points in 3007012 - Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology AND must have completed or be currently enrolled in SPRT3001 - Professional Preparation; OR Students must complete 288 CP in 3007306 - Bachelor of Speech Pathology OR 3007224 - Bachelor of Occupational Therapy OR 3007308 - Bachelor of Podiatry; OR Students must complete 120 CP in 1209320 - Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry)
Enrolment information This unit must be done in the final year except for Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology students who should complete it in Year 3.
HLTH3005 Interprofessional Health Practice
Term2,3
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term2,3
Term2,3
Gold Coast
Term2,3
Term2,3
Lismore
Term2,3
Term2,3
Pre-requisites Be admitted to course: 3007308 - Bachelor of Podiatry AND PODR2014 - Work Integrated Learning in Podiatry III ORREHB2002 - Clinics in Multimodal Intervention: Internal; OR be admitted to course: 3207309 - Bachelor of Podiatry, Bachelor of Pedorthics AND PODR2014 - Work Integrated Learning in Podiatry III; OR be admitted to course: 3007229 - Bachelor of Midwifery AND MIDW3006 - Midwifery Practice: Mentorship A; OR be admitted to course: 3005105 - Bachelor of Nursing AND NURS3007 - Nursing Practices 2; OR be admitted to course: 3007303 - Bachelor of Nursing AND NURS3007 - Nursing Practices 2; OR be admitted to course: 1209320 - Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry) AND NURS6001 - Clinical Nursing II; OR have completed 288 credit points in either 3007224 - Bachelor of Occupational Therapy OR 3007012 - Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology
MIDW3008 Midwifery Professional Experience 3b
Dual Term3
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Dual Term3
Dual Term3
Gold Coast
Dual Term3
Dual Term3
Pre-requisites 204 credit points (17 equivalent units); AND MIDW2015 - Midwifery Professional Experience 2b OR MIDW2005 - Midwifery Continuity Partnerships C; AND MIDW3007 - Midwifery Professional Experience 3a
Enrolment information This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities that require students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL activity. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements.
MIDW3010 Midwifery Practice: Mentorship B
Term3
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term3
Term3
Gold Coast
Term3
Term3
Pre-requisites MIDW3009 - Maternal and Women’s Health OR MIDW1002 - Primary Health Care Midwifery; AND MIDW3006 - Midwifery Practice: Mentorship A AND HLTH3005 - Interprofessional Health Practice AND Have completed or currently enrolled in MIDW3008 - Midwifery Professional Experience 3b
MIDW3009 Maternal and Women’s Health
Term4
12
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term4
Term4
Gold Coast
Term4
Term4
HLTH5009 Practice-Based Health Research
Term4,5
12
Location Domestic International
Online
Term4,5
Term4,5
Pre-requisites Admitted to 1207235 - Master of Osteopathic Medicine OR 1209240 - Master of Advanced Naturopathic Medicine OR 1008440 - Graduate Certificate in Advanced Naturopathic Medicine; OR 196 credit points in 3007319 - Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) OR 3007229 - Bachelor of Midwifery; OR 60 credit points in 1209350 - Master of Naturopathic Medicine

Note 1:

Double-weighted Unit

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
HLTH1004 The Reflective Learner and Health Science Scholar
MIDW1003 Foundations of Midwifery
HBIO1009 Introductory Anatomy and Physiology
INDG2001 Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples
MIDW1006 Midwifery Professional Experience 1
MIDW1004 Preconception to Early Parenthood
MIDW1005 Well Woman - Pregnancy, Labour and Birth, Postnatal
MIDW2010 Midwifery Professional Experience 2a
STAT2001 Foundations of Evidence for Health Science Practitioners
PHAR2001 Introductory Pharmacology
MIDW2011 Caring for the Woman During Complex Pregnancy
MIDW2015 Midwifery Professional Experience 2b
MIDW2012 Caring for the Woman During Complex Labour and Birth
MIDW2013 Caring for the Woman with Postnatal Complexities
MIDW2014 Perinatal Mental Health
MIDW2009 Care of the Unwell Baby
MIDW3007 Midwifery Professional Experience 3a Note 1
MIDW3006 Midwifery Practice: Mentorship A
HLTH3004 Transition to Practice
HLTH3005 Interprofessional Health Practice
MIDW3010 Midwifery Practice: Mentorship B
MIDW3008 Midwifery Professional Experience 3b
MIDW3009 Maternal and Women’s Health
HLTH5009 Practice-Based Health Research