The Master of Midwifery is a 54-unit course comprising two pathways which combine coursework and research and is offered by the Faculty of Medicine, 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 Faculty Board, and must be registered as a midwife and must hold a current practising certificate and must have a minimum of two years' post-registration experience as a midwife.
The Board 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 Faculty Board:
- no topic may be attempted more than twice;
- a student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken;
- the program must be completed full-time within three consecutive semesters or part-time within eight consecutive semesters.
Pathway 1 - Coursework
Core topics
NURS9120 Evidence-based Clinical Practice (4.5 units)
NURS9125 Population Health (4.5 units)
NURS9126 Leadership in Health Studies (4.5 units)
NURS9602 Practice Project in Nursing or Midwifery (9 units)
NURS9621 Epidemiology for Health Care Practice (4.5 units)
Elective topics
Students must also select 27 units of study from the following topics:
MIDW9004 Midwifery Models of Care (9 units)
MIDW9005 Psychosocial Contexts in Midwifery (9 units)
MIDW9009 Pharmacology for Midwives (9 units)
MIDW9010 Investigations and Diagnostics for Midwives (9 units)
Pathway 2 - Coursework & Research
Core topics
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)
Elective topics
plus 18 units selected from the following topics:
MIDW9004 Midwifery Models of Care (9 units)
MIDW9005 Psychosocial Contexts in Midwifery (9 units)
MIDW9009 Pharmacology for Midwives (9 units)
MIDW9010 Investigations and Diagnostics for Midwives (9 units)