The University of Newcastle's Master of Midwifery Studies is designed to develop an in-depth understanding of contemporary midwifery theories and practice which will enable you to demonstrate leadership within the midwifery profession and contemporary maternity services.

Extending your midwifery foundational education in this way will place you in an optimum position to positively influence future midwifery practice and maternity services provision.

What you will study

Grounded in the provision of woman-centred, primary midwifery care, the University of Newcastle Master of Midwifery Studies combines contemporary theories encompassing a holistic view of midwifery, including the social, emotional, cultural and psychophysiological factors which influence health and wellbeing.

Key study areas include:

• Contemporary Midwifery
• Midwifery and Cultural Diversity
• Optimising Childbearing
• Introduction to Research in Health Care

To help you achieve your career objectives, you will also have the opportunity to focus your learning by choosing to specialise in any one of the following five specialist areas:

• Midwifery primary care - focuses on providing comprehensive woman-centred, midwifery primary care to childbearing women and their babies.
• Clinical education - focuses on learning the knowledge and skills to support and teach midwifery students and assist in the development, design, implementation and evaluation of midwifery education and professional development programs of maternity staff.
• Research - focuses on conducting research into all aspects of midwifery care, professional issues affecting midwives and midwifery, maternity service provision and translation of health research knowledge into midwifery practice and health policy.
• Leadership and management - focuses on the effective management of staffing, policy and financial resources and leading the coordination and delivery of care in a maternity ward, department or in community settings.
• Family health - focuses on the provision of collaborative, woman-centred care to women and families who may have additional needs, with a specific focus on assessment and intervention for perinatal and infant mental health and drug and alcohol issues as well as support of the parenting partnership.

Upon completion, you will have developed a solid foundation in contemporary maternity healthcare frameworks, midwifery care and contexts of practice for Indigenous women. By specialising your midwifery qualifications, you will have the knowledge and qualifications to open doorways to roles in midwifery primary care group practice models, clinical education, midwifery management, research and academia, or clinical midwifery specialist and consultant roles.

Prospective career paths may include:

• midwifery primary care
• midwifery clinical educator
• midwifery manager / unit manager
• midwifery researcher
• clinical midwife specialist / consultant
• family health midwife