C10225v4 Bachelor of Midwifery
Award(s): Bachelor of Midwifery (BMid)UAC code: 606010 (Autumn session)
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 144
Course EFTSL: 3
Location: City campus
Notes
This course is only offered to local students.
This course is not offered to international students.
Overview
Course aims
Career options
Innovation and Transdisciplinary program
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Rules and regulations
Honours
Professional recognition
Other information
Overview
This course incorporates midwifery theory, science and clinical practice in a range of health facilities. Graduates of the course are competent midwives who have the skills, knowledge and confidence to practise midwifery according to the international definition of the role and scope of practice of the midwife.
The Bachelor of Midwifery program prepares students for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. UTS delivered the first Bachelor of Midwifery program in New South Wales.
Course aims
The Bachelor of Midwifery program aims to prepare graduate midwives to be competent midwives with the skills, knowledge and confidence to practise midwifery according to the international definition of the role and scope of practice of the midwife. The program enables skilled and responsive graduates who combine clinical knowledge and skill with interpersonal skills and cultural competency. Graduates from the UTS BMid provide woman-centred care in both hospitals and community settings. They practise reflective, evidence-based midwifery encompassing primary health care principles as well as emotional and social aspects of birth. They promote culturally sensitive care for women from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The course prepares students to identify and analyse the knowledge, skills and attitudes that continue to develop them as midwives and lifelong learners. This includes meeting the challenges of contemporary midwifery practice and maternity service provision in Australia and internationally.
Career options
Career options include practising midwife in hospital, community, public and private settings in metropolitan and rural areas. Career progression opportunities include midwifery education management and research, and consultancy roles such as lactation or midwifery consultant.
Innovation and Transdisciplinary program
Transdisciplinarity and Innovation at UTSAll UTS students have the opportunity to develop distinctive capabilities around transdisciplinary thinking and innovation through the TD School. Transdisciplinary education at UTS brings together great minds from different disciplines to explore ideas that improve the way we live and work in the world. These offerings are unique to UTS and directly translate to many existing and emerging roles and careers.
Diploma in InnovationThe Diploma in Innovation (C20060) teaches innovation, supports personal transformation and provides the hard skills needed to support the inventors and inventions of the future. Students come out of the Diploma in Innovation, with the hard skills to create and support sectoral and societal transformation. Graduates are able to fluently integrate ideas, across professional disciplines and are inventors of the future.
All UTS undergraduate students (with the exception of students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation) can apply for the Diploma in Innovation upon admission in their chosen undergraduate degree. It is a complete degree program that runs in parallel to any undergraduate degree. The course is offered on a three-year, part-time basis, with subjects running in 3-week long intensive blocks in July, December and February sessions. More information including a link to apply is available at https://dipinn.uts.edu.au.
Transdisciplinary electives programTransdisciplinary electives broaden students' horizons and supercharge their problem-solving skills, helping them to learn outside, beyond and across their degrees. Students enrolled in an undergraduate course that includes electives can choose to take a transdisciplinary subject (with the exception of students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation). More information about the TD Electives program is available here.
