| Effective Term: | 2025/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Midwifery as a Profession |
| Unit ID: | MIDGD6202 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 060303 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit addresses the need for students to understand what it means to be a midwife by exploring a range of contextual and professional issues, underpinned by the foundation of woman-centred practice. Students will explore the role of the midwife in providing care for women from diverse and vulnerable backgrounds and in varied practice settings. The midwifery scope of practice will be explored in detail, underpinned by the professional codes, standards and legislative frameworks. To gain an understanding of the midwifery profession, students will review the historical development of midwifery in Australia and globally, and use this foundation to explore the future of the midwifery profession and maternity services reform. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | Yes - days |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | |  | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Describe the development of the midwifery profession and maternity care, from legal, ethical, historical and current perspectives; |
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| K2. | Define the scope of midwifery practice in contemporary Australian maternity care, including the professional and legislative frameworks, codes and guidelines and provide a critique of this scope against the International Definition of a Midwife (ICM); |
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| K3. | Analyse the roles and functions of professional organisations, locally, nationally, and globally, that have an impact on the delivery of maternity services and the health and wellbeing of women and babies; |
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| K4. | Critically examine screening and other public health activities during the perinatal period and the implications of these activities upon maternal and infant health; |
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| K5. | Identify and explore how the midwifery profession engage with and work with women from diverse and vulnerable populations |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Discuss and critique the boundaries of care in midwifery including legal, ethical and professional standards and competencies; |
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| S2. | Employ reflective practice and identify evidence-based care for women, babies and their families across the childbearing continuum; |
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| S3. | Demonstrate an understanding of the use and applications of psychosocial screening tools in the perinatal period |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Employs an ethical framework in the provision of woman centred care |
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| A2. | Critically examine the politics of childbirth and develop a critique of maternity service delivery in Australia informed by professional literature, government reports and observation and experience; |
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| A3. | Demonstrates skills providing care in partnership with women based on individual women’s needs according to NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice (2018). |
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| Unit Content: |
The ANMAC Midwife Accreditation Standards (2021); NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice (2018); NMBA Code of Conduct for Midwives (2018); Code of Ethics for Midwives (2014); NMBA Decision-making framework for nursing and midwifery (2020); NMBA Decision-making framework summary - midwifery (2020); National Digital Health Strategy (2021); and National Safety and Quality Health Services Standards (2019) have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit. Modules Midwifery theory 1. Midwifery history Historical and cultural influences on the midwifery profession in Australia and abroad Discussion and critique of maternity services and the place of midwifery as a key provider of services The politics of maternity services provision Philosophy of care 2. Professional and legislative frameworks NSQHS Clinical Governance Standard Professional codes and guidelines Regulatory authorities Roles and functions of professional and legislative authorities The role of consumer groups Advocacy in midwifery practice Collaborative care involving other disciplines - Consultation and referral Boundaries of care Working in collaboration Reflective practice Health funding 3. The Art of Contemporary Midwifery Relationships and establishing partnerships NSQHS communication for safety standard Communication and conducting sensitive conversations Midwife as primary carer Role of the midwife in antenatal screening, assessment and education (e.g. oral health, STI, genetic screening, childbirth education) Critical thinking, problem solving and clinical decision making in midwifery Midwifery scope of practice in contemporary maternity care Extending the midwifery scope of practice Eligible midwife status The development of the maternity services - models of care Issues facing Australian maternity services Maternity service reform Locations of midwifery care - regional, local, national and international interdisciplinary practice settings 4. Legal and ethical issues in midwifery Legal and ethical issues in midwifery The place of advocacy in maternity care Collaboration Consultation and referral Documentation and reporting – midwifery health informatics Evaluating risk 5. Vulnerable families NSQHS Comprehensive Care Standard NSQHS Partnering with consumers standard Working with women and families from marginalized groups including: LGBTQ+ and non-binary gender identity families Women who have experienced trauma or abuse Refugee families Families experiencing substance abuse and misuse 6. Perinatal and infant mental health Transition and adjustment to parenting Mental health disorgers in the perinatal period Psychosocial screening and assessment Principles and processes for referral and treatment Working with women who have experienced traumatic birth |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, K3, K5, S1, S2 | Application of woman-centred midwifery practice concepts in context of working with vulnerable women and families | Online activity | 30-60% | | 2. | K2, K3, K4, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 | Theoretical concepts of midwifery history, professional issues and professional and legislative frameworks | Audio/visual assessment | 40-60% | | 3. | K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S3, A1, A3 | Satisfactory achievement of identified NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice in midwifery practice experiences. (Compulsory PASS required) | Midwifery practice portfolio 1. Completion of five (5) Midwifery Clinical Assessment Tools (MCAT) to ‘assisted-proficient’ level. 2. Completion of 160 midwifery practice hours. Submit completed AMSAT. | 20% Hurdle requirement |
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