CM16 - Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry)

Overview

Compulsory Residential School

Some units in this course require you to attend a compulsory Residential School or Work Integrated Learning. Please see Course Features in the Getting Started tab for further information.

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) aims to provide Australian Registered Nurses with the theoretical, practical, and research knowledge required to be competent and effective Registered Midwives. The Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) course is a 2-year program of study, accelerated over 18-months. The Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) course is predicated on a total of three years of learning equivalent to a Bachelor course studied over three years. All eligible applicants must hold a Bachelor of Nursing degree and are awarded one year of recognition of prior learning.

On successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to apply to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for registration as a Registered Midwife.

Throughout this course, you will progressively develop a woman-centred approach to midwifery practice underpinned by cultural safety, evidence-informed practice, collaborative partnerships, and intra/inter-professional relationships founded in primary health care principles.

Career Information

Graduates of the Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) will be able to work as a Registered Midwife in a variety of health care settings.

Course Details
Duration 1.5 years full-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned 96
Number of Units Required CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24).
Expected Hours of Study One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term.
Course Type Undergraduate Award
Qualification (post nominal) BMid
AQF Level Level 7: Bachelor Degree
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $4,442
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $22,728
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $16,860
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $33,720
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $4,122
Indicative Year - 2022
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $3,984

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable
Where and when can I start?
Units offered internally at the below campuses may be delivered using a combination of face-to-face and video conferencing style teaching.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
The following tables list the courses availabilities by location and term. Directing your pointer over your preferred location will provide further information if this course is not available for the full duration. Please be sure to also check individual unit availability by location and term prior to enrolling.

Domestic Availability

Term 1 - 2025

Online

Term 1 - 2024

Online

Term 1 - 2023

Online

Term 1 - 2022

Online
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International Availability

Term 1 - 2025

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2024

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2023

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2022

Sorry, no international availabilities found.
Show All
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at http://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
What do I need to start?
Entry Scores
Entry scores are not available, please contact the Student Advice Team for more information.
Entry Requirements

To be considered for entry into this course, applicants must demonstrate the following:

  • Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a Registered Nurse; and
  • A completed Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), or equivalent, Bachelor of Nursing qualification.

It is a course requirement that all students maintain their AHPRA nursing registration for the duration of the course. Students must immediately report any professional investigations into their nursing practice and employment, and/or any restriction or suspension of their AHPRA registration to CQUniversity.

Assumed Knowledge

Applicants must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a registered nurse in order to undertake the course. Applicants are also required to have an undergraduate degree for acceptance into the course. Recognition of prior learning will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Fees and Charges
Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation
  • Core

    The Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). The Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) leads to eligibility for registration as a midwife in Australia. 

Residential School Requirements

Compulsory Residential School Compulsory residential schools for students studying via mixed mode will be required for the following units. MDWF12003 Midwifery Practice 1 MDWF12006 Midwifery Practice 2 MDWF13006 Midwifery Practice 4
Click here to view all Residential Schools

Practicum/Work Placement

MDWF12006 - Clinical Placement 224 hours plus continuity of care experiences. AMSAT is to be completed on two occasions during the unit. This will be completed during weeks 6 and 12 of the term and will enable students that are facing clinical challenges to be identified and supported early. This is a requirement for the proposed ANMAC Midwifery Education Standards and will also form part of the student's ePortfolio.
MDWF12003 - Clinical Placement 224 hours plus continuity of care experiences. AMSAT is to be completed on two occasions during the unit. This will be completed during weeks 6 and 12 of the term and will enable students that are facing clinical challenges to be identified and supported early. This is a requirement for the proposed ANMAC Midwifery Education Standards and will also form part of the student's ePortfolio.
MDWF13006 - Clinical Placement 224 hours plus continuity of care experiences. The Australian Midwifery Standards Assessment Tool (AMSAT) is to be completed on two occasions during the unit. This will be completed during weeks 6 and 12 of the term and will enable students that are facing clinical challenges to be identified and supported early. This is a requirement for the proposed ANMAC Midwifery Education Standards and will also form part of the student's ePortfolio.
MDWF13003 - Clinical Placement 224 hours plus continuity of care experiences. AMSAT is to be completed on two occasions during the unit. This will be completed during weeks 6 and 12 of the term and will enable students that are facing clinical challenges to be identified and supported early. This is a requirement for the proposed ANMAC Midwifery Education Standards and will also form part of the student's ePortfolio.

