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Program focus

This program is designed to prepare registered nurses to become eligible for registration as a midwife and has been developed in partnership with Cairns Hospital (Cairns and Hinterland Health Service District), Toowoomba Hospital (Darling Downs Health Service District), St Vincent's Hospital Toowoomba and other nominated rural hospitals in Queensland. Students of this program must be employed as midwifery students at a partner hospital to complete the professional practice requirements of the program. (See Application Procedures section). Students who have completed a midwifery program at a tertiary institution are not eligible to apply for this program.

Professional accreditation

Please Note

The Master of Midwifery curriculum is undergoing a review process to ensure it meets the new Midwifery Education Standards. Any information contained herein is now subject to the outcomes of this accreditation process by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and approval by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

Program aims

The aim of this program is to prepare students for practice in midwifery to the standard of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) National Competency Standards for the Midwife using a woman-centred model. Graduates will be eligible for registration with NMBA.

Program objectives

On successful completion of this program graduates will be able to:

• initiate, maintain and conclude partnerships with women which facilitate women's empowerment and promote the health of women and their families

• use a comprehensive knowledge and skill base to provide safe and effective clinical care and education for childbearing women and their foetuses/infants across all ages and health-risk categories

• express acceptance of the uniqueness of individual women and through the combined attributes of caring, patience, gentleness, and compassion and by practising within the ANMC code of ethics, promote a supportive and safe birthing environment

• develop and integrate into practice knowledge and wisdom about the biophysical and psycho-social spiritual aspects of childbearing women and foetuses/infants

• critically evaluate and apply research relevant to midwifery

• apply clinical decision-making skills to provide midwifery care and promote quality outcomes

• practice midwifery within prescribed legal boundaries and within their own scope of competence

• when required, fulfil the pivotal role of midwife and coordinator of care within the multi-disciplinary health care team

• demonstrate a critical awareness of historical, political and cultural context of birthing and use this to further the aims of childbearing women and the discipline of midwifery

• demonstrate advanced skills in reflection, analysis, argument and criticism including the ability to research and enhance own clinical practice

• grow and develop as a person and as a professional .

Admission requirements

Applicants meeting the following criteria may apply to be accepted into the program:

• be a registered nurse with a Bachelor degree in Nursing or equivalent. The Program Coordinator will use USQ principles of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) where applicable

• hold current registration with NMBA through Australian Health Professional Registration Authority (AHPRA)

• have access to ongoing quality clinical experiences in a variety of settings through USQ's partner hospitals

• have personal access to a PC computer with CD-ROM and Internet facilities for teaching-learning purposes. This is essential if students are to fulfil course assessment requirements. See below for further technical requirements. In some partnership hospitals, Queensland Health Intranet/Internet access may be available for students for up to eight hours per week.

• have a minimum one year of recent post registration clinical nursing experience at the time of commencing the Master of Midwifery.

The following are encouraged to apply:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander registered nurses.

• Registered nurses from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

• Registered nurses who have diverse academic, work and life experiences.

PLEASE NOTE

Students need to commit to the professional clinical experience requirements which are both unpaid and paid placements. This will involve being available to meet the requirements for continuity of care of women partnered with students outside of scheduled placement hours. In order to complete all (see Standard Eight in Standards and Criteria for the Accreditation of Nursing and Midwifery Courses Leading to Registration, Enrolment, Endorsement and Authorisation in Australia鈥攚ith Evidence Guide), students may be required to continue professional experience beyond the completion of the 12 month paid contract with the Partner hospital. Hence activity as a midwifery student may extend into semester two of the second year of the Program.

Students will be required to meet NMBA requirements for registration as a midwife and registration as a student. All students enrolled in the Master of Midwifery program will automatically be registered by USQ as a student with the Australian Health Professional Registration Authority (AHPRA). For further details of student registration, please see the .

To fulfil midwifery education standards, students must attend all compulsory residential schools. See section below for details. Students unable to attend must withdraw from the associated course

Indigenous Students

USQ strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Indigenous students interested in a career in midwifery should contact the Indigenous coordinator in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at indigenousnursing@usq.edu.au for information on guidance and support and to discuss entry pathways.

Other Essential Requirements

Students must be willing to undertake and submit the requirements of the 精东传媒app of Southern Queensland and Queensland Health for clinical placement. These include:

1. evidence of Hepatitis B immunisation

2. evidence of adult immunisation for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and Pertussis.

3. a current CPR certificate

4. a signed Qld Health Student Orientation Checklist, Qld Health Placement Deed and a Qld Health Placement Privacy and Consent Deed

5. a signed USQ Student Clinical Placement Policy Declaration

6. a current Criminal History Police Check

7. a Blue Card from the Queensland Government Commission for Children and Young People and Young Guardian.

Application Procedures

There are 2 components to the application:

1. USQ Application process

2. Hospital Application process

1. USQ Application process

Applicants should apply to the 精东传媒app using the Direct Entry online application process. Each application will be assessed on an individual basis, according to the Entry Requirements. The following important information must be included; otherwise the application will be delayed:

• a certified copy of the applicant's Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent

• evidence of current registration as a nurse (AHPRA certificate)

• evidence of recent post registration nursing experience (at least one year) e.g. a letter of employment from the applicant's employer.

