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 clinical placements in NSW Health facilities. During placement, students will be subject to NSW Health policies and procedures. Students must also meet all NSW Health verification requirements before attending clinical placement. Clinical placement essentials.

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

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

There are a limited number of deferrals available each year. Applicants must apply for deferment and deferment is not guaranteed.

This degree and future professional practice are both mentally and physically demanding. Students may be required to practise hands-on examinations and simulated treatments/procedures with other students in laboratory classes.

Areas of study Antenatal care, care of the newborn baby, human bioscience, labour and birthing care, postnatal care.

Career opportunities Registered midwife, clinical midwife educator, clinical midwife specialist, midwife manager, midwife researcher.

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.

Practical experience There is the opportunity to complete a minimum of 1,400 hours of clinical experience in two formats:

• Clinical placement in a maternity service – a minimum of 880 hours in an allocated hospital and hands-on experience during the antenatal period, labour and birthing, and the postnatal period.
• Continuity of Care Experience (CCE) relationships with childbearing women – a minimum of 10 relationship-based experiences as the on-call clinician for expectant mothers (minimum 200 hours).

The remaining 320 hours will be spent in further continuity of care relationships or additional hospital 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.

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.