Bachelor of Midwifery

2008 | 2009 | 2010

Division of Health Sciences | School of Nursing and Midwifery

Program Code: IBMW

Program Level: Undergraduate

SATAC code: 414241 (External Mode): 414245

Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) for 2009 Entry: 87.35 (Internal), 88.45 (External)

Home Campus: City East

Program Length (in EFTSL): 3

Looking for more information or advice?

Future students

This link will direct you to the University’s Future Students Office who will respond to your enquiry.

Domestic – Please refer to Future Student Enquiries
International – Please refer to Enquiry Online

Current students

This link will redirect you to Campus Central on your campus and they will respond to your enquiry within 24 hours (redirection is based on your program so we will ensure your enquiry is directed to the correct campus)

Program director/s

Ms Beth Grinter (IBMW)

Your Program Orientation (for commencing students only)

Student Registration
Professional Practice Acts for some health professionals, including Nursing, may change over the next few years to require students to register before undertaking a program of study, and remain registered throughout the program. Specific information will be available on the Nurses Board of South Australia web-site once the Registration Act comes into force. Student registration is not required until such legislation comes into effect.

Police Checks
All students in the Division of Health Sciences who undertake field or clinical placements, or participate in University clinics as part of their program, must have had a police clearance prior to the commencement of any placement or clinic activity.

Nursing and Midwifery brochure (PDF - 1052KB download Adobe Acrobat)

Aim

The Bachelor of Midwifery aims to prepare midwives who can care for women, babies and their families before, during and after childbirth.

Entry requirements

In order to be eligible for entry, students are required to have:

qualified for the SACE;
recorded achievement in five SