This degree will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge needed to provide care, support and advice to women during pregnancy, labour, birth and during the postnatal period.

There is a strong focus on theory and practical experience, and you will do much of your learning in our unique clinician led, authentic simulated hospital and health service on campus, known as the Horizon Hospital and Health Service (HHHS) – the only one of its kind in South Australia.

You will then have the opportunity to further develop these skills when you embark on real-world clinical placements across metropolitan, regional and rural hospitals and health services. Under the supervision of registered midwives, you will follow women during pregnancy and birth journeys. Additionally, you may have the opportunity to study a portion of your degree internationally with an overseas placement during your third year of study.

High achieving students with a competitive grade point average (GPA) may be given the opportunity to undertake the Bachelor of Midwifery with a linked Bachelor of Nursing pathway comprising four years of full-time study.

For registered nurses:

• Registered Nurses (RNs) entering this degree may be granted 49.5 units of credit. These requirements are detailed within the What courses you’ll study section of this page.

For previously registered midwives:

• Designed for midwives who have not practiced for between five and ten years, this degree has a pathway to fulfil the re-entry practice requirements. These requirements are detailed within the How to Apply section of this page.

What you'll need

Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements. Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists. On entry to the qualification you will be required to confirm that you meet the ‘Fitness to Practice in Clinical Placements’ requirements.

All students enrolled in a program leading to professional registration must be registered with the relevant National Board. The registration process is undertaken by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) with the University providing notification to AHPRA following enrolment in the program.

What you'll learn

Midwifery is an international profession and birthing practices are different all over the world. A focus of this degree is on addressing the political, socio-cultural, economic and technological influences on midwifery practices. The legal and ethical responsibilities of midwives are also explored.

There is a strong focus on theory and practical experience, and you will do much of your learning in our unique clinician-led, authentic simulated hospital and health service on campus. Here you will have the opportunity to practice your skills through real-life scenarios and feel confident and prepared for clinical practice. This simulated hospital environment fully led by practicing registered nurses and midwives (clinicians), known as the Horizon Hospital and Health Service (HHHS), is the only one of its kind in South Australia.

You will then be given the opportunity to further develop these skills when you embark on real-world clinical placements across metropolitan, regional and rural hospitals and health services, under the supervision of registered midwives. During these placements you will be actively involved in a minimum of 30 normal births, and in the pre- and post-birth care of at least 100 women. You will also follow 15 women through their pregnancy and birth journeys through Continuity Of Care Experiences (COCE).

All students will need to complete clinical placements in South Australia, and they must be completed on a full-time basis.

In addition, you may have the opportunity to study a portion of your degree internationally, with an overseas placement during your third year of study.

Midwives are the primary maternity care providers in Australia, providing care, support and advice to women during pregnancy, labour, birth and in the postnatal transition. They play an important role in the promotion of normal birth, which includes screening, assessments, detection of complications, and providing emergency care to both the woman and her baby in collaboration with other health professionals. Midwives play a significant role in health education such as family planning, preparing for birth, parenting and infant care.

Registered midwives can work in a wide variety of healthcare settings, such as:

• community and hospital services
• rural and remote healthcare
• home-based services
• health agencies.

As a Midwife, you may also have the opportunity to undertake further study in the areas of research with a Masters by Research or strengthen your supervisory skills with a Graduate Certificate in Health Science (Clinical Education) or Professional Certificate in Practice Education. Other options are the Graduate Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health and the Master of Midwifery.

Graduates may complete the Transition to Professional Practice Program with a participating employer.

Professional accreditation and recognition

Graduates satisfy the academic requirements for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. The requirements for registration are determined by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.