Graduate Diploma of Midwifery

Description

This unit provides the student with an opportunity to examine the midwife’s responsibility to provide safe care during labour, birth and the postpartum period. The unit considers at-risk and complicated situations that may endanger the health of either the woman or her foetus/neonate.

The Graduate Diploma of Midwifery consists of four specialist units that focus on the journey through pregnancy and into motherhood. Current midwifery research literature is used as a foundation for evidence based practice. Threaded throughout each unit are themes of legal and professional practice, midwifery knowledge and practice, midwifery as primary health care and reflective and ethical practice which are based on the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Midwife (2006).

The Graduate Diploma of Midwifery is delivered over two years of part-time study. The flexible learning approach of the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery curriculum includes a combination of intensive workshops, the use of online facilities, a case based learning approach and a practice component for all units. The first year practice component is unpaid and involves two follow-through case studies, attending a series of parentcraft education classes and five antenatal care sessions. The practice component for second year involves paid practice of 40 hours/fortnight for 40 weeks as well as two follow-through case studies in the student’s own time.

Requirements

Applicants must:
[i] be a registered nurse in Australia and hold a current practising certificate
[ii] (a) have completed a tertiary qualification in nursing (or equivalent);
(b) have qualifications and experience deemed to be the equivalent of [ii] (a);
(c) attend an interview and satisfactorily complete examinations and practical tests as required by the School of Nursing and Midwifery;
(d) produce evidence of recent nursing experience in an appropriate setting.

Notes

On completion of the course the graduate will:
• function within a primary health care framework in accordance with the National Competency Standards for the Midwife (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2006);
• have an understanding of women’s health issues;
• have a raised awareness of cultural diversity and its impact on midwifery practice;
• demonstrate an ability to facilitate the development of social support systems for women during the childbearing years;
• provide women and their families with information that will facilitate informed decision making about the care that they wish to receive;
• identify situations that fall outside the normal birth process and initiate care and/or refer to other members of the health care team as required;
• work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide safe and effective care for women who experience complications during pregnancy, birth or the postnatal period;
• maintain an up-to-date knowledge of contemporary trends in midwifery practice and the research that informs such practice.