Graduate Diploma of Midwifery

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Are you a registered nurse with a desire to become a midwife? The University of Notre Dame Australia’s 18-month full-time postgraduate qualification will give you the confidence to embark on a career where woman-centred care is a priority. Our Graduate Diploma of Midwifery includes a significant proportion of practical hands-on experience and contemporary best practices in a variety of midwifery settings. Get in contact today to pursue this rewarding career.

• Why study this degree?

  If woman-centred care and delivering new life is your passion the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery is the qualification for you. This unique program follows the philosophy of ‘woman-centred’ midwifery practice and will enable you to develop a high level of critical thinking, technical competence, and interdisciplinary teamwork skills.

  You will experience a variety of placements including public and private settings, from large teaching hospitals to small healthcare centres. This quality professional practice experience will give you the confidence and competence to adapt quickly to the midwifery workplace.

  This is a blended-learning program which includes immersive online learning experiences in combination with intensive on-campus study blocks each semester enabling midwifery students to undertake this program whether located in metropolitan or regional / remote locations.

  Your assessments are based on written assignments, tutorial presentations, case studies, various projects and examinations and professional practice assessments at the University and healthcare setting level.

  On completion of the program, you are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as a midwife. Registration is required to practice in the profession.

• Program summary

  Semester One

  • MIDW5021 Midwifery Foundations (25 CP)
  • MIDW5022 Beginning Midwifery Practice (50 CP)
  • MIDW5023 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders Women & Communities (25 CP)

  Semester Two

  • MIDW5024 Midwifery Partnerships (25 CP)
  • MIDW5025 Complex Midwifery Practice (50 CP)

  Semester Three

  • MIDW5026 Midwifery Clinical Reasoning (25 CP)
  • MIDW5027 Advancing Midwifery Practice (50 CP)

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

  More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions pages Fremantle Sydney.

  Please note: the availability of these courses is indicative only and may be subject to change.

• Entry requirements

  The following entry requirements apply to this program:

  • A Bachelor Degree in Nursing.
  • Current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
  • Registered nurses who do not have a AQF Level 7 qualification in nursing will need to demonstrate recent clinical registered nursing experience and may be admitted with an alternative mode of entry assessment.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery graduates will be able to:

  1. Meet the National Competency Standards for the Midwife and gain registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
  2. Critically review emerging local, national, and global maternity care priorities, and apply midwifery evidence-based knowledge to provide holistic and woman centred care across the childbirth continuum, to pregnant and childbearing women and their families, with a focus of continually improving the quality and delivery of care
  3. Reflect on knowledge and belief to share practice and foster self-regulated behaviours to implement the concept of life-long learning, which will assist in the professional growth and development of self and others
  4. Practice as competent professionals and industry ready graduates who can critically appraise and problem solve in practical and creative ways enabling them to practice in diverse midwifery settings
  5. Integrate knowledge, humanistic values, clinical skills, and reflective thinking to an advanced level of critical analysis to provide safe, culturally congruent, equitable, high quality midwifery care for women, babies, families, and communities
  6. Demonstrate ethical responsibility by actively and continually participating in the development of the midwifery profession at the individual, national and global level; and
  7. Provide safe, culturally congruent, equitable and just midwifery care by practicing and promoting a culture of reflective and reflexive midwifery care to the individual woman, her supporters, and other members of the healthcare team.

• Practical component

  You are required to complete Professional Practice placements (practicum) within the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery.

  Students will undertake the equivalent of 26 weeks full time midwifery practice experience over 18 months. This midwifery practice experience will be undertaken in regular blocks of 3 - 4 days per week.

  In addition to the practicum placements, students are required to complete a minimum of ten (10) continuity-of-care experiences. These experiences may occur at any point across the 18-month Program.

  To be eligible to undertake clinical practice and fulfil their duty of care, students are required to complete clinical practice orientation, risk management training and obtain various screening, vaccination and clearances, as appropriate on commencement of the program and in subsequent semesters.

  Due to the practical nature of the midwifery profession and protection of the public, there are inherent requirements applicable to this course that may impact upon the success of some potential students. Applicants and students with a disability or other issue likely to impact on their ability to perform in practice are encouraged to contact the Program Coordinator to discuss.

  There may be vaccination or other similar requirements that apply to placements, including those imposed by government or third-party placement hosts, which must be completed as a component of this course. Potential students should consider this requirement before enrolling in this course and discuss with the Program Coordinator if this raises any concerns.

  Students may not be able to complete placement units if they are unable to meet the placement requirements, which may impact their ability to complete this course.

  WA students

  • Midwifery students in WA will have a variety of placements including public and private settings in both the city and rural areas, from large teaching hospitals to small healthcare centres.  Both supernumerary places and sponsored places are available through partnership with local maternity services.  Students applying for partnership (paid) places need to apply to both the partner organisation and the university separately. Supernumerary students only need to apply directly to the university.

• Career opportunities

  The Graduate Diploma of Midwifery will enable you to register as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

• Real-world experience

  You will learn from academics who are industry leaders and, through our practicum placements and internship programs, you will gain real professional experience and make valuable contacts with potential employers.

• Professional accreditation

  The Graduate Diploma of Midwifery is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council, and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the Australian Government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, which is called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:

  The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.

  The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan. The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.

• More information

  Considering your uni options?
  Our advisers provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process.

  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, the Prospective Students Office can help. Book a 1-on-1 advice session with a career advisor or call us on 1800 878 916.

  Fremantle and Broome
  Email: future@nd.edu.au
  Address: 23 High St, Fremantle, WA 6160

  Sydney and Melbourne
  Email: sydney@nd.edu.au
  Address: 128-140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008

  Fremantle and Broome International Office
  Phone: +61 8 9433 0873
  Address: 19 Mouat St, Fremantle, WA 6160
  Postal address: PO Box 1225, Fremantle WA 6959

  Sydney and Melbourne International Office
  Phone: +61 2 8204 4229
  Address: 140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008
  Postal address: PO Box 944, Broadway NSW 2007