Bachelor of Midwifery

As a midwife, you will focus on caring for women, babies and their families during pregnancy, labour and birth and the immediate period after birthing. You will work with women and families to achieve the best health outcomes for mothers and their babies. Our Bachelor of Midwifery has been developed in partnership with, and is supported by, local health districts so that our midwifery students provide direct clinical care under the supervision of a registered midwife with an emphasis on woman-centred care and relational continuity with women and practice experiences in all midwifery contexts.

This degree requires students to participate in midwifery professional experience placements in NSW  and other partnering Health facilities. During placement, students will work within NSW and other partnering Health policies and procedures. Students must also meet all NSW and other partnering Health verification requirements before attending clinical placement.

Students should also be aware that they may be required to undertake midwifery professional experience placement and/or classes outside normal semester dates.

Bachelor of Midwifery (Hunter Placement) If you choose this option you will be undertaking your on campus studies at the Callaghan Campus, Newcastle and you will be placed at one of the following hospitals for your entire midwifery professional placement over the three year program (except in the instance of a short term voluntary rural/metropolitan/international exchange).

1. John Hunter Hospital
2. Maitland Hospital
3. Muswellbrook
4. Newcastle Private Hospital
5. Singleton
6. Scone

Bachelor of Midwifery (Central Coast Placement)
If you choose this option you will be undertaking your on campus studies at the Central Coast Clinical School, Gosford and you will be placed at one of the following hospitals for your entire midwifery professional placement over the three year program (except in the instance of a short term voluntary rural/metropolitan/international exchange).

1. Gosford Public Hospital
2. North Gosford Private Hospital

Bachelor of Midwifery (North Coast Placement)
If you choose this option you will be undertaking your on campus studies at the Manning Education Centre at Taree and you will be placed at one of the following hospitals for your entire midwifery professional placement over the three year program (except in the instance of a short term voluntary rural/metropolitan/international exchange).

1. Kempsey District Hospital
2. Manning Base Hospital, Taree
3. Port Macquarie Hospital

The Bachelor of Midwifery program is offered with both full-time and part-time pathways.

Midwifery education and midwifery professional practice require students to be committed to study and professional practice that can be mentally and physically demanding. Students will engage in simulated practice in specially designed simulation laboratories and will conduct emotional, social and physical examinations of childbearing women on midwifery placement under the supervision of a midwife/obstetrician. Students engage in peer learning on campus and virtually. All students are required to be verified for midwifery professional practice. Verification includes, screening and immunisation for infectious diseases, working with children and criminal record checks and other measures to ensure the safety of students, staff and the women for whom they provide care.

Students enrolling in this degree are required to obtain a WorkCover-approved Provide First Aid Certificate during semester 1.

Areas of study

Students will learn the physiology including the psychophysiology and care of women through pregnancy, labour, birth and the early parenting period including the newborn. Students study human biosciences, pathophysiology and pharmacology scaffolded throughout the degree.

Career opportunities

The Bachelor of Midwifery program prepares students for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Graduates are prepared to work in midwifery clinical practice, including midwifery continuity of care models, midwifery education and midwifery research.

Professional recognition

Graduates are eligible to apply for registration to practise as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Program accreditation is pending approval from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).

Practical experience

Students will complete a minimum of  1104 hours of midwifery professional experience placement that includes: :

• Midwifery Professional Experience Placement in an allocated hospital with hands-on experience during the antenatal period, labour and birthing, and the postnatal period.
• Continuity of Care Experiences (CCE) where students develop relationships with childbearing women – a minimum of 10 relationship-based experiences as the on-call clinician for expectant mothers (minimum 200 hours).

Further hours may be required in order to complete minimum requirements for registration and may be completed as rostered hours or continuity of care experiences.

The participating hospitals for clinical placements are John Hunter, Maitland, Taree, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Scone, Newcastle Private, Gosford Public and Gosford Private, Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Taree. While attending placements, students are responsible for all travel, accommodation and related expenses. Applicants should be aware of this requirement when applying for entry to the program. Due to the requirements for students to be on call for CCE’s they need to live within one hour of their designated hospital.

Honours

Available as an additional year (or part-time eqv) to students based on merit.

Fees and charges

Refer to University of Newcastle current fee information.