Bachelor of Midwifery (4684)

  • Approved Abbreviation: BMid
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 4684
  • AQF Level: 7

This program applies to students who commenced in 2022 or later.

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

For Commencement Year 2018 to 2021, please refer to: 4684.3 Bachelor of Midwifery

For Commencement Year 2013 to 2015, please refer to: 4684.1 Bachelor of Midwifery

This program prepares graduates for eligibility to apply for registration throughout Australia as a beginning professional registered midwife. This program will develop midwives for the future who can integrate local and international knowledge for the benefit of pregnant and birthing women in Greater Western Sydney, and beyond. Graduates will work in partnership with women (and their families) in order to provide effective ‘woman centred’ care. Graduates from Western Sydney University will practice according to the International Definition of the Midwife and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Midwife Standards for Practice.  Students will apply critical, reflective and intellectual skills to the provision of evidence based midwifery care. The acquisition of midwifery knowledge and skills occurs initially in campus-based simulated clinical practice settings and consolidation occurs as students undertake clinical placements in a variety of health care settings. Prospective students should be aware that full disclosure of any issues of impairment or misconduct is a declaration requirement when applying for registration as a registered midwife.

An English language skills registration standard is also applicable to all students applying for registration

http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au

Registration

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has a register of students enrolled in the Bachelor of Midwifery for the duration of their study. Western Sydney University as the education provider will provide your details directly to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) for registration.

Registration as a midwife

On successful completion of an accredited program, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Prospective students should be aware that full disclosure of any issues of impairment or misconduct is a declaration requirement when applying for registration as a registered midwife. To be accepted for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, you are required to disclose: any criminal history, physical and/or psychological impairments and meet specific English language standards. For further clarification of these requirements contact the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au

Professional Standards and Conduct

Please ensure that you are familiar with the policies available on the Western Sydney University website. In addition, nurses and midwives must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), and meet the NMBA's professional standards in order to practice in Australia.

Registration standards define the requirements that applicants, registrants or students need to meet to be registered.

To ensure patient safety, nurses and midwives are deemed mandatory reporters and under National Law are subject to making notification about notifiable conduct.

It is important to be aware that complaints or concerns can be raised about the health, conduct or performance of a registered health practitioner or student at any time. Please contact the Program Advisor listed below for information.

  • Director of Academic Program - Dr Hazel Keedle

Study Mode

Three years full-time.

Program Advice

Dr Rakime Elmir

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Full Time Internal See above

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Midwifery has accreditation and approval from the Nurses and Midwives Board Australia. From 1 July 2010 the approval, recognition and accreditation of courses has been transferred to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). Program accreditation can be checked on their website.

http://www.anmac.org.au/accreditation-services.

Please note: from 1 July 2020 applicants are to provide evidence of meeting the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, English language skills registration standard prior to enrolling in the program.

For further details, refer to the NMBA website http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards.aspx

Inherent Requirements

There are inherent requirements for this program that you must meet in order to complete your program and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this program online.

Inherent requirements

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline.  This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

 Continuation of existing arrangements for Clinical Practicum with NSW Health and Private Health Care providers. These arrangements are formalised in Student Placement Agreements between Local Health Districts (in metropolitan, rural and remote areas), Western Sydney University and the School of Nursing and Midwifery for the provision of professional practice experience placements in health care facilities. Regular meetings are held with the clinical educators and facilities.

Admission

Selection is on the basis of:

  • Academic merit (ATAR or its equivalent), and
  • Performance at an interview, conducted by the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

There is no provision for direct entry with the exception of Western Sydney University alternative entry pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

This program is not available to International students.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).  Use the links below to apply via UAC.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Additional Information

An additional admission requirement for applicants is to provide evidence of meeting the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, English language skills registration standard prior to enrolling in the program. Applicants are to provide evidence of achieving the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests and meet the requirements for test results specified in this standard.

IELTS (academic module) with a minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

Note: test results will only be accepted under one of the following two test conditions:

  1. From one test sitting, or
  2. A maximum of two test sittings in a six month period and only if, you achieve a minimum overall score of 7 in each sitting, and you achieve a minimum score of 7 in each component across the two sittings, and no score in any component of the test is below 6.5.

