Graduate Diploma in Midwifery

There is a more recent version of this academic item available.

Overview

If you're a registered nurse with a passion for helping new parents safely navigate pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, fast-track your entry to midwifery practice with La Trobe's Graduate Diploma in Midwifery. Our flexible 12-month course focuses on contemporary issues in Australian midwifery practice by combining lectures, workshops, labs and … For more content click the Read more button below. By completing La Trobe's Graduate Diploma in Midwifery, you will:Develop the skills and knowledge to provide best-practice, woman-centred and evidence-based midwifery care.Apply your skills and knowledge in a real-world clinical settings by taking advantage of La Trobe's long-standing partnerships with providers like Mercy Health, The Royal Women's Hospital, Bendigo Health, Goulburn Valley Health and Albury-Wodonga Health.Promote the role of the midwife and become an agent of change for maternity care reform.Understand the impacts of digital health in a maternity care contextConnect with a community of practicing clinicians and world-leading researchers in women's and maternal health in the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Judith Lumley Centre.Graduate eligible to apply to become a registered midwife.Upon completion, use your qualification to apply for our Master of Midwifery Practice.

Our flexible 12-month course focuses on contemporary issues in Australian midwifery practice by combining lectures, workshops, labs and simulations with hands-on clinical placements in some of Melbourne and regional Victoria's most respected maternity services.

By completing La Trobe's Graduate Diploma in Midwifery, you will:

Develop the skills and knowledge to provide best-practice, woman-centred and evidence-based midwifery care.
Apply your skills and knowledge in a real-world clinical settings by taking advantage of La Trobe's long-standing partnerships with providers like Mercy Health, The Royal Women's Hospital, Bendigo Health, Goulburn Valley Health and Albury-Wodonga Health.
Promote the role of the midwife and become an agent of change for maternity care reform.
Understand the impacts of digital health in a maternity care context
Connect with a community of practicing clinicians and world-leading researchers in women's and maternal health in the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Judith Lumley Centre.
Graduate eligible to apply to become a registered midwife.
Upon completion, use your qualification to apply for our Master of Midwifery Practice.

Portfolio

Office of the Provost

School

Course coordinator

Stefanie Zugna

Location(s)

Melbourne (Bundoora)

Course instance contact

Stefanie Zugna

Course duration (full time)

1 year

Study level

Postgraduate

AQF level

Level 8 - Graduate Diploma

Available only as an exit award

Study options

Domestic

Completion requirements

To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma in Midwifery, students must complete 120 credit points consisting of: 120 core credit points Students will attend a minimum of 100 antenatal visits with women Under the supervision of a midwife, the student must act as the primary birth attendant for 30 … For more content click the Read more button below. Students will attend a minimum of 100 postnatal visits with women and, where possible, their babies Students will gain experience in caring for 40 women with complex needs across pregnancy, labour, birth or the postnatal period Students will undertake 20 full examinations of a newborn infant Students must complete 10 Continuity of Care Experiences. A Continuity of Care Experience involves engaging with 10 women and attending four antenatal and two postnatal episodes of care and, for the majority of women, the labour and birth. This involves being “on call” to attend these births. Occasionally, the duration of the program may be extended beyond the 12 months to support the completion of the course clinical requirements.

To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma in Midwifery, students must complete 120 credit points consisting of:

120 core credit points

Students will attend a minimum of 100 antenatal visits with women

Under the supervision of a midwife, the student must act as the primary birth attendant for 30 women who experience a spontaneous vaginal birth. Additionally, provide direct and indirect care to an additional 10 women throughout the first stage of labour, where possible, during birth (regardless of mode).

Students will attend a minimum of 100 postnatal visits with women and, where possible, their babies

Students will gain experience in caring for 40 women with complex needs across pregnancy, labour, birth or the postnatal period

Students will undertake 20 full examinations of a newborn infant

Students must complete 10 Continuity of Care Experiences. A Continuity of Care Experience involves engaging with 10 women and attending four antenatal and two postnatal episodes of care and, for the majority of women, the labour and birth. This involves being “on call” to attend these births.

Occasionally, the duration of the program may be extended beyond the 12 months to support the completion of the course clinical requirements.

Course structure
120 credit points

Level one120 credit points

Core120 credit points

Course intended learning outcomes

On successful completion you will be able to:

Advocate for the role of the midwife, the midwifery profession and continuity of midwifery care to improve perinatal outcomes for women and families

Provide holistic midwifery care in collaboration with the intra and interdisciplinary health care team, in order to optimise health and wellbeing of women and baby

Perform comprehensive assessments in partnership with the woman by collecting and analysing information to plan and evaluate care

Promote inclusive and responsive professional midwifery practice in partnership with women from diverse backgrounds with sensitivity to culture, values and beliefs and support the woman’s capacity for self-determination

Demonstrate midwifery practice that aligns with relevant legal parameters and professional standards, ethical frameworks, codes and guidelines

Appraise and critique research evidence and apply this to midwifery practice to provide safe, high quality, woman-centred midwifery care

Demonstrate strategies for sustainable professional practice including ongoing professional learning and development and monitoring the health and wellbeing of self and colleagues and through reflection, action and feedback

Course features

Work based learning (placement) requirements

Compulsory placements (Work Based Learning)
During this course, you will participate in one or more supervised Work Based Learning (WBL) placements designed to allow you to practice newly acquired skills, behaviours and knowledge while integrating theory with practice. The placements will immerse you in professional work culture, enabling you to develop and further enhance your skills. WBL provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience at one or more of our local industry partners. WBL placements will be arranged by the student in conjunction with the Placements Operation Team. The number of hours undertaken can vary considerably, depending on the requirements of the course. Students may incur additional costs and it may be necessary to travel or relocate to complete a specific placement. Please refer to the individual subject entries for more information.

Work integrated learning opportunities
A course that integrates theory with the practice of work.

Career development learning

Career outcomes

You'll be prepared to work in midwifery roles in private and public hospitals, education, community and government organisations.

Possible roles include:

Midwife in a variety of settings including tertiary services, rural/ remote, and independent/ community
Clinical midwifery educator
Midwifery manager
Midwifery researcher/ academic

Professional recognition

The Graduate Diploma in Midwifery is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). Professional registration may require an application to the professional body and may have additional or ongoing requirements beyond the completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.

Other course instances

Select a related course instance to view more information.

Internal course relationships

Replaces

Additional costs

Immunisations - Course specific

Where a health placement will be undertaken in a health care setting, you may be required to provide immunisation/vaccination and health screening records. This is to help protect you from contracting vaccine-preventable diseases and/or from transmitting infection to clients. It is also required to ensure that State and Territory legislative requirements and contractual obligations to health care facilities are met. Details on disciplines with mandatory document requirements are available on the Health placements webpage.

police_check

WWCC

Clinical placements - Course specific (accommodation and travel costs)

Students studying at the Bendigo campus will undertake their clinical placements throughout regional Victoria. This may involve travelling to health services outside their contracted clinical placement to complete rotations in higher acuity settings. Students are responsible for the expenses associated with completing these placements including travel and accommodation, but may be eligible for available bursaries or scholarships.

Handbook