Bachelor of Midwifery | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Midwifery

Support the journey of pregnancy, birth and beyond. Prepare to work as a registered midwife, giving women necessary support and care during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period. Gain a strong understanding of the social, cultural, spiritual, psychological and physical experiences of women to provide quality maternity care.

In this program you will:

  • Learn how to provide woman-centred, evidence-based care to women and their families
  • Understand midwifery care across the childbearing continuum, legal and ethical requirements, bioscience and anatomy and physiology, research and evidenced based practice
  • Learn midwifery skills in a simulated environment with state-of-the-art technology
  • Gain practical experience through placements at clinics, maternity services, and private midwifery practices

Location

Entry threshold

88.00 ATAR/Rank
ATAR/Rank

Duration

3 years 3 years Full-time or equivalent part-time Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
Full-time or equivalent part-time Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.

Indicative fees

Indicative 2024 fees (A$)

A$6,129 - 2024 Fees CSP
CSP

QTAC code

013471

Start

  • Semester 1

Career opportunities

  • Metropolitan, rural and remote locations
  • Midwifery educator and researcher
  • Private practice midwife
  • Registered midwife in hospital or community settings

Memberships

Graduates may be eligible to become members of:

  • Australian College of Midwives

Accreditation

Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a midwife in Australia with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, which is a Board of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has a number of registration standards that graduates must demonstrate in order to be eligible for registration. For example, graduates must demonstrate English language skills at IELTS level 7, with 7 in all subtests, or equivalent before being considered for professional registration. For full details of the AHPRA Registration Standards, visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website.

Start
  • Semester 1
Delivery mode
  • Blended learning
Total courses
23
Total units
288
Duration
3 years 3 years
UniSC program code
SC393
Program structure
Introductory courses (8) 96 units

HLT100 Anatomy and Physiology
HLT103 Professional Health Communication
HLT121 Midwifery Foundations
HLT131 Practice Principles for Midwifery
HLT132 Introduction to Midwifery Practice
LFS103 Introductory Bioscience
NUR121 Health Care and the Professions
NUR131 Research Foundations for Health Practice

Developing courses (8) 96 units 

HLT200 Midwifery Care Across the Continuum
HLT201 Therapeutics in Midwifery
HLT202 Midwifery Practice 2
HLT203 Collaborative Midwifery Practice
HLT206 Neonatal and Infant Health
HLT207 Midwifery Practice 1
NUR222 Health, Law and Ethics
NUR231 Drug Therapy

Graduate courses (6) 84 units

HLT301 Contexts of Practice: Mental Health CareΔ
HLT303 Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
HLT310 Leadership and Governance in Maternity Care
HLT311 Midwifery Practice 3
HLT312 Midwifery Internship(24 units)
NUR332 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety

Electives (1) 12 units

Select 1 elective course (12 units) from:

NUR312 Life Crisis
PAR301 Paramedic Primary Healthcare: Maternal and Neonatal Health

Δ refer Program notes

Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all UniSC courses are available on every UniSC campus.

 

Program requirements
In order to graduate students must:
  • Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Program notes
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and undertaking some courses in Session 4 (Winter) or Session 8 (Summer) and following the recommended study sequence
  • The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
  • It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
  • Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including, for example, essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests, and examinations
  • Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses
  • The Bachelor of Midwifery program does not support concurrent enrolment with the Bachelor of Nursing Science or Bachelor of Paramedic Science
  • Teaching sessions include Semester 1, Semester 2, Session 4, Session 6 and Session 8
  • For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute
WIL notes

This program includes compulsory placements in settings that require full COVID-19 vaccination.

It is a Queensland Government requirement that students undertaking a placement within a clinical setting are fit tested annually for an approved respirator. Clinical settings include hospitals, residential aged care facilities, residential disability care facilities, prison health services, youth detention health services, community health care settings, and vaccination clinics). If the Fit Testing requirement applies to placement activity within your Program it will appear in your mandatory checks on Sonia Online. In accordance with Australian Standards, you must be clean shaven for your fit test. Facial hair that lies along the sealing surface of a tight-fitting respirator prevents an effective seal. Therefore, it is a requirement that there is no hair growth between the skin and the facepiece sealing surface in order to achieve a fit. At this stage, there is no exemption in Queensland to this requirement for religious or other reasons and UniSC is unable to waive this requirement.

Before undertaking clinical placement, students must obtain and maintain a current first aid and CPR certificate, provide evidence of hepatitis B and a number of other immunisations, undergo a criminal history check and obtain a Blue Card. Refer to clinical placement details for more information.

Study sequences

This study sequence reflects the current program structure. Continuing students must follow their commencing structure, which can be found in the previous student handbooks.

Student profile

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Notes
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N/A - Students not accepted in this category
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Adjusted ATARs are a calculation of a student's ATAR + eligible adjustment factors and are used to determine admission. The raw ATAR is the student's rank before any adjustments are applied.

Minimum entry threshold

Applicants must meet the minimum ATAR/Rank.