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2024 60
2023 61
2022 34
Inherent Requirements
There are Inherent Requirements (IRs) that you need to be aware of, and fulfil, to achieve the core learning outcomes of the units and course. IRs are the essential capabilities, knowledge, behaviours and skills that are needed to complete a unit or course.

Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.

If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.

Ethical Behaviour

Examples are:

  • Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies and procedures such as CQUniversity’s Student Charter, Student Misconduct Policy and Student Behavioural Misconduct Procedures and Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
  • Treating personal information obtained in classroom and clinical settings as private and confidential.
  • Respecting an individual's/group's diversity by demonstrating sensitivity to religious, cultural and individual differences.
  • Demonstrating an ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and taking responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour.


Behavioural Stability

Examples are:

  • Being receptive and responding appropriately to different viewpoints, to constructive feedback and to direction from academics and clinical staff.
  • Interacting positively and effectively in groups with other students while attending activities related to the course.
  • Contributing to on-line discussion forums and tutorials with peers and academics whilst using respectful language and tone.
  • Coping with your own emotions, responses and behaviour effectively when dealing with challenging situations in the clinical setting.


Legal Compliance

Examples are:

  • Complying with the requirement for student registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
  • Complying with mandatory reporting requirements.
  • Understanding and adhering to professional policy around the use of social media.
  • Undertaking nursing care within the scope of practice relevant to the required knowledge and level of progression through your course of study.
  • Understanding and adhering to legal requirements associated with the administration of medications.
Communication Skills (Verbal, Non-verbal, Written and Technology)

Examples are:

  • Actively participating in discussion activities related to the course.
  • Using language that is appropriate to the context of the individual or group.
  • Responding appropriately to a care request in the clinical environment.
  • Providing the health care team with verbal handover reports related to patient care.
  • Recognising and interpreting non-verbal cues of others and respond appropriately during activities related to the course.
  • Incorporating the use of effective non-verbal cues such as eye contact when communicating with academics and peers during activities related to the course building positive learning relationships.
  • Recognising and interpreting non-verbal cues of the health care team, peers, patients, and others and respond appropriately during clinical placement.
  • Accessing a computer for your studies.
  • Regularly accessing the Internet for research, and email for communication with peers and lecturers.
  • Analysing, manipulating and displaying scientific information.
Cognitive Abilities (Knowledge and Cognitive Skills, Literacy and Numeracy)

Examples are:

  • Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
  • Completing academic learning activities and assessment tasks, and performing clinical skills within reasonable set timeframes.
  • Applying knowledge of policy and procedures in the clinical setting.
  • Applying theoretical knowledge and understanding health history in relation to midwifery care when undertaking assessment of women during clinical practice.
  • Actively listening to information within a variety of academic and clinical situations.
  • Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions associated with the American Psychological Association (APA) referencing format used by the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
  • Reading and accurately interpreting plans of care and medication orders for women and infants.
  • Completing midwifery documentation that is accurate, clear and concise.
  • Performing accurate drug calculations in a timely manner in medication administration assessments and in clinical practice.
  • Demonstrating accurate recording on a fluid balance chart.
  • Recognising when a calculator may have given an incorrect answer.
Sensory Abilities (Visual, Auditory, Tactile)

Examples are:

  • Focussing on and recognising objects that are either near or far, e.g. reading learning resources such as lecture and tutorial screens face-to-face on-campus or on-line; as well as reading examination papers and/or on-line computer quizzes.
  • Observing non-verbal behaviour and other situations in a variety of professional settings.
  • Accurately drawing up and administering medication.
  • Observing and detecting subtle changes in wounds.
  • Detecting changes in skin colour and general tissue perfusion.
  • Hearing verbal communication from other students and lecturers during activities related to the course.
  • Accurately interpreting the verbal communication and direction of clinical staff during emergency situations.
  • Accurately detecting various observations such as a blood pressure measurement, listening to the fetal and maternal heart rates, lung and bowel sounds by auscultation using a stethoscope.
  • Responding to a care request by activation of a call bell or calls for help.
  • Detecting changes in various maternal and infant observations e.g. assessing uterine contractions, skin temperature and palpating pulses.
  • Conducting a physical assessment detecting anatomical abnormalities e.g. swelling.
  • Using touch appropriately as an alternative means of conveying positive messages to women such as emotional support and encouragement.


