The Master of Midwifery is a 54-unit course comprising two pathways which combine coursework and research and is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
A Graduate Certificate in Midwifery and Graduate Diploma in Midwifery are also available.
Admission requirements
Applicants must hold a midwifery degree or an equivalent qualification approved by the Dean (Education), and must be registered as a midwife and must hold a current practising certificate.
Applicants for the Coursework and Research pathway will be required to provide a brief statement (research proposal) regarding the area of research they would like to undertake. Research proposals are subject to Course Coordinator approval and the College's ability to provide suitable research supervision to students depending on their proposed research topic.
The Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.
Credit may be granted on application for appropriate prior studies as per the University's Policy on Credit Transfer.
Course aims
The course aims to provide students with opportunities to contribute to research and the development of the profession of midwifery.
Learning outcomes
Graduates of this course are expected to be able to:
- critically review the theory and practice of contemporary midwifery care within dynamic professional and political contexts
- advance the discipline of midwifery by developing new conceptual frameworks and promoting excellence in midwifery practice
- apply advanced critical analysis and reflection skills to cotemporary midwifery professional practice in order to enhance its quality
- advance midwifery knowledge and practice research
- develop interdisciplinary and inter-organisational relationships in midwifery practice
- demonstrate advanced evidence-based knowledge, professional autonomy, accountability and leadership skills in their midwifery practice.
Program of study
To qualify for the Master of Midwifery, a student must complete 54 units with a grade of Pass, NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.
Students must complete one of the two pathways outlined below.
Except with permission of the Dean (Education):
- students enrolled in Pathway 2 - Coursework and Research are required to undertake field work for their Research Project (except with the permission of the Course Coordinator);
- no topic may be attempted more than twice;
- a student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken.
The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or in 9 units or more, or failure to complete the course within eight consecutive semesters may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purpose of the University's Policy on Student Progress.
Pathway 1 - Coursework
Core topics
27 units comprising:
NURS9219 Introduction to Research (4.5 units)
NURS9123 Epidemiology and Population Studies for Health Care Practice (4.5 units)
NURS9124 Advanced Thinking, Communicating and Problem Solving for Health Professionals (4.5 units)
NURS9126 Leadership in Health Studies (4.5 units)
NURS9222 Capstone: Advancing Research Knowledge to Inform Professional Practice (9 units)
Option topics
plus 27 units selected from the following topics:
MIDW9004 Midwifery Models of Care (9 units)
MIDW9005 Psychosocial Contexts in Midwifery (9 units)
MIDW9011 Pharmacology and Prescribing for Midwives (4.5 units)*
MIDW9012 Investigations and Diagnostics for Midwives (4.5 units)*
MMED9110 Principles of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (4.5 units)
MMED9111 Pharmacology for Advanced Professional Practice (4.5 units)
NURS8010 Global Perspectives on Policy and Political Contexts of Health Care (4.5 units)
NURS8011 Quality and Safety: A Global Health Approach (4.5 units)
NURS8012 Measuring Health Service Outcomes (4.5 units)
NURS8014 Health and Sustainable Development (4.5 units)
NURS8015 International Strategies and Programs in Health Care (4.5 units)
NURS8017 Enhancing the Learner Experience (4.5 units)
NURS8018 Planning for Learning: Curriculum Development (4.5 units)
PPHR9741 Women's Health and Child Survival (4.5 units)
Pathway 2 - Coursework & Research
Core topics
18 units comprising:
NURS9218 Approaches to Research Designs (4.5 units)
NURS9219 Introduction to Research (4.5 units)
NURS9220 Developing a Literature Review (4.5 units)
NURS9221 Writing Research Proposals for Ethical and Funding Requirements (4.5 units)
Research Project topics
plus 18 units comprising:
NURS9614C Research Project (4.5/18 units)
NURS9614D Research Project (4.5/18 units)
NURS9614E Research Project (4.5/18 units)
NURS9614F Research Project (4.5/18 units)
Option topics
plus 18 units selected from the following topics:
MIDW9004 Midwifery Models of Care (9 units)
MIDW9005 Psychosocial Contexts in Midwifery (9 units)
MIDW9011 Pharmacology and Prescribing for Midwives (4.5 units)*
MIDW9012 Investigations and Diagnostics for Midwives (4.5 units)*
MMED9110 Principles of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (4.5 units)
MMED9111 Pharmacology for Advanced Professional Practice (4.5 units)
NURS8010 Global Perspectives on Policy and Political Contexts of Health Care (4.5 units)
NURS8011 Quality and Safety: A Global Health Approach (4.5 units)
NURS8012 Measuring Health Service Outcomes (4.5 units)
NURS8014 Health and Sustainable Development (4.5 units)
NURS8015 International Strategies and Programs in Health Care (4.5 units)
NURS8017 Enhancing the Learner Experience (4.5 units)
NURS8018 Planning for Learning: Curriculum Development (4.5 units)
PPHR9741 Women's Health and Child Survival (4.5 units)
Students may, in consultation with the Course Coordinator, select as their option topics other postgraduate topics relevant to midwifery.
*Domestic students with current midwifery registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) who successfully complete both MIDW9011 and MIDW9012 may apply to the NMBA for endorsement for scheduled medicines for midwives. Please refer to the NMBA web site for additional requirements for endorsement.
