Graduate Diploma of Midwifery
Course summary for current students
Student Information Centre
Tel 1300 334 733
enquire@deakin.edu.au
Health - Student and Academic Services
Tel 03 9251 7777
health-enquire@deakin.edu.au
OR
School of Nursing and Midwifery Postgraduate Enrolments Team
Tel 03 9244 6102
G = Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
S = Geelong Waterfront Campus
W =Warrnambool Campus
X = Off campus
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of Midwifery |
|---|---|
| Campus | Offered at Melbourne Burwood Campus, Off campus |
| Duration | 1.5 years in a combination of full time and part time study |
| Deakin course code | H676 |
Course sub-headings
Course overview
The Graduate Diploma of Midwifery is designed for registered nurses seeking registration as a midwife. They are required to successfully complete the sequence of core units of study (equivalent to eight credit points). A program of study is available within the core units of the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery (equivalent to 4 credit points) for those who seek re-recognition of their qualification of midwifery following a lapse. These students are required to make contact with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (“AHPRA”) through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (“NMBA”) related to their specific requirements seeking the qualification of midwife.
Professional recognition
This course is recognised by AHPRA and accredited by the NMBA and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (“ANMAC”).
Clinical Practicum
The Graduate Diploma of Midwifery has been designed to incorporate clinical learning opportunities and supervised part-time arrangements within a variety of maternity services settings. Students are usually employed within a collaborating hospital to support and provide a sound clinical learning environment for the clinical program requirements of the course. Where concurrent employment is not possible, clinical practicum may be negotiated. There are clinical hours that must be completed independently of the supervised employment component. Following successful completion of 8 credit points of study and all practice requirements of the course and for registration, students are eligible to apply to AHPRA, through the NMBA, for registration as a midwife.
Registered nurses seeking re-recognition of their qualification as a midwife may undertake a ‘midwifery return to practice’ program of study (exit at 4 credit points) and are required to make their own arrangements in maternity services to support them in meeting practice requirements of the program and those required by the AHPRA.
Following successful completion of a program of study (equivalent to 4 credit points) are eligible to make an application to AHPRA, through the NMBA following successful completion of academic (equivalent to 4 credit points) and practice requirements.
For the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery (8 credit points) and the exit option for those who are required to complete a program of study such as the ‘midwifery return to practice’ (4 credit points), the theoretical and clinical components of the assessment for each unit must be passed in order to successfully gain an overall pass. Compulsory hurdle tasks form part of the assessment. Recognition of the importance of clinical assessments is calculated in the overall student workload. Failure of a compulsory practicum in a unit will normally lead to exclusion from the course.
Fees and charges
Unit fees can be viewed within individual unit descriptions. You can search for a unit using the Unit Search.
Please be aware:
- Fees are calculated on a per unit basis
- Fees charged will depend on the individual units undertaken
- Fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and services
Course rules
The Graduate Diploma of Midwifery comprises eight credit points of study, including five core units (6 credit points) plus 2 credit points of electives.
Both the theoretical and clinical components of the assessment for each unit must be passed in order to successfully gain an overall pass in this course. Compulsory clinical hurdles form part of the assessment of this course. Recognition of the importance of clinical assessments is calculated in the overall student workload.
Note: Failure of a compulsory practicum in a unit will normally lead to exclusion.
Course structure
Year 1
Trimester 1 (Commencing February)
| HNM701 | The Woman During Pregnancy, Labour and Birth (B) * |
| HNM702 | The Woman and Newborn Infant (B) * |
Trimester 2
| HNM703 | Contexts of Midwifery Practice (B) * |
| HNM704 | Clinical Challenges in Maternity Care (B) * |
plus one elective unit
Year 2
Trimester 1
| HNM705 | Clinical Challenges in Infant Care (B) * |
plus one elective unit
* Lectures are conducted from the Melbourne Burwood Campus and are video-conferenced to other venues. Online learning resources are used for independent study, lecture delivery and discussions.
Elective units:
The 2 credit points of elective units may be chosen from the following:
| HNN727 | Research in Nursing and Midwifery (X) (2 credit points) |
| HNN734 | Advanced Primary Health Care Practice |
OR from the following Professional Development Unit modules:
Lactation and Infant Feeding
Module 1: The Science of Infant Feeding (0.5cp)
Module 2: Infant Feeding Management (0.5cp)
Contemporary Midwifery Practice
Module 1: Examination of the Newborn (0.5cp)
Module 2: The Midwife in the Community (0.5cp)
Module 3: Health Promotion: The role of the midwifery (0.5cp)
Module 4: Care of the Perineum: Labour and birth (0.5cp)
Module 5: Midwives and Caseload Practice: Primary Maternity Care for Birth in Hospital and Home
Alternatively, students may select level 7 electives from other Schools within the Faculty of Health.