Relational Skills

Examples are:

  • Rapidly building rapport with women and their families, from all walks of life, as well as with colleagues and healthcare staff in both the academic and clinical environment.
  • Maintaining positive working relationships when under stressful circumstances.
  • Maintaining confidentiality in all contexts.
Reflective Skills

Examples are:

  • Reflecting on topics taught during the course of study, including on situations that may be difficult or sensitive, yet still require reflective processing, judgment or action.
  • Identifying when a practice issue is outside your scope of expertise.
  • Identifying when your practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions.
  • Reflecting on situations that may be challenging, difficult and sensitive.
Sustainable Performance

Examples are:

  • Actively participating in activities related to the course and professional experience to the required standard and for the required duration.
  • Performing with the required mental energy and endurance to correctly fulfill emergency services practice and requirements.
Strength and Mobility (Gross Motor Skills and Fine Motor Skills)

Examples are:

  • Incorporating a range of gross motor skills while participating effectively in activities related to the course.
  • Maintaining balance while safely mobilising and transferring women and infants or resources.
  • Moving with ease around womens' bedsides, birthing suite, bathrooms and equipment items while performing the delivery of care activities and responding to emergency situations.
  • Safely retrieving and utilising stock and equipment.
  • Inserting a urinary catheter.
  • Manipulating intricate equipment to assist with instrument births, resuscitations, and other relevant procedures.
  • Manipulating syringes and needles during preparation and administration of medications addressing safety to self and others.
  • Priming, accurately inserting and setting prescribed rates on an infusion device.
Interpersonal Engagement

Examples are:

  • Demonstrating the skills of collaborating with fellow students and colleagues, modifying and reflecting on practice, or modifying and reflecting on work in response to supervisor feedback.
  • Rapidly building rapport with colleagues and stakeholders in order to engage them in effective emergency services practice, for example during difficult situations and crises situations.
  • Critically self-reflecting on situations that may/may not have gone well, and take the learning point(s) from that situation.
  • Interacting and engaging with individuals and groups in emergency services practice in a respectful and culturally competent manner in a wide variety of contexts.


Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Abilities

Examples are:

  • Accessing a computer for your studies.
  • Regularly accessing the Internet for research, and email for communication with peers and lecturers.
  • Analysing, manipulating and displaying scientific information.


Compulsory Requirements
Health Requirements

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and as such are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks and are outlined in the health, security, and other compulsory requirements sections. Mandatory checks are determined by industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date prior to a WIL placement and maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.

Mandatory health requirements include immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) to the following diseases: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis screening. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Advice

Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.    

Security Requirements

Mandatory security requirements include an Australian Federal Police clearance and students must hold a current and valid registered nursing licence with AHPRA to be considered for entry into the course and ongoing enrolment in the degree. It is a course requirement that all students maintain their AHPRA nursing registration for the duration of the course. Students must immediately report any professional investigations into their nursing practice and employment, and/or any restriction or suspension of their AHPRA registration to CQUniversity.

Other Compulsory Requirements

Other mandatory requirements include a First Aid and CPR certificate, student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, adherence to AHPRA policies for a registered student professional, fitness to participate in WIL student declaration, jurisdictional and site-specific compulsory requirements, and other training modules.

