Master of Midwifery

Midwives are registered health professionals trained to support and care for women during pregnancy, labour and birth. They work in clinics, hospitals, community practices, birthing centres or in the home. There are several pathways to becoming a registered midwife.

The Master of Midwifery can be studied over two years full-time or four-years part-time. Course content blends evidence-based theory with more than 1000 hours of supervised clinical practice, and covers physical, biological, psychological and social sciences.

You’ll learn to work as a professional midwife in real settings, using your midwifery skills over the whole childbirth continuum. You will build relationships with women, attend their antenatal appointments, be on call to support them through their labour and birth and visit them postnatally.

Over the two years, you will recruit and follow 30 women, conducting antenatal appointments, advising and educating these women and their partners and be on call to provide full labour care and comprehensive postnatal support. In addition, you will also complete:

• 2-4 weeks full-time clinical placements in maternity settings per semester
• 2-3 weeks full-time of face-to-face workshops at Curtin Perth per semester

In your theory learning, you’ll critically analyse scientific literature and health standards, and evaluate clinical and diagnostic data. This gives you a broad understanding of midwifery practice, and helps you make informed decisions, recognise warning signs and provide safe and effective care.

Throughout the course you’ll develop your cultural awareness and your communication and leadership skills, giving you the confidence to work in interprofessional healthcare teams, establish relationships with women and their families, and gain an understanding of the midwifery profession.

You’ll become knowledgeable on topics such as reproductive health and nutrition, mental health, and breastfeeding, and will be able to provide families with the evidence they need to make informed choices.

On graduation, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Why study

• Learn on-the-job through 1000+ hours of supervised clinical practice
• Evidence-based theory and critical analyses help you make informed decisions
• You’ll develop cultural awareness and your communication and leadership skills
• You’ll be confident in providing information based on the best available evidence to families and the community
• Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Professional recognition

This course is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council and approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Career information

Careers:

• Midwife

Industries:

• Healthcare
• Social assistance
• Education and training

Future growth: Very strong
joboutlook.gov.au
Oct 2020

What you'll learn

• actively support culturally safe, values-led care for all women and babies through the development of personal and professional skills for cultural competence
• appraise reflectively, critically and with initiative to apply midwifery knowledge and skills within dynamic and complex midwifery contexts
• distinguish the importance of skilled professional midwifery care for women and babies in an international context
• critically analyse scientific literature and health standards; synthesise and integrate into woman centred-care; engage with health and scientific information when seeking, evaluating and using data related to midwifery care and clinical decision-making
• demonstrate proficiency and make informed decisions on therapeutic interventions by utilising current technology to inform midwifery practice for the delivery of safe and effective care
• communicate effectively, to meet the woman’s needs, establish collegial relationships with interprofessional teams and promote midwifery within the community in the broader contexts of primary healthcare and public health policy
• analyse and practice the values intrinsic to midwifery practice; demonstrate critical reflection and the ability to enhance the development of self and others; demonstrate leadership skills
• examine current midwifery health legislation; work in an autonomous accountability framework within the scope of ethical and legal midwifery practice as a member of interprofessional teams
• appraise and access opportunities for lifelong learning and enhance personal knowledge and skills to further contribute to the midwifery profession