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Graduate Diploma of Midwifery

Course summary for local students

Award granted Graduate Diploma of Midwifery
CampusOffered at Melbourne Burwood Campus
Length1.5 years in a combination of full time and part time study
Next available intake

March (Trimester 1), July (Trimester 2)

Indicative annual fee 2014$6,050* - Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
$19,320* - Full-fee paying place
Faculty contacts

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

postgrad-nurs@deakin.edu.au

LevelPostgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
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

On successful completion of this course, students will be awarded the qualification of Graduate Diploma of Midwifery. This course has been designed to enable eligibility to apply for endorsement as a midwife through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

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Fees and charges

Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.


This is a fee-paying course.  Domestic students may be eligible for FEE-HELP assistance in paying these tuition fees.  For more information about FEE-HELP go to http://www.deakin.edu.au/future-students/fees/


Fee paying place - Domestic (DFP)
A Fee paying place is one for which the university does not receive any government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute the full cost of their course.
Fee paying places are available to domestic students. Domestic students are those who are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of a permanent visa.

* The 'indicative annual course fee' cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2014, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2014 can be viewed from the Unit Search.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on 'indicative course fees' to calculate the total future cost of their course.

Career opportunities

The midwife is recognised as a responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period to conduct births and provide care for the newborn and the infant. The midwife has an important task in health counselling and education, not only for the woman, but also within the family and the community. This work involves antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to women’s health, sexual or reproductive health and childcare. A midwife may practise in any setting, including the home, community, hospitals, clinics or health units.

Employment opportunities for have never been greater due to the current shortage of qualified midwife both locally and overseas. Throughout your course you will develop the knowledge and skills that make you highly employable within the specialist field of midwifery.

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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.

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Course structure

Year 1

Trimester 1 (Commencing February)

HNM701 The Woman During Pregnancy, Labour and Birth  *

HNM702 The Woman and Newborn Infant  *

 

Trimester 2

HNM703 Contexts of Midwifery Practice  *

HNM704 Clinical Challenges in Maternity Care  *

plus one elective unit

 

Year 2

Trimester 1

HNM705 Clinical Challenges in Infant Care  *

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  (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.

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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.

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Entry requirements - general

Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.

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Entry requirements - specific

Applicants should normally possess a Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent and must be nurses registered with the AHPRA.

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Credit for prior learning - general

The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

You can also refer to the Credit for Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

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How to apply

Applications must be made directly to the University through the Applicant Portal.  Details of available courses and application closing dates can be found on the Apply webpage. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.


Your course may require further information in support of your application. Please refer to the faculty information website for further details.

 

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8th June 2007