Undergraduate Midwifery

Overview

The Bachelor of Midwifery Program is a three year degree currently only being offered fulltime. The Bachelor of Midwifery degree has been jointly developed with the Hunter New England Area Health Service, and is being provided in partnership with the health service. The partnership ensures that our midwifery students are guided and supported by clinicians who are part of the workforce.

Our degree is based on contemporary midwifery theory, prepares students for new models of maternity care and has a unique emphasis on primary health care including health promotion, indigenous health and mental health issues. Graduates of our Bachelor of Midwifery are eligible to apply for registration to practise as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. The maximum number of years to complete the degree is six years.

Clinical Hospital Placements

Once as many students as possible are placed in the rural clinical settings then students who have expressed a preference for the Newcastle area will be allocated; using John Hunter, Maitland, Newcastle Private and Belmont hospitals. Students who have special consideration will be given first priority, students with a high UAI will be given 2nd priority and students with a local home address will be given third priority. Coursework

Classes are scheduled during the day, usually between 8am and 7pm at the Callaghan campus. There is a mix of both face-to-face and online learning to ensure students are able to be with childbearing women when they are needed (including births which occur at all hours). First year requires an average of 18-20 hours of on campus attendance per week. Second year averages at approximately 16 hours per week and third year requires between 0-6 hours per week on campus. Attendance at tutorial and clinical practical classes is compulsory.

Career Opportunities

Midwives work in birth centres, maternity units of hospitals, in community settings and in private practice which may include home births. There is currently a shortage of graduate midwives; particularly in regional and rural Australia where the shortages are acute. Midwives wishing to work in remote areas or small rural settings should consider becoming nurses as well as midwives. Graduates from the Bachelor of Midwifery can work in Australia, New Zealand and there are opportunities to work overseas. With further study midwives can also become midwifery educators, managers or researchers.