ObjectivesThe course aims to prepare registered nurses for endorsement as midwives by the relevant regulatory authorities in Australia. Furthermore, opportunity is provided for midwives holding a midwifery certificate to develop and enhance their midwifery knowledge and skills. This course provides the opportunity to conceptualise new and creative approaches to midwifery care, congruent with societal and professional trends.
Entry requirementsEntry Point 1: 1. Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent ; and 2. eligibility for nurse registration in the state where the course is to be undertaken. Entry Point 2: 1. Practising midwives with a Bachelor degree or equivalent ; and 2. eligibility for midwifery registration in the state where the course is to be undertaken. Applicants should be aware of the requirement regarding clinical practice at one of the partnership hospitals. * An applicant who holds a Diploma or Certificate in Nursing may apply for special admission. * An applicant who lacks the formal prerequisite but who is licensed to practise midwifery within the state where the course is to be undertaken may apply for special admission to Entry Point 2.
Academic titleGraduate Diploma in Midwifery
Course descriptionGraduates will be eligible to seek registration/endorsement as midwives from their state nurse registering authorities.
Graduate Diploma in Midwifery
GradDipMidw
80 cp
Minimum duration: 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time.
Course available at:
Ballarat, Victoria (from Entry Point 2 only)
Brisbane, Queensland
Melbourne, Victoria
EFTSL value of units: All 10 cp units in this course have an EFTSL value of 0.125. Units with a cp value of a multiple of 10 have corresponding EFTSL values.
1. Requirements for Completion of the Graduate Diploma
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma, a student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings.
Schedule of Unit Offerings
Prerequisite (Pre), co-requisite (Co) and incompatible (Inc) units are indicated in parentheses where applicable.
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
NRSG515 10 Midwifery Foundations
NRSG516 10 Childbearing Foundations
NRSG517 10 Midwifery Practice 1
NRSG518 10 Practice Partnerships
NRSG519 10 Contexts of Midwifery
NRSG520 10 Childbearing Challenges (Pre: NRSG518. Co: NRSG521)
NRSG521 10 Midwifery Practice 2 (Pre: NRSG517. Co: NRSG520)
NRSG522 10 Family Mental Health and Wellness
NRSG515 Midwifery Foundations
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 120 hours of focused learning per semester.
This unit provides the opportunity for students to explore the scope of contemporary midwifery practice from a primary healthcare perspective. A ‘with woman’ approach where pregnancy, birth and parenting are considered a normal experience and midwifery practice is based on a wellness and social model of health, underpins this unit. The context of maternity care in Australia and the role of the midwife and professional standards for practice are explored. The unit emphasises the importance of culturally safe midwifery care and evidence for practice. Additionally the art and soul of midwifery, the beauty of birth and the creation of a mother, father and family are highlighted.
NRSG516 Childbearing Foundations
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 120 hours of focused learning per semester.
This unit provides the opportunity for students to explore physical and psychosocial alterations and adaptations of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period and their impact on the woman, baby and family. Additionally, the role of the midwife during pregnancy, physiological childbirth and adaptation of the newborn will be examined.
NRSG517 Midwifery Practice
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 120 hours of focused learning per semester.
This unit provides the opportunity for students to integrate theoretical concepts and midwifery practice in relation to the care of well women and babies across the childbearing continuum. Emphasis is placed on health assessment and monitoring and promoting physiological childbirth. The role of the midwife in facilitating a healthy transition to early parenting is also explored.
NRSG518 Practice Partnerships
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 120 hours of focused learning per semester.
This unit provides students with the opportunity to explore partnership relationships and collaborative partnerships, with an emphasis on promotion of choice and informed decision-making. In addition the unit will provide the opportunity to develop skills in the care of women and babies experiencing health variations.
NRSG519 Contexts of Midwifery
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 120 hours of focused learning per semester.
This unit provides students with opportunities to explore the history and culture of midwifery practice. The unit examines the context of midwifery in Australia and internationally, in a range of settings. The role and functions of the midwife and issues surrounding midwifery services will be explored, including those pertaining to Indigenous communities, migrant and vulnerable groups. Ethico-legal issues in relation to childbirth and midwifery practice in addition to the professional obligations of the midwife will be debated.
NRSG520 Childbearing Challenges
10 cp
Prerequisites NRSG518 Practice Partnerships
Co-requisite NRSG521 Midwifery Practice 2
Teaching Organisation 120 hours of focused learning per semester.
This unit provides the opportunity for students to explore theoretical concepts in relation to the care of women, babies and families experiencing challenges during the childbearing continuum. In addition, through the exploration and critical analysis of current research into childbearing challenges, this unit encourages students to apply research to their midwifery practice.
NRSG521 Midwifery Practice 2
10 cp
Prerequisites NRSG517 Midwifery Practice 1
Co-requisite NRSG520 Childbearing Challenges
Teaching Organisation 120 hours of focused learning per semester.
This unit provides the opportunity for students to integrate and apply theoretical concepts in relation to the care of women and babies who experience challenges during the childbearing continuum. In addition the unit provides the opportunity to develop skills in working with women and their families experiencing challenges, as well as working within a multidisciplinary team.
NRSG522 Family Mental Health and Wellness
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 120 hours of focused learning per semester.
This unit enables students the opportunity to develop an understanding of mental health and mental illness in pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. Mental health disorders will be explored and the impact on attachment, early parenting, the baby and family. The midwives role in assessment and caring for women with a mental illness will be critically analysed. Exploration of maternal infant attachment theories and styles of attachment will occur together with their impact on infant mental health, pregnancy loss, stillbirth and neonatal death and the impact on the family will also be examined.