Course intended learning outcomes
| 1.0 | Practice woman centred care |
| 1.1 | Demonstrate woman centred care acknowledging the physiological, psychological, cultural and spiritual needs of women, their babies and family members |
| 1.2 | Appreciate the centrality of the relationship with each woman to the practice of midwifery |
| 1.3 | Promote continuity of midwifery care regardless of settings |
| 1.4 | Provide an optimal child-bearing environment for each woman |
| 1.5 | Work in partnership with women |
| 1.6 | Demonstrate an awareness of sustainability of physiological processes to reduce the environmental footprint |
| 1.7 | Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the woman and her clinical needs and works in partnership to implement a treatment plan |
| 2.0 | Are professionally competent midwives who provide safe and effective midwifery care using intelligent kindness |
| 2.1 | Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the discipline of midwifery |
| 2.2 | Demonstrate critical thinking and sound clinical judgment that is based on evidence and reflects appropriate reasoning within the relevant professional codes and guidelines |
| 2.3 | Communicate effectively using spoken, written and non-verbal language across a range of contexts and to diverse audiences |
| 2.4 | Demonstrate information literacy and technology skills and effectively apply these in the exercise of clinical judgement |
| 2.5 | Demonstrate competence in all clinical skills at the level of a new graduate midwife and be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for registration as a midwife |
| 2.6 | Practise and meet the full scope of the midwife as per the International Confederation of Midwifery definition |
| 2.7 | Performs a comprehensive medicine assessment and identifies options that can be incorporated into the treatment of the woman and her newborn and reviews the response to treatment |
| 2.8 | Considers non-pharmacological treatment options |
| 3.0 | Work collaboratively in order to provide excellence in maternity care |
| 3.1 | Influence change and contribute to the development of midwifery as a strong profession through leadership, mentoring and positive role modelling |
| 3.2 | Demonstrate respectful and collegial collaboration with women, professional peers and other stakeholders |
| 3.3 | Participate effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team |
| 4.0 | Are resilient, emotionally competent midwives who foster human flourishing |
| 4.1 | Evaluate and apply effective and creative solutions to the improvement of midwifery practice and the care of the woman and her newborn |
| 4.2 | Supporting women to make informed decisions |
| 4.3 | Assume responsibility for self-care and self-development as a midwife |
| 4.4 | Integrate strategies for ongoing personal and professional development |
| 5.0 | Are socially responsible citizens who value the diversity of people |
| 5.1 | Practise midwifery within a primary health care philosophy |
| 5.2 | Demonstrate knowledge of the broader health system and advocate for midwifery as a local and global public health strategy |
| 5.3 | Practise with the knowledge that midwifery can make the biggest difference to the least advantaged women and families |
| 5.4 | Communicate and provide effective care for women from diverse backgrounds and needs |
| 6.0 | Are professionally engaged critical thinkers who take a lively and questioning approach and embrace lifelong learning |
| 6.1 | Interpret and value the evidence to underpin practice and influence change |
| 6.2 | Actively contribute to the development of midwifery as a profession |
| 6.3 | Comply with intellectual academic writing practices and use information ethically, legally and respectfully |
| 7.0 | Demonstrate professional cultural competency which contributes to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, inclusive of physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellness |
| 7.1 | Demonstrate respect and value for world view differences and in particular Australian Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing |
| 7.2 | Critically reflect upon the impact of ongoing colonisation and its pervasive discourse on Indigenous Australians and their health and wellbeing |
| 7.3 | Recognise the diversity of Indigenous Australians and integrate this knowledge into practice |
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.
The UTS Year 12 Adjustment Factor Scheme awards adjustment factors to students based on their performance in selected high school subjects that are relevant to the course they have applied for.
Current school leaver applicants are assessed solely on ATAR.
Entry to the course is competitive. Applicants who are over 20 and do not have competitive recognised academic qualifications are encouraged to complete a TAFE diploma qualification or higher or sit a Special Tertiary Admissions Test.
The English proficiency requirement for local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall with a minimum score of 7.0 in each subset; or TOEFL: iBT: 94 overall, reading 24, listening 24, speaking 23, writing 27; or PTE: 65-72 overall with a minimum score of 65 in each subset; or OET: minimum score of B in each of the 4 components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
Assumed knowledge
Any two units of English.
Any two units of science and any two units of mathematics are recommended.
Course duration and attendance
The course is offered at City campus on a three-year, full-time basis.
Course structure
Students must gain a minimum of 144 credit points to complete the course.
Full-time students study four subjects a session, incorporating midwifery theory, science and clinical practice.