OET with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

Note: test results will only be accepted under one of the following two test conditions:

  1. From one test sitting, or
  2. A maximum of two test sittings in a six month period only if, you are tested in all four components in each sitting, and you achieve a minimum score of B in each component across the two sittings, and no score in any component of the test is below C.

PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

Note: test results will only be accepted under one of the following two test conditions:

  1. From one test sitting, or
  2. A maximum of two test sittings in a six month period only if, a minimum overall score of 65 is achieved in each sitting, and you achieve a minimum score of 65 in each of the communicative skills across the two sittings, and no score in any of the communicative skills is below 58.

TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test, 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing, and 23 for speaking.

Note: test results will only be accepted under one of the following two test conditions:

  1. From one test sitting, or
  2. A maximum of two test sittings in a six month period only if, a minimum total score of 94 is achieved in each sitting, and you achieve a minimum score of 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking across the two sittings, and no score in any of the sections is below, 20 for listening, 19 for reading, 24 for writing, and 20 for speaking.

Special Requirements   

To enrol in the Bachelor of Midwifery, students must meet Western Sydney University course requirements. To attend a health-related placement in this course, Special Legislative Requirements will be assessed from the first year of study.

  1. National Criminal History Check: Students must have a current (expiring 3 years from date of issue) check valid for their entire course. A valid National Criminal history check must be an Australia wide check, include the student's full name matching their Student ID card and date of birth and not have any offences listed. If a student has a criminal history identified on their check, they must provide a Clinical Placement Authority Card (CPAC) or conditional letter from the NSW HealthShare Employment Screening and Review Unit.
    https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/careers/student_clearance/Documents/appendix-10-student-application.pdf
  2. A NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance letter issued under the category of volunteer valid for their entire course.
  3. A current approved first aid certificate valid for their entire course, approved provider courses can be found at http://training.gov.au
  4. A completed vaccination/immunisation card with all serology results containing expiry dates and currency must be maintained by the student to ensure compliance for their entire course.
  5. NSW Undertaking/Declaration form.
  6. Completed any additional health forms required (such as NSW Health Code of Conduct, Health Student Undertaking/Declaration and Tuberculosis (TB) Assessment Tool)
  7. Relevant Local Health District specific documentation as requested.

Contact your School for further details. Resources are also available on the Placement Hub website

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/learning_futures/home/placements_hub/placements_hub/student_compliance

Recommended Sequence 2022

If you commenced in 2023 or later please refer to the Sequence 2023 tab for details.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

Full-time

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
NURS 1017 Primary Health Care in Action 10
NURS 1023 Bioscience 1 10
NURS 1009 Midwifery Knowledge 1 10
NURS 1012 Midwifery Professional Practice 1 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
NURS 1004 Bioscience for Midwifery 10
NURS 1025 Person-centred Care Across the Lifespan 10
NURS 1010 Midwifery Knowledge 2 10
NURS 1013 Midwifery Professional Practice 2 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
NURS 3041 Indigenous Australian Health, Wellness and Culture 10
NURS 2036 Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing and Midwifery 10
NURS 2022 Midwifery Knowledge 3 10
NURS 2025 Midwifery Professional Practice 3 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
NURS 2041 Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 10
NURS 2004 Complex Care 1 10
NURS 2018 Legal and Ethical Issues in Midwifery 10
NURS 2026 Midwifery Professional Practice 4 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
NURS 3006 Complex Care 2 10
NURS 3005 Collaborative Care 10
NURS 3036 Psychosocial Issues in the Perinatal Period 10
NURS 3030 Midwifery Professional Practice 5 10
 Credit Points40
2H session
NURS 3025 Midwifery Practice - Global Maternal Health 10
 Credit Points10
Spring session
NURS 3002 Being a Professional Nurse or Midwife 10
NURS 3031 Midwifery Professional Practice 6 10
NURS 7028 Leadership in Clinical Practice 10
In Spring 2023, students will select NURS 3004 instead of NURS 7028  
NURS 3004
 Clinical Leadership in Nursing (Advanced)  
In Autumn 2024, students will select NURS 3043 instead of NURS 3004  
NURS 3043
 Midwife as a Facilitator of Learning  
 Credit Points30
 Total Credit Points240

Equivalent subject

The subject listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2021 or earlier.