2. Hospital Application process

Applicants seeking admission to MMID at USQ are also required to apply for a 12-month clinical placement as a part-time, paid midwifery student at one of USQ's participating hospitals. Each applicant is required to put forward an expression of interest for employment as a midwifery student to their preferred USQ partner hospital, concurrent with application for enrolment in the Program at USQ. The applicant should also be aware that:

• application is competitive at the health services as there are limited numbers of clinical placements at partner hospitals

• enrolment pattern alterations must be discussed with the Program coordinator should there be no available clinical placements for the intended clinical year.

Partner hospital representatives and USQ work closely to match enrolled MMID students to available quota of places at Partner hospitals. The Program Coordinator will liaise with applicants to confirm that their application allows them a place within the quota for their selected hospital. Currently placements are only available with the partner hospitals listed below:

Please note students applying for enrolment in the Program from 2012 may be subject to altered progression to meet transition to accredited Program for 2012.
Employment contracts with partner hospitals cannot be secured until students have successfully completed pre-requisite courses and .

The hospital will advise the student directly of the result of their placement application once successful completion of prerequisite courses has been confirmed by USQ. Hospitals may ask the student to complete employment assessment criteria and attend a personal interview. In this case, students would be notified once references have been checked.

Employment is on the basis of a 12 month contract that is subject to performance assessment throughout the year. Students should familiarise themselves with the relevant Code of Conduct prior to commencing employment.

Students cannot progress in the program if they do not have a hospital placement. Where a paid placement is not available, unpaid supernumerary placement may be considered where placements can be identified and supported by the university. Students who have enrolled but have not secured a placement will be required to withdraw from enrolment in courses. Provided that they do so at any time up to and including the last day to drop courses without penalty, they may expect to receive a full refund of any tuition fees paid for courses in that semester.

Important Note: If for any reason the student decides to drop or defer their studies at any stage it is the responsibility of the student to contact the hospital in writing to resign the midwifery student position being held for them.

Acceptance of enrolment

Students will receive notification of enrolment offer by email from the USQ Recruitment and Admissions office. On receipt of acceptance of an offer of enrolment from the student by the 精东传媒app, study packages containing comprehensive study information, study materials and assignment details will be sent, at which time students should prepare to commence study on the first day of semester.

How to apply

Domestic students

may be made directly to USQ.

Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of your higher education and you as a student pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .
Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .
Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who reside outside Australia pay full tuition fees.
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

Program structure

This program consists of eight courses. Exemptions may be granted according to regulations in . Students will normally study two courses per semester for four semesters over two years. This program uses a two semester academic calendar. Students will commence their study in March (Semester 1) with a one week residential school. As a flexible learning program, students are required to interact through Internet Discussion Groups (See IT Requirements for minimum technology requirements). Unpaid professional experience will be commenced in this semester.

In Semester 2 (July), students attend a one-week and then begin paid employment as midwifery students. They will be required to continue in the clinical field for 18 months and will complete their hospital internship and the program in Semester 2 of the following year. This includes some unpaid clinical placements to ensure the professional experience requirements specified by ANMAC have been met.

Students should contact the Program Coordinator to discuss variations in enrolment pattern and courses for exemption in recognition of prior learning.

Course Sequence and Relationship to Residential Schools

Students choosing to study at one of the rural partner hospitals will need to organise with their Director of Nursing Services an exchange or a supernumerary position for a total of approximately three weeks to a larger partner hospital during the clinical year to ensure exposure to high-risk maternity and neonatal care. The program will be delivered primarily by flexible learning, which will be supplemented by three residential schools. For more detail on residential schools please see below.

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 3 years to complete this program.

IT requirements

Students should visit the USQ to check that their computers are capable of running the appropriate software and versions of Internet web browsers and to check the minimum and recommended standards for software.

Residential schools

There are three mandatory in this Program. The first residential school is of one (1) week (36 hours) duration at the Toowoomba campus, at the commencement of the program to introduce students to the foundations of midwifery knowledge and practice. The second residential school is one week duration (36 hours) and will be held in Cairns and Toowoomba Hospitals (at the beginning of Semester 2 in the Clinical Year). This residential school focuses primarily on midwifery skill acquisition, application of evidenced based knowledge and principles of woman-centred care so that students are well prepared to begin employment as midwifery students in hospitals. The third residential schools are 4 days duration (2 days per course) and are held in Semester 1, Year 2 (in Toowoomba and in Cairns) dates to be advised. The focus of these residential schools is to explore complex psycho-social aspects of childbearing and to learn clinical problem solving in the event of obstetric emergencies.

Recommended enrolment pattern (for completion in 24 months)

As the professional practice components of the midwifery courses are achieved through a paid employment contract, students are unable to be offered any slower progression other than what appears in the enrolment pattern below.