Industrial training/professional practice
This course includes extensive midwifery practice, which is a compulsory component. Students undertake midwifery professional experience in an allocated area health service facility. Clinical placements occur in blocks each session, and are in addition to time spent in the midwifery clinical practice laboratories that simulate the clinical environment. The placements involve morning, evening and possibly night shifts. Over the duration of the course, students are also required to follow women throughout their pregnancy, birth and the period after birth. This requires students to be on-call to attend the labour and birth. Students in the final year of their program undertake a prolonged period of clinical experience, with much of their time spent in a clinical environment. Students also have the opportunity to complete a rural, remote or international placement. Some students spend time with a privately practising midwife and/or in a midwifery continuity of care model.
All midwifery students must adhere to the requirements in the Ministry of Health policy directive, 'PD2020_017 Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases', prior to commencement of any clinical practice placements.
The policy should be read in full as it outlines students' obligation for screening and immunisation against certain infectious diseases prior to commencing their clinical placement. Students are asked to provide evidence of their immunity or vaccination status, and screening for tuberculosis (TB) status may also be required prior to the commencement of the first clinical placement. Students should be aware that if they do not meet the requirements of the policy they cannot commence the placement and as a result are not able to complete the course.
In the Bachelor of Midwifery program, students commence midwifery professional experience in the clinical setting in first year and this continues into second and third year.
Course completion requirements
| STM90744 First-year subjects | 48cp | |
| STM90745 Second-year subjects | 48cp | |
| STM90746 Third-year subjects | 48cp | |
| Total | 144cp |
Course diagram
Course program
A typical full-time course program is shown below.
| full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 92667 Midwifery Practice 1: Preparation for Practice | 6cp | |
| 92668 Foundation of Midwifery Practice | 6cp | |
| 92669 Transition to Parenthood | 6cp | |
| 92670 Anatomy and Physiology: Pregnancy and Childbirth | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 92671 Midwifery Practice 2: Supporting Women | 6cp | |
| 92672 Translating Research into Midwifery Practice | 6cp | |
| 92673 Promoting, Protecting and Supporting Breastfeeding | 6cp | |
| 92354 Introductory Pharmacology and Microbiology | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 92674 Perinatal Mental Health | 6cp | |
| 92675 Midwifery Practice 3: Working with a Woman who has a Complex Pregnancy | 6cp | |
| 92676 Power, Politics and Midwifery | 6cp | |
| 92677 Care of the Newborn | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 92678 Midwifery as Primary Healthcare: a Public Health Strategy | 6cp | |
| 92679 Midwifery Practice 4: Working with a Woman who has a Complex Labour, Birth and Puerperium | 6cp | |
| 92680 Optimising Physiological Processes in Childbearing | 6cp | |
| 92681 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Women and Babies | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 92682 Midwifery Practice 5: Preparing for Professional Practice | 6cp | |
| 92687 International Perspectives | 6cp | |
| 92684 Navigating a Midwifery Career Pathway | 6cp | |
| 92685 Working Within a Strengths-Based Midwifery Model | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 92686 Midwifery Practice 6: Transitioning to Professional Midwifery Practice | 12cp | |
| 92688 Synthesizing Midwifery and Research Translation (SMART) | 6cp | |
| 92689 Leadership in Midwifery | 6cp | |
Rules and regulations
Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes. There are eight domains of inherent requirements in the course. Some domains have a number of sub-domains. The domains are:
- Ethical behaviour
- Behavioural stability
- Legal
- Communication
- Cognition
- Sensory ability
- Strength and mobility
- Sustainable performance.
It is a requirement of this course to complete a number of clinical placements. Clinical placements involve a midwifery student going into a clinical setting to undertake the practical components of the course required for registration. If a student has a condition or disability that prevents them from completing a placement, completion of the degree may be hindered. Students should consult the full inherent requirements (461 kb PDF).
Honours
The Bachelor of Midwifery (Honours) (C09051) is available to eligible students with an additional year of full-time study, or two years of part-time study.
Professional recognition
Provides eligibility to apply for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. See the faculty rules for more information.
Other information
Further information is available from:
UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS
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