C10329v2 Bachelor of Midwifery Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation

A midwife is a health professional who has completed a program of study and may apply to register as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

The Bachelor of Midwifery incorporates midwifery theory, science and clinical practice in a range of health facilities.

Graduates of the course are competent midwives who have the skills, knowledge and confidence to practise midwifery according to the international definition of the role and scope of practice of the midwife.Taking a transdisciplinary approach, the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation utilises multiple perspectives from diverse fields, integrating a range of industry experiences, real-world projects and self-initiated proposals, equipping graduates to address the wicked problems, complex challenges and untapped opportunities in today's world.This course was the first Bachelor of Midwifery to be introduced in New South Wales.

The course aims to produce informed, reflective, caring and compassionate midwives who demonstrate competencies related to professional responsibility, interpersonal processes and the exercise of clinical judgment.

Graduates are capable of providing woman-centred care in both hospitals and community settings.

They practise reflective, evidence-based midwifery encompassing primary healthcare principles as well as emotional and social aspects of birth.

They promote culturally sensitive care for women from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

The course prepares students to identify and analyse the knowledge, skills and attitudes which continue to develop them as midwives and lifelong learners.

This includes meeting the challenges of contemporary midwifery practice and maternity service provision in Australia and internationally.By focusing on the high-level conceptual thinking and problem-solving practices that lead to the development of innovative, creative and entrepreneurial outcomes, students of the combined degree also gain leading edge capabilities that are highly valued in the globalised world, including dealing with critical and creative thinking, invention, complexity, innovation, future scenario building and entrepreneurship, and the ability to work on their own across disciplines.

These creative intelligence competencies enable graduates to navigate in a rapidly changing world.

Students must gain a minimum of 144 credit points to complete the Bachelor of Midwifery and 96 credit points in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation. The creative intelligence and innovation subjects are undertaken in accelerated form within July and Summer sessions during the first three years of study, and through one full year of study after completion of the professional degree. The Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation is not offered as a separate degree, but is completed only in combination with the professional degree program.

Full-time students study four subjects a session incorporating midwifery theory, science and clinical practice.

Industrial training/professional practice

This course includes extensive midwifery practice, which is a compulsory component. Students undertake midwifery professional experience in an allocated area health service facility. Clinical placements occur in blocks each session and are in addition to time spent in the midwifery clinical practice laboratories that simulate the clinical environment. The placements involve morning, evening and possibly night shifts. Over the duration of the course, students are also required to follow 20 women throughout their pregnancy, birth and the period after birth. This requires students to be on-call to attend the labour and birth. Students in the final year of their program undertake a prolonged period of clinical experience with much of their time spent in a clinical environment. Students also have the opportunity to complete a rural and remote placement.

All midwifery students must adhere to the requirements in the Ministry of Health policy directive, 'PD2018_009 Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases', prior to commencement of any clinical practice placements.

The policy should be read in full as it outlines students' obligation for screening and immunisation against certain infectious diseases prior to commencing their clinical placement. Students are asked to provide evidence of their immunity or vaccination status, and screening for tuberculosis (TB) status may also be required prior to or at the time of commencement of the first clinical placement. Students should be aware that if they do not meet the requirements of the policy they cannot commence the placement and as a result are not able to complete the course.

Students are also required to undertake a National Criminal Record Check and obtain a National Police Certificate.

In the full-time program, students commence midwifery professional experience in the clinical setting in first year and this continues into second and third years.

In the final year of the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation, students can undertake between 6 and 12 credit points of internship (work experience) that relates to innovation within their research, career development or core degree specialisations. For students undertaking 12 credit points of internship, international internships may be negotiated. Students may be required to relinquish intellectual property when they opt in to certain industry-related experiences, particularly relating to internships and capstone projects.

Course completion requirements

Course program

The following example shows a typical full-time program.

full time

Year 1

Autumn session

July session

Spring session

Summer session

Year 2

Autumn session

July session

Spring session

Summer session

Year 3

Autumn session

July session

Spring session

Summer session

Year 4

Autumn session

Spring session

Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.

Admission to the combined degree is on merit according to the admissions policy for the Bachelor of Midwifery.

The English proficiency requirement for local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.