Location ATAR/Rank
Sunshine Coast 88.00

Special selection criteria

A limited number of places in this program may be set aside for: 

Post admission requirements

Before undertaking clinical placement, students must obtain and maintain a current first aid and CPR certificate, provide evidence of hepatitis B and a number of other immunisations, undergo a criminal history check and obtain a Blue Card. Refer to clinical placement details for more information.

In order to commence clinical placement, students must comply with the Placement Essentials including:

  • Blue Card or Registered as an EN with AHPRA
  • National Police Check
  • Vaccinations & TB Screening
  • First Aid Certificate and CPR Certificate
  • QLD Health Student Orientation Checklist
  • QLD Health Student Deed Poll
  • Code of Conduct

In addition, students are required to complete individual health service requirements as directed by the placement provider. Details are provided on the UniSC website: Midwifery Clinical Placement Mandatory Checks

Students who do not comply with these requirements will be unable to complete the clinical practice component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.

Students who meet the following criteria are required to take Clinical Connections (CC) course:

  • Those who have transferred from another university with credit for a clinical (midwifery practice) course.
  • Those who have undertaken HLT312 Midwifery Internship but subsequently failed the course.

The Connect component of the program must be suspended if a midwifery practice course has not been completed in the preceding 12-month period. Connect activity may recommence once the scenario based clinical exam in the respective midwifery practice course, or CC, is successfully completed. The connect component of the program must be suspended if a midwifery practice course is failed. Connect activity may recommence once the scenario based clinical exam in the respective midwifery practice course is successfully completed.

Completion of CC or the scenario based clinical exam in the respective midwifery practice course formalises reintroduction to theory and supported practice and ensures that students can proceed to clinical placement and meet NMBA professional standards relevant to practice at their level of study.

Additional entry information

All applicants must either be able to declare that English is their primary language (ie they have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English. At least two years of this education must have been between grades 7 and 12. This education must have been completed in one of the following countries:  Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, or United States of America.); or they must attain an Academic IELTS score of at least 7.0 with a minimum of 7.0 in each subtest (obtained within two years prior to the commencement of the program).

For more information visit English language requirements.

Recommended prior study
English; General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics; at least one science subject
Inherent academic requirements

Prospective students must consider the Inherent Academic Requirements before applying to study this program.

Refer to Midwifery - Inherent Academic Requirements

UniSC strongly supports the rights of all people to pursue studies. The University embraces diversity and endeavours to accommodate all students.

What are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs)?

The IARs of a program are those fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the program, while maintaining the academic integrity of that program.

Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.

UniSC is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, placement and other activities to enable students to participate in their program.

Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the IAR.

Consideration is given to a student's cultural and religious background/beliefs, which may impact on participation in their program or course. For further information contact Student Support.

Why are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs) important?

IARs ensure the academic integrity of a program is maintained and preserves the University's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. They must be met by all students.

How does this affect you?

To successfully complete a program at UniSC, you need to be able to meet all the Inherent Academic Requirements.

If you are applying for a program, you should read the IAR statement carefully to ensure you are able to meet them.

If you have a disability or chronic health condition, contact a UniSC Disability Advisor to talk about the adjustments that may be put in place so you can meet the requirements.

Headstart Program - Years 10 to 12

The Headstart program lets you study uni subjects while you’re still in high school. If you successfully complete two Headstart courses, you’ll get a selection rank that you could use to get into uni.

Prior study or work experience

If you:

  • have completed Year 12 (no matter how long ago)
  • have a TAFE/VET qualification
  • have relevant work experience, or
  • have studied at university before (even if you didn’t complete your studies)

You may be eligible for a selection rank, which can help you get into uni. For more detailed information selection ranks and how applications are assessed, visit Admissions explained.

CSP estimate
A$6,129 - 2024 Fees

Commonwealth supported places

Commonwealth supported places are substantially subsidised by the Australian Government so that students only pay 'student contribution" amounts. The student contribution amount will vary depending on the course you are studying and how much funding the Government provides.

If you accept a Commonwealth supported place you are a Commonwealth supported student. As a Commonwealth supported student you must make a contribution towards the cost of your education (unless you are enrolled in Enabling or Tertiary Preparation Pathway courses) with the majority of the cost met by the Commonwealth Government.

Commonwealth supported places are only available to domestic students. As a domestic student you are entitled to a Commonwealth supported place in an eligible program if you:

  • meet the citizenship and residency requirements
  • complete an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF)
  • meet the University's entry requirements for your chosen program.

Domestic applicants apply for admission through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). Some applicants may be eligible to apply direct to UniSC if they meet certain criteria.

Find out about how to apply and key application closing dates.

QTAC code

Location QTAC code
Sunshine Coast 013471
Care for 10 women throughout their life-changing journey
State of the art technology
5 stars for teaching quality Good Universities Guide 2023

Student story

“I loved attending lectures, listening to their clinical experiences and approaches, and participating in engaging and thought-provoking discussions with students.”

Christina Carde Graduate
Need advice on what to study or how to apply? 
Our Student Central team can help.

Call us +61 7 5430 2890
Email us information@usc.edu.au
For locations and opening hours, visit Student Central.

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