Midwifery
Graduate Diploma of Midwifery Clinical Placements
The Charles Sturt University Graduate Diploma of Midwifery is a highly regarded course designed to facilitate registered nurses to work in midwifery services for 12 months. This allows students to practice within the midwifery environment while concurrently studying the theoretical components online via distance education providing a flexible learning environment. Upon successful completion of the two components (clinical practice and academic study), students are eligible to apply for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Course Outline
- Six subjects of study
- The allocation of recommended minimum clinical hours for each midwifery setting:
Specialty Area Duration Birthing 512 hours Unwell baby 192 hours Postnatal care 320 hours Antenatal Care 288 hours Community 32 hours - 12 - 18 months (three sessions) of distance education study
- Two compulsory residential schools
Practicum Components
Enrolment in the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery is dependent on students being contracted by a maternity service in paid employment as student midwives for the duration of the course. Students applying for positions in NSW Public Hospitals apply online through MidStART. As part of the application process with MidStART students are asked to nominate, in order of preference, up to six hospitals. Eligible applicants will then be contacted by email for an interview.
Students seeking a midwifery student contract at a CSU partnering maternity unit interstate or in a NSW Private Hospital not covered by the MidStART process are given the contact details of the Midwifery Facilitator / Maternity Unit Managers at the site where they would like to be employed.
The midwifery service employs their selected student midwives for at least the duration of the 12 month course. Students have the opportunity to experience midwifery care from a holistic perspective by caring for the same woman throughout her pregnancy, birth and early parenting period. This assists in preparing the student for their life as a registered midwife, who will be expected to provide continuity of care.
Students are paid a student midwife wage and may be able to access scholarships which help to relieve the financial burden that accompanies study. The course currently has over 50 accredited maternity units that provide midwifery clinical education for midwifery students.
Contacts