Core Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Implement a woman-centred care approach using midwifery philosophies and primary health care principles as the foundation for inclusive and safe practice
  • 2. Apply contemporary evidence based skills and knowledge to provide competent midwifery care throughout the childbearing continuum, within the full scope of midwifery practice
  • 3. Apply knowledge and skills in recognising and responding to deterioration for the provision of complex care to women and babies
  • 4. Integrate knowledge of inclusivity and cultural safety into midwifery practice to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, families and communities
  • 5. Integrate knowledge of inclusivity and cultural safety into midwifery practice to meet the needs of women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and other marginalised groups
  • 6. Demonstrate high-level communication skills with the woman and intra and inter-professional team for collaboration and facilitation of safe, inclusive, and woman centred-care
  • 7. Apply innovative information technology, digital health, electronic resources, systems, and emerging technologies to support contemporary midwifery practice in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Framework.
  • 8. Integrate the knowledge, skills, and professional behavior required for the safe and quality use of medicines during midwifery practice, in accordance with the NPS Competencies Required to Prescribe Medicines Framework and the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
  • 9. Apply research skills that enable the identification and evaluation of applicable research and evidence for translation into safe, effective midwifery practice
  • 10. Achieve the requirements for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines as a basis for independent lifelong learning
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge
3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge with depth in some areas
4. SKILLS Have cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas
6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters
KNOWLEDGE Develop an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture in contemporary and historical context using the respectful and appropriate protocols and terminology
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner
Course Structure

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
Number of units: 12 Total credit points: 96

Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) students are required to be registered nurses with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and have an undergraduate degree for acceptance into the course.

The Head of Course will confirm that the prospective student has been accepted by a clinical facility that meets ANMAC requirements for placements as a student midwife.

Enrolment numbers will be capped to ensure that students are able to achieve the minimum clinical requirements, for example, primary accoucheur of 30 births as required by the ANMAC Midwifery Education Standards.

Course Progression

It is essential that you undertake all units in this course as per the course structure. Pre-requisite units and co-requisite units must be completed in order to progress in your study. Exceptions to this may apply with approval from the Head of Course. When unforeseen circumstances adversely impact the ability to achieve the required number of clinical hours, a practicum outstanding (PO) may be awarded as an interim grade until the hours have been achieved. In cases such as this, students will be given permission to enrol in the subsequent terms units, however, they may be required to withdraw prior to the census date thus avoiding financial and academic penalties should they not have achieved the outstanding requirements by this time.

Residential Schools 

The course contains three compulsory week-long residential schools. These are aligned to Terms 1 and 2 of the first year and Term 1 of the second year. Attendance is 100% compulsory without exception. Failure to attend 100% of the residential school will result in the inability to progress in the course. Final confirmed dates for residential schools are released approximately two weeks prior and are determined by the CQUniversity timetabling department. Please note that CQUniversity retains the right to change the dates subsequent to institutional requirements. The cost associated with attending residential schools such as travel and accommodation is at the student's expense. Students will be notified of the campus location where the residential school will be held.

Midwifery Practice Experience (MPE)

Students will be required to complete 224 hours of MPE per term. In addition to this, students are required to undertake continuity of care experiences (COCE). The cumulative total will be a minimum of 896 clinical hours plus a minimum of 100 hours across 10 COCE. Students will be required to adhere to all relevant Work Integrated Learning (WIL) policies, inclusive of the student charter and student misconduct policies, and additionally, the relevant Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) specific guidelines.

Students will undertake formative and summative assessments each term and this will include clinical assessment. This will require completion of the Australian Midwifery Standardised Assessment Tool (AMSAT) document by a Registered Midwife who supervises the student. 

To be eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) students must successfully complete the following:

Available units
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
MDWF12007 Professional Midwifery Practice: Legal and Ethical Frameworks
MDWF12002 Foundations of Midwifery 1
MDWF12003 Midwifery Practice 1
MDWF12004 Critical Inquiry and Midwifery Practice
MDWF12005 Foundations of Midwifery 2
MDWF12006 Midwifery Practice 2
MDWF13007 Midwifery Practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families
MDWF13008 Foundations of Midwifery 3
MDWF13003 Midwifery Practice 3
MDWF14002 Pharmacology for Midwifery Practice
MDWF13009 Foundations of Midwifery 4
MDWF13006 Midwifery Practice 4
More Details

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has a register of students enrolled in the Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) for the duration of their study. CQUniversity as the education provider will provide your details directly to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) for registration.

Midwifery Practice Experience (MPE)

Please note that some facilities do not provide make-up shifts. You may be required to attend other facilities to achieve the minimum clinical requirements of the course.