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Recommended Study Sequence

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Accreditation

Professional accreditation with the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Board.

Advanced Standing

Applications for advanced standing will be assessed in accordance with current UWS policy.

Admission

Applications for the course must be made through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Further information on admission to postgraduate courses is available on the Local Admissions section of the UWS website.

Eligibility for admission is based on the following two requirements:

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 80 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Quarter 1

Fundamentals of Pregnancy and Birth

This unit provides students with an understanding of pregnancy and birth. Emphasis will be placed on the biological, physiological, psychosocial and cultural aspects of pregnancy and birth. The unit provides an understanding of the role of the midwife in maintaining a woman within a continuity of care model.

Fundamentals of the Postnatal Period and the Newborn

This unit provides students with an understanding of the postnatal and newborn period. Emphasis will be placed on the biological, physiological, psychosocial and cultural aspects of the puerperium. The unit also examines the adaptation of the newborn to extrauterine life and care within the neonatal period. The unit provides an understanding of the role of the midwife in maintaining a woman and family focus within a continuity of care model during the postnatal period.

Quarter 2

Complications of Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period

This unit provides students with an in depth knowledge of the complications that may arise during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. Emphasis will be placed on the biological and physiological aspects of such complications. The unit also integrates psychosocial and cultural aspects relating to a woman experiencing a complex pregnancy or puerperium. The unit demonstrates the role of the midwife in maintaining a partnership in care even when pregnancy and the postnatal period are complex.

Practice of Midwifery I

This unit provides students with an introduction to the origins of midwifery in Australia; the social and cultural perspectives of midwifery care and the organisation and function of maternity services in the health care system.

Quarter 3

Complications of Labour, Birth and Newborn

This unit provides students with an in depth knowledge of the complications that may arise during labour, birth and the newborn period. Emphasis will be placed on the biological and physiological aspects of such complications. The unit also integrates psychological and cultural aspects relating to a woman experiencing a complex labour and birth. The role of the midwife in providing holistic woman centred care is an important component of the unit, as any complications that arise will have an impact on the management of labour, birth and the newborn period.

Essentials for Best Practice in Midwifery

This unit provides students with the opportunity to critically evaluate and apply an evidence-based approach to clinical practice in midwifery. The unit addresses the value of evidence-based midwifery practice, knowledge development using three main research approaches, development of evidence-based protocols and main sources of evidence (systematic reviews, meta-analysis, meta-synthesis, integrative reviews, clinical guidelines). The development of skills for critiquing sources of evidence and for implementing evidence into clinical practice is fostered within the unit. Students are encouraged to become critical consumers of evidence relevant to midwifery practice and to appreciate the process of practice development.

Quarter 4

Practice of Midwifery II

This unit will examine midwifery care and services using a primary health care focus. It will use local and international issues of perinatal care, maternal mortality and the role of the midwifery profession in projects such as `safe motherhood’. In addition, local midwifery professional issues will be covered.

Part-time

Year 1

Quarter 1

Fundamentals of Pregnancy and Birth

This unit provides students with an understanding of pregnancy and birth. Emphasis will be placed on the biological, physiological, psychosocial and cultural aspects of pregnancy and birth. The unit provides an understanding of the role of the midwife in maintaining a woman within a continuity of care model.

Fundamentals of the Postnatal Period and the Newborn

This unit provides students with an understanding of the postnatal and newborn period. Emphasis will be placed on the biological, physiological, psychosocial and cultural aspects of the puerperium. The unit also examines the adaptation of the newborn to extrauterine life and care within the neonatal period. The unit provides an understanding of the role of the midwife in maintaining a woman and family focus within a continuity of care model during the postnatal period.

Quarter 2

Complications of Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period

This unit provides students with an in depth knowledge of the complications that may arise during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. Emphasis will be placed on the biological and physiological aspects of such complications. The unit also integrates psychosocial and cultural aspects relating to a woman experiencing a complex pregnancy or puerperium. The unit demonstrates the role of the midwife in maintaining a partnership in care even when pregnancy and the postnatal period are complex.