NURS 2031 Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 1, replaced by NURS 2041 Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing

NURS 1006 Human Relationships and Life Transitions, replaced by NURS 1025 Person-centred care across the Lifespan

NURS 2035 Research for Nursing and Midwifery, replaced by NURS 2036 Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing and Midwifery

NURS 3003 Clinical leadership and Professional Relationships, replaced by NURS 7028 Leadership in Clinical Practice

Midwifery Practice Experience

To enable students to experience midwifery practice across the calendar year as required by ANMAC, all Midwifery Professional Practice subjects (MPP’s) are offered as ‘H’ subjects. The major types of experiences are in blocks of learning and in a woman-centred continuity of care model. Practice experiences for the Bachelor of Midwifery are documented within the practice subjects.

Practice Block

A number of practice experiences, in a variety of practice placements, are scheduled throughout the three year program. There are fewer hours of clinical practice in first year (approximately 25%) compared to second year (50%), with the most clinical practice allocated to the third year (75%) to enable students to consolidate their practice in readiness to meet the NMBA Competencies for practice as a midwife.

This practice occurs in blocks of time (from one day a week to five days per week) and includes working in hospital areas such as antenatal clinics; antenatal wards; birthing subjects; postnatal wards; newborn nursery; postnatal home visiting; operating theatres for caesarean sections; ultrasound clinics; fetal and maternal assessment subjects and gynaecology wards. The practice also includes working in such areas as community centres with child and family nurses; midwives in group practice; rural hospitals; and ambulance services.

Continuity of Care

Continuity of care/carer enables women to develop a relationship with the same caregiver(s) throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Continuity of care/carer facilitates relationships and consistent information, which is essential to the provision of care that is safe, sensitive and appropriate. Students undertaking this program will be introduced to the theoretical concepts and evidence base for continuity of care/carer model within the Midwifery Knowledge subjects. Continuity of care/carer experience will be gained within the Midwifery Practice Experience subjects. Throughout the program, students will refine and develop their understanding of continuity of care/carer, underpinned by a woman-centred care philosophy, where women are involved in their own care, making informed choices and having control over both their care and their relationships with their caregivers. In this relationship-based care model, women report a higher level of satisfaction compared to other care models (Sandall, Soltani, Gates, Shennan & Devane, 2016). Students will follow 10 women over the course of the BMid within this model of care; two women in the first year, three in the second year and five in the third year.

Students will begin their first midwifery practice placement within eight weeks of commencing the program in the Autumn semester or as soon as they have met all the pre-requisites. Students will attend well women’s antenatal clinics on a weekly basis and begin by observing the practice of midwifery care. They will practice their midwifery skills on campus and as they gain confidence they will begin to have more a ‘hands on’ approach under the supervision of a midwife. During the antenatal clinic placements it is expected that students will meet and work in partnership with women in the continuity of care model. Students will follow the women throughout their pregnancy, labour and birth and during the postnatal period for up six weeks as determined by the woman, and the supervising midwife. This may include visits to the woman’s home.

The practice blocks, together with the 10 continuity of care experiences across the calendar year, provide the BMid curriculum with approximately fifty percent clinical practice and fifty percent theory, which is a requirement of ANMAC.

