Graduate Certificate in Midwifery (Re-entry)

If you have previously been registered as a midwife in Australia or have been out of the workforce for between five and ten years, this one-year part-time degree will lead to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

This unique and in-demand course is built on a woman-centred primary health care philosophy as described in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s ‘National Competency Standards for the Midwife’.Offering extensive theoretical studies and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experience, this course will redevelop a comprehensive understanding of the integration of midwifery, medical and pharmacological theory as it applies to the provision of midwifery care.

Your prior skills will be acknowledged as you study a range of contemporary issues which affect childbearing women and their families.

Across your year of study, you will undertake approximately 416 hours of professional practice, including the provision of continuity of care experiences to eight women in their journey through pregnancy, labour, birth and early motherhood.

You will graduate as a confident and competent midwife, ready to re-enter the workforce and focus on the unique needs of women and their families.WIL plays an important role in the Graduate Certificate in Midwifery (Re-entry), and is focused on renewing skills and completing the necessary requirements set by the NMBA for re-registration.

UC invests significantly in the WIL route compared with other universities, and from the moment you begin your studies, you will engage in clinical placement experience across a range of Canberra maternity settings, such as Calvary Public Hospital, Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, and Queanbeyan District Hospital.

You will complete continuity work totalling approximately 150 hours with a minimum of six women, and will undertake three days of rostered practice per week for nine weeks, representing a total of 216 hours across the year.As part of the UC midwifery student community, you will be encouraged to join the University of Canberra Midwifery Society, which has student engagement as a primary focus.Please note:

throughout your degree you will be working in continuity with women and will be required to attend their regular antenatal and postnatal visits, and be on call for the woman’s labour and birth.

The nature of continuity work means that you will need flexibility in both your personal and professional life and be able to adjust your commitments accordingly.You will also undertake a three week block of rostered shift work mid-year, and a six week Capstone Block of rostered practice at the end of the year.Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Midwifery (Re-entry), you’ll be eligible to register as a midwife in Australia across a variety of settings, including rural and remote areas, hospitals, birth centres, communities and in women’s homes.This degree is suitable for midwives previously registered in Australia or those who have been out of the clinical workforce for between five and ten years and wish to regain registration.

As such, applicants must provide UC with a letter of referral from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) confirming prior registration as a midwife.There are non-standard English language requirements for this course.

To be eligible you must have an academic IELTS of 7.0 overall.Professional accreditation with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is being pursued for this course.Prior to undertaking any clinical experience, you must:

Graduate Certificate in Midwifery (Re-entry) (12 credit points) Required - Must pass 12 credit points as follows

• 11305 - Continuity Midwifery A G - 6 cp, Level G 11306 - Continuity Midwifery B G - 6 cp, Level G

Admission Requirements

This course has an early closing date to submit applications (October 31 every year). To apply you will be required to:(i) have previously been registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a registered midwife(ii) meet normal University requirements for admission to a postgraduate course(iii) submit a written response to the questions included on the supplementary application form https://www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/faculties/health/documents/supplementary-forms/Supplementary-Application-for-Midwifery.pdf (iv) provide evidence (e.g. via a Curriculum Vitae) that your time out of the clinical workforce has been less than 10 yearsApplications are judged on all four criteria.Admission to this course is competitive. Applications will be assessed on the basis of academic merit and the number of available places. Please be advised that if you submit your application after the advertised closing date, your application may not be considered.

Additional Admission Requirements

National Police Check, Immunisations, TB Screening, Working with Vulnerable People Registration, NSW Health forms (Code of Conduct Agreement, TB Assessment Tool, Student Declaration).

Assumed Knowledge

Commensurate with previous history of successful completion of an APHRA approved course leading to eligibility for registration as a midwife.

Periods Course is Open to New Admissions

Information on admission closing dates can be found here.