Quarter 3

Complications of Labour, Birth and Newborn

This unit provides students with an in depth knowledge of the complications that may arise during labour, birth and the newborn period. Emphasis will be placed on the biological and physiological aspects of such complications. The unit also integrates psychological and cultural aspects relating to a woman experiencing a complex labour and birth. The role of the midwife in providing holistic woman centred care is an important component of the unit, as any complications that arise will have an impact on the management of labour, birth and the newborn period.

Essentials for Best Practice in Midwifery

This unit provides students with the opportunity to critically evaluate and apply an evidence-based approach to clinical practice in midwifery. The unit addresses the value of evidence-based midwifery practice, knowledge development using three main research approaches, development of evidence-based protocols and main sources of evidence (systematic reviews, meta-analysis, meta-synthesis, integrative reviews, clinical guidelines). The development of skills for critiquing sources of evidence and for implementing evidence into clinical practice is fostered within the unit. Students are encouraged to become critical consumers of evidence relevant to midwifery practice and to appreciate the process of practice development.

Year 2

Quarter 2

Practice of Midwifery I

This unit provides students with an introduction to the origins of midwifery in Australia; the social and cultural perspectives of midwifery care and the organisation and function of maternity services in the health care system.

Quarter 4

Practice of Midwifery II

This unit will examine midwifery care and services using a primary health care focus. It will use local and international issues of perinatal care, maternal mortality and the role of the midwifery profession in projects such as `safe motherhood’. In addition, local midwifery professional issues will be covered.

Clinical Experience

Students will also undertake clinical experience on a full-time basis of 32 hours per week, organised through the course coordinator and undertaken in maternity units that have been approved by the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW. Clinical placements will be in maternity units in the Sydney South West and Sydney West Area Health Services.

Graduate Diploma in Midwifery

The Graduate Diploma in Midwifery is designed for registered nurses who wish to pursue a career in midwifery – the art and science of providing holistic care to the woman and family throughout the childbearing process. This course provides students with the opportunity to gain a recognised tertiary qualification and registration to practise midwifery. The course is presented in conjunction with the Sydney South West and Sydney West Area Health Services and is approved and recognised by the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW.

Health Sciences and Nursing at UWS

The course is offered by the University of Western Sydney School of Nursing and Midwifery – a national leader in nursing and midwifery education, research and scholarship in Australia. With a strong reputation for quality, relevant and contemporary professional education, the School has well established industry partnerships with nursing leaders and health and community services in the Greater Western area of Sydney. UWS also has well established ties across the state of New South Wales and nationally. These national and regionalties are complemented by collaborative partnerships and active international links, enabling the School to work with a range of partners to advance nursing education and research.

The UWS Graduate Diploma in Midwifery emphasises a primary health care approach to enable students to participate fully in health promoting activities.

A diversity of teaching and learning experience are provided to enhance the students’ acquisition of knowledge and midwifery skills.

It’s all about Career Opportunities

Graduates may pursue careers in midwifery.

Duration

One year full-time or two years part-time study. Students enrolling in part-time study are required to take the clinical component over one year of continuous employment (32 hrs/week) to meet professional requirements. Flexibility, therefore pertains to the theoretical load and not the clinical component.

Location

Bankstown

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 80 credit points.

Accreditation

Successful completion of this course enables graduates to apply to the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW for authorisation to practise midwifery.

Admission Requirements

Eligibility for admission is based on the following requirements:

  • Registered as a nurse under the Register of the Nurses and Midwives Board NSW, or equivalent;
  • Possession of an undergraduate degree or equivalent
  • Interview, and approval to work in an approved maternity unit.

How to Apply

All domestic applications for entry to UWS postgraduate courses must be made through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Step by step instructions are available on on How to Apply pages.

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