Recommended Sequence 2023 - 2024

This sequence applies to students who commenced in 2023 or later. If you commenced prior to 2023 please refer to the Sequence 2022 tab for details.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

Full-time

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
NURS 1017 Primary Health Care in Action 10
NURS 1023 Bioscience 1 10
NURS 1009 Midwifery Knowledge 1 10
NURS 1012 Midwifery Professional Practice 1 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
NURS 1004 Bioscience for Midwifery 10
NURS 1025 Person-centred Care Across the Lifespan 10
NURS 1010 Midwifery Knowledge 2 10
NURS 1013 Midwifery Professional Practice 2 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
NURS 2036 Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing and Midwifery 10
NURS 2022 Midwifery Knowledge 3 10
NURS 2043 Pharmacology and Microbiology for Midwifery 10
NURS 2025 Midwifery Professional Practice 3 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
NURS 2042 Psychosocial Issues in the Perinatal Period 10
NURS 2004 Complex Care 1 10
NURS 2018 Legal and Ethical Issues in Midwifery 10
NURS 2026 Midwifery Professional Practice 4 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
NURS 3006 Complex Care 2 10
NURS 3005 Collaborative Care 10
NURS 3041 Indigenous Australian Health, Wellness and Culture 10
NURS 3030 Midwifery Professional Practice 5 10
 Credit Points40
2H session
NURS 3025 Midwifery Practice - Global Maternal Health 10
 Credit Points10
Spring session
NURS 3031 Midwifery Professional Practice 6 10
NURS 3043 Midwife as a Facilitator of Learning 10
NURS 3002 Being a Professional Nurse or Midwife 10
 Credit Points30
 Total Credit Points240

Midwifery Practice Experience

To enable students to experience midwifery practice across the calendar year as required by ANMAC, all Midwifery Professional Practice subjects (MPP’s) are offered as ‘H’ subjects. The major types of experiences are in blocks of learning and in a woman-centred continuity of care model. Practice experiences for the Bachelor of Midwifery are documented within the practice subjects.

Practice Block

A number of practice experiences, in a variety of practice placements, are scheduled throughout the three year program. There are fewer hours of clinical practice in first year (approximately 25%) compared to second year (50%), with the most clinical practice allocated to the third year (75%) to enable students to consolidate their practice in readiness to meet the NMBA Competencies for practice as a midwife.

This practice occurs in blocks of time (from one day a week to five days per week) and includes working in hospital areas such as antenatal clinics; antenatal wards; birthing subjects; postnatal wards; newborn nursery; postnatal home visiting; operating theatres for caesarean sections; ultrasound clinics; fetal and maternal assessment subjects and gynaecology wards. The practice also includes working in such areas as community centres with child and family nurses; midwives in group practice; rural hospitals; and ambulance services.

Continuity of Care

Continuity of care/carer enables women to develop a relationship with the same caregiver(s) throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Continuity of care/carer facilitates relationships and consistent information, which is essential to the provision of care that is safe, sensitive and appropriate. Students undertaking this program will be introduced to the theoretical concepts and evidence base for continuity of care/carer model within the Midwifery Knowledge subjects. Continuity of care/carer experience will be gained within the Midwifery Practice Experience subjects. Throughout the program, students will refine and develop their understanding of continuity of care/carer, underpinned by a woman-centred care philosophy, where women are involved in their own care, making informed choices and having control over both their care and their relationships with their caregivers. In this relationship-based care model, women report a higher level of satisfaction compared to other care models (Sandall, Soltani, Gates, Shennan & Devane, 2016). Students will follow 10 women over the course of the BMid within this model of care; two women in the first year, three in the second year and five in the third year.

Students will begin their first midwifery practice placement within eight weeks of commencing the program in the Autumn semester or as soon as they have met all the pre-requisites. Students will attend well women’s antenatal clinics on a weekly basis and begin by observing the practice of midwifery care. They will practice their midwifery skills on campus and as they gain confidence they will begin to have more a ‘hands on’ approach under the supervision of a midwife. During the antenatal clinic placements it is expected that students will meet and work in partnership with women in the continuity of care model. Students will follow the women throughout their pregnancy, labour and birth and during the postnatal period for up six weeks as determined by the woman, and the supervising midwife. This may include visits to the woman’s home.

The practice blocks, together with the 10 continuity of care experiences across the calendar year, provide the BMid curriculum with approximately fifty percent clinical practice and fifty percent theory, which is a requirement of ANMAC.