The University of Newcastle's Port Macquarie campus will help address a shortage of midwives, particularly in rural and regional areas, with the announcement it will now offer a Bachelor of Midwifery at the campus.

The three year Bachelor of Midwifery degree has been jointly developed with the Mid North Coast Local Health Network, 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,' University of Newcastle Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery Professor Michael Hazelton said.

The degree is based on contemporary theories, prepares students for new models of maternity care and has a unique emphasis on continuity of care of women throughout pregnancy, birth and postnatal period and primary health care including health promotion, indigenous health and mental health issues.

'Our academics have strong backgrounds in midwifery practice and their approach to teaching is to guide and support students to learn in a safe and welcoming environment.'

Bachelor of Midwifery graduates are eligible to apply for registration to practise as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Professor Hazelton said there was currently a lack of graduate midwives, particularly in regional and rural Australia where the shortages are acute.

Midwives work in birth centres, maternity units of hospitals, in community settings and in private practice which may include home births.

The Bachelor of Midwifery will be offered at the Port Macquarie campus in 2012 in addition to the existing Bachelor of Nursing.

Applications are now open for the Bachelor of Midwifery through www.uac.edu.au and applications received by Friday 9 December 2011 will be considered as part of the main round offers for 2012.