Course code T91
Graduate Diploma in Midwifery Practice
Why study at ECU?
-
A great student experience
As an ECU postgraduate, you can expect the best overall student experience of any public universities in Western Australia. More about QILT.
-
A 5-star postgrad experience
Our postgraduate students have rated us 5 stars for their overall experience in the latest Good Universities Guide. More 5-star ratings included: skills development, student support and teaching quality.
-
One of the world's young guns
We're ranked one of the world's best universities under 50 years old, and we've already established a global reputation for such a young institution.
Toggle between study options for Domestic or International students
Important
This course is not offered for study on-campus to international students with a student visa.
Want to look for another option?
To help our students with a career direction, we group similar fields of work into study areas.
Within each study area below you can choose an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. And within most degree courses, you can choose your speciality, or major subject.
About this Course
If you are a current Registered Nurse and thinking about a move to midwifery this might be the course for you.
The course explores midwifery foundations and cultural studies, as well as complex care and midwifery therapeutics.
Midwifery students provide continuity of care for 10 or more women during their pregnancies.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level
This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 8 Graduate Diploma Award.
Course code T91
Entry requirements
ECU admission and English language requirements apply.
See Course Entry for further information.
Admissions
Fees
Commonwealth supported - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $3,000
See Fees and Scholarships for further information.
Duration
This course is offered part-time over 18 months.
See Course Details for further information.
Availability & Campus
| Location | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Joondalup | ||
| Mount Lawley | ||
| South West | ||
| Online | PT |
Timetable
This course has a modified timetable. See Course Notes.
Course Entry
Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.
-
The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.
All applicants are required to Provide proof of current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (Registered Nurse Division 1) with no endorsements or restrictions; a statement detailing their interest in the midwifery course including the skills they have achieved in nursing to assist midwifery practice, and provide a copy of current resume.
Academic admission requirements (Band 6) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- Bachelor degree; or
- Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.
-
International students are required to provide an IELTS Academic with an overall minimum score of 7.0 (no individual band less than 7.0) or any other equivalent test approved by AHPRA. Internationally schooled applicants may also be required to meet this requirement.
Minimum English standard requirements for this course may also be satisfied with one of the following:
- Bachelor degree from an approved country;
- Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
- Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience.
Course Details
Semester availability
Semester 1: Study part-time Online
Course Structure
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| MID6105 | Theory for Midwifery Care 1 | 10 |
| MIP6101 | Midwifery Clinical Practice 1 | 10 |
| MNP6101 | Evidence-based Practice and Research Design | 20 |
T91|1
For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.
Student handbookCourse notes
Important course notes
-
Clinical placements occur within and outside of the academic calendar.
At the start of every semester there will be a compulsory on campus intensive block for 1 week (35 hours) at either Joondalup campus or South West campus (numbers permitting).
Midwifery students must complete a minimum of ten continuity of care experiences which require the student to attend the antenatal appointments, the birth and the postnatal care of women to provide woman-centred continuity of care. -
The clinical requirement for this course requires that students undertake a midwifery clinical placement at a Western Australian health site each semester. In addition to clinical placements midwifery students also attend a series of 'Continuity of care experiences' where they meet regularly with women during their pregnancy, birth, and postnatal period. Each continuity of care experience must be documented fully in an electronic portfolio as evidence of completion of CCE experiences and signed off by a midwife academic at ECU prior to the student's transcript being sent to APHRA.
Students must also complete the designated number of clinical placement hours of this course which is a minimum of 720 hours.
MIP6101 Midwifery Clinical Practice 1=240 hours
MIP6102 Midwifery Clinical Practice 2=240 hours
MIP6103 Midwifery Clinical Practice 3=240 hoursAttendance requirements
Student may be scheduled to attend clinical placements outside of the university semester timetable. Students will be able to view their placement allocation through SONIA.
Clearances and/or Risk Management Protocols Required
To be eligible to undertake clinical practice and fulfil their duty of care, students are required to complete clinical practice orientation, risk management training and obtain various screening, vaccination and clearances, as appropriate on commencement of the course and in subsequent semesters. A list of these requirements is accessible on the School of Nursing and Midwifery website.
Due to the practical nature of the nursing and midwifery professions and protection of the public, there are inherent requirements applicable to this course that may impact upon the success of some potential students. Applicants and students with a disability or other issue likely to impact on their ability to perform in practice are encouraged to contact the Course Coordinator to discuss.
More information can be found at https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/nursing-and-midwifery/nursing-and-midwifery-clinical-placements.
There may be vaccination or other similar requirements that apply to placements, including those imposed by government or third-party placement hosts, which must be completed as a component of this course. Potential students should consider this requirement before enrolling in this course and discuss with the Course Coordinator if this raises any concerns. Students may not be able to complete placement units if they are unable to meet the placement requirements, which may impact their ability to complete this course.Professional practice rules
All students must practice within the NMBA professional guidelines and complete the ANMAC midwifery standards prior to registration.
-
Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia is required to practice in the profession.
Course learning outcomes
- Assess, plan, implement and evaluate safe woman-centred/person-centred evidence based midwifery care within the scope of practice of a beginning midwifery practitioner.
- Effectively communicate and collaborate with the interprofessional team to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships in woman-centred/person-centred midwifery practice.
- Demonstrates capability for midwifery practice that enhances culturally safe and sensitive practices when caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women/persons and their families.
Professional Recognition
CourseAccredited by: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)
Fees and Scholarships
Fees
- AUD $3,000 - Commonwealth supported estimated 1st year indicative fee 1
Note
1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for the individual units you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.
Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.
Scholarships
ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.
Find a scholarshipCareer Opportunities
This course opens opportunities for you to work on hospital maternity wards and antenatal clinics, as well as in birthing centres. You might also be employed in community clinics, home birth practices or mobile clinics in rural and remote areas.
Possible future job titles
Midwife
Need some help deciding what to study?
Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.
South West Information Evening and Pizza Night
Creative thinkers start here
Student stories
Sharna Bicheno
ECU Master of Midwifery Practice
Masterful Midwifery
Master of Midwifery Practice student, Sharna Bicheno talks about her long-held passion to work with women and their babies.
Quick guide to uni-speak
-
-
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.
-
ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.
-
CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.
-
A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.
-
Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.
-
If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.
-
-
-
If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.
Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.
-
Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.
-
A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.
-
We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.
-
These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.
-
An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.
-