Type of institution: University/Higher Education Institution
Level: Undergraduate
CRICOS: 00300K

Through a partnership approach, midwives provide woman centred, evidence based care for women and babies throughout the childbearing journey in a variety of settings. Midwives play an important role in promoting the health and wellbeing of women and their families by supporting the woman's childbearing choices and providing expertise around pregnancy, birth, postnatal and the newborn period. Midwives collaborate with other health professionals to continue midwifery care in complex situations. The Bachelor of Midwifery at CDU is aligned with the International Confederation of Midwives' definition of the midwife. Students require a high level of motivation, determination and organisation to successfully negotiate study and clinical experience requirements with work and family commitments. The online nature of the course requires students to be disciplined and committed in their study habits. Students should consider whether their family life and work commitments will support their attendance at placement and time available for study. Placement may occur during and outside of the semester and students may be required to travel away from home to complete up to 6 weeks of placement at their own expense. Students need to be aware that: placement is arranged by Charles Darwin University and dates are determined by the availability of places at the health service facility, therefore dates for placement may not be negotiablestudents are required to attend the arranged placement to progress in the coursenon-attendance at placement may only occur in extenuating circumstances. Childcare and work commitments are not extenuating circumstances for the purpose of placementplacements may include morning, evening, night duty, on-call and shifts on weekends and public holidaysInherent requirements: There are inherent requirements for midwifery. Inherent requirements are the essential abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve course learning outcomes and to be able to safely practise as a midwife. Midwifery requires a degree of physical strength and mobility, endurance, communication and cognitive abilities for safe practice. For more detailed information see Inherent Requirements for Midwifery on the College of Nursing and Midwifery website. Reporting obligations: Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, CDU is required to register midwifery students with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and to notify AHPRA if a student has or develops a health impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm. Students have obligations under the National Law and are expected to understand their obligations prior to enrolling. More information available at NMBA Student Registration.

Structure

This course consists of 24 units. Two foundational units provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully complete the course, become lifelong learners and explore issues related to living, studying and working in diverse social and cultural environments. Core units promote the concept of cultural safety in practice and address the needs of Aboriginal women and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Units in bioscience, sociology, psychology and midwifery sciences and practice are combined with extensive periods of clinical experience. Students practice reflective, evidence-based midwifery encompassing primary health care principles as well as the emotional, physical and social aspects of birth based on an evidence-based multidisciplinary, teaching and learning framework. All students explore the challenges of contemporary midwifery practice and maternity service provision in Australia and internationally as well as addressing the perspectives and needs of Aboriginal women including residents of remote communities. Units are offered in mixed-modes of study including compulsory on-campus clinical teaching blocks for all students, at their own expense. Clinical teaching blocks are held at Casuarina campus. Once students have completed their clinical teaching block students undertake midwifery professional experience placements in approved health service facilities. Pre-Clinical RequirementsYou must provide proof that you have met all university and State/Territory pre-clinical requirements before starting clinical placements. These requirements include, but are not limited to: immunisation requirementsSenior First Aid qualificationannual criminal record checksworking with children clearancesfitness-to-practice requirements.Midwifery is woman-centred and continuity of care is a core element of the course so a commitment to out-of-hours and between semester clinical work is mandatory. Students must follow 10 women across the course of the degree seeing them four times antenatally, being on call for birth, and seeing them twice postnatally. These requirements are in addition to placement. Potential applicants are advised that midwifery is a profession which places considerable physical and psychological demands on the individual however the rewards of the profession can be profound.A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.Unit typeCredit PointsSpecific requirementsCommon Units(2 units)20cpCommon units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below. CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability (compulsory)CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring SustainabilitySelect Common Units to find out more about individual units and advanced standing options. Core Units(21 units)210cpCompulsory Core units totalling 210 credit points as detailed below.MID101 Introduction to Midwifery PracticeMID102 Fundamental Skills for Midwifery PracticeNUR135 Primary Health Care (replaces NUR115 and HSC210 from 2021) (previously NUR210)SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2SWK102 Communication Skills (recoded from SWK142B from 2016)HSC220 Society, Culture and Health: A Sociological Introduction (replaces HSC230 from 2021) (previously HEA230)HSC203 Perspectives of Indigenous Health (new title from 2021)MID201 Healthy Childbearing 1MID202 Professional Midwifery Practice 1MID203 Healthy Childbearing 2MID204 Professional Midwifery Practice 2MID205 Midwifery Evidence Informed Health ResearchPSY202 Developmental Psychology (replaces NUR240 from 2017)MID301 Women's HealthMID302 Healthy Childbearing 3MID303 Professional Midwifery Practice 3MID304 Midwifery in Global PerspectiveMID305 Healthy Childbearing 4MID306 Professional Midwifery Practice 4MID307 Specialist Neonatal CareSpecialist Elective (1 unit)10cpSpecialist Elective unit totalling 10 credit points as detailed below.PSY209 Social-Cultural Psychology (replaces HSC201 Health Promotion from 2020)SWK317 Dynamics of Loss and Grief (replaces HSC205 Health Care Policy from 2020)HSC318 Remote Health  240cpTotal Credit PointsStudents who commenced in or after 2013No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.Of the total 240 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)* not more than 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units* a minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or aboveStudents should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.Course Changes 2021HSC230 Cultural Safety in Health has been replaced by HSC220 Society, Culture and Health: A Sociological Introduction. Students who have already completed HSC230 do not need to complete HSC220.HSC210 Health Sociology has been replaced by NUR135 Primary Health Care. Students who have already completed HSC210 do not need to complete the replacement unit NUR135.Course Changes 2020Specialist ElectivesHSC201 Health Promotion has been replaced by PSY209 Social-Cultural PsychologyHSC205 Health Care Policy has been replaced by SWK317 Dynamics of Loss and GriefCourse Changes 2018NUR210 Health Sociology has been recoded to HSC210 Health SociologyHEA230 Cultural Competence in Healthcare has been recoded to HSC230 Cultural Safety in Healthcare

Subjects

  • Health and Medicine

Standard entry requirements

Admission requirements are met by one of the following:Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 80*.Successful completion of a national qualification at Diploma level or higher.Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma with a GPA of 5.5 and above.Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 173 (or a score of 168 if prior to May 2010).Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program or the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses or a recognised enabling course of at least twelve months duration.* After any applicable adjustment factors have been applied.Residents of Sydney, NSW Central Coast and NSW North Coast are advised to call Student Central on 1800 061 963 prior to applying to discuss placement.

Study information

CampusFeesMid year intakeAttendance
Casuarina International: $32,320 No
  • Full-time : 3 years
  • Part-time : 6 years
CDU Online International: $32,320 No
  • Full-time : 3 years
  • Part-time : 6 years

Related courses

Browse more courses
Is the information on this page correct? Request update
Sign up to our newsletter for the latest scholarships and education news
You must agree before submitting.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Join the conversation