92371 Being a Midwife
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10329 Bachelor of Midwifery Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10225 Bachelor of Midwifery
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
Situated in the final session of the course, this subject is the capstone subject of the Bachelor of Midwifery. Students consolidate their understanding of the professional role of the midwife, and recognise and display the professional attributes of a midwife. In preparation for their registration as midwives, students review the NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice and Code of Professional Conduct, the International Code of Ethics for the Midwife, and reflect on their practice in relation to these and other regulatory frameworks. They identify their role as a member of the maternity health care team and explore the issues related to working in this environment.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Understand and articulate the role of the midwife within the NMBA regulatory frameworks |
|---|---|
| B. | Review and reflect on their practice through the use of a professional portfolio and demonstrate achievement of the NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice and the Faculty of Health graduate attributes |
| C. | Identify their professional development needs and develop a strategy for transitioning from a student to a new graduate midwife |
| D. | Recognise the importance of leadership in midwifery and identify the role of the new graduate midwife in undertaking this role |
| E. | Discuss the continuing evolution of midwifery leadership from a global, national and state perspective |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Practice woman-centred care (1.0)
- Appreciate the centrality of the relationship with each woman to the practice of midwifery (1.2)
- Are professionally competent midwives who provide safe and effective midwifery care using intelligent kindness (2.0)
- Demonstrate critical thinking and sound clinical judgment that is based on evidence and reflects appropriate reasoning within the relevant professional codes and guidelines (2.2)
- Communicate effectively using spoken, written and non-verbal language across a range of contexts and to diverse audiences (2.3)
- Work collaboratively in order to provide excellence in maternity care (3.0)
- Influence change and contribute to the development of midwifery as a strong profession through leadership, mentoring and positive role modelling (3.1)
- Demonstrate respectful and collegial collaboration with women, professional peers and other stakeholders (3.2)
- Practice and promote the principles of self-care that build resilience and foster human flourishing (4.1)
- Are socially responsible citizens who value the diversity of people (5.0)
- Integrate strategies for ongoing personal and professional development (6.2)
- Critique and reflect upon the impact of ongoing colonisation and its pervasive discourse on Indigenous Australians and their health and wellbeing (7.2)
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students participate in a range of learning and teaching strategies that are designed to assist them in developing a deeper understanding of the transition to professional practice and the regulation of the profession in Australia.
ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Students access online learning resources via Canvas in the weekly “Before class activities” pages to be completed prior to the scheduled tutorials. These learning resources include podcasts, videos, and online discussion boards. Classes are also followed up with online "Post class activities".
TUTORIAL CLASSES
Tutorials will be undertaken on campus via face-to-face classes in teaching weeks. In-class learning in this subject is via class student speeches and activities, discussions, and presentations.
CASE SCENARIOS
Cases help students explore health-related scenarios of women and their families in clinical or community situations. Students use these scenarios to learn concepts and interpret information. Students develop critical thinking through analysis, interpretation and reflection on issues or situations.
Content (topics)
Regulation and Registration
- Midwifery standards for practice, code of ethics, conduct, professional practice
- Continuing professional development (CPD)
- Use of a portfolio to document CPD
- Annual requirements for registration as a midwife in Australia
- International issues in registration as a midwife
- Resources to support registration as a midwife
- Skills inventory
- ACM’s Midwifery Practice Review process and MidPLUS portfolio
Professional responsibilities
- Expectations as a new graduate midwife
- Membership of the Australian College of Midwives and other professional organisations
- Responsibility and accountability for midwifery practice and clinical decision making
Being resilient
- Development and maintenance of resilience through effective support networks
- Exploration of strategies to manage bullying and other non-professional behaviours
- Understanding of previous trauma experiences and the impact on women in the perinatal period
Leadership as a midwife
- Development of leadership skills as a midwife
- Differences between leadership and management
- Ways to support students when they are graduate midwives
- Global citizenship and contribution to the health of women and girls
- Development of the midwifery career
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Individual oral presentation
| Intent: | Reflect upon and present to the class a peak experience with a childbearing woman during clinical placement. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B and C This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.2, 2.2, 2.3 and 6.2 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 5 minute oral presentation Students do not need to submit a word document of this to their Academic Teacher or onto Canvas, as this Assessment Task will be marked whilst the student is presenting their speech in class time. |
| Criteria: | Assesment criteria and marking rubric will be available on Canvas. |
Assessment task 2: Written paper on leadership as an early career midwife
| Intent: | The intent of this assessment is for students to consider how they may enact leadership in their early career period as a new midwife. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 2.2, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.0, 6.2 and 7.2 |
| Type: | Reflection |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 1800 words |
| Criteria: | Assessment criteria and marking rubric will be available on Canvas on the Assignments page. |
Recommended texts
Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Thorogood, C. & Pincombe, J. (eds) 2015, Midwifery: preparation for practice, 3rd edn, Elsevier Australia, Sydney. (This is the edition you bought as your compulsary text in your first year)
References
Gray, M., Kitson-Reynolds, E., & Cummins, A. (2019). Starting Life As a Midwife: An International Review of Transition from Student to Practitioner. Springer International Publishing AG.
Hunter, B. & Warren, L., 2013, Investigating resilience in midwifery: Final Report, Cardiff University, Cardiff.
ICM, 2014, International Code of Ethics for Midwives, International Confederation of Midwives, The Hague.
NMBA, 2018, Code of Conduct for Midwives in Australia, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, Melbourne.
NMBA, 2018, Midwife Standards for Practice, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, Melbourne.
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.
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The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support, including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what is written but also for how it is written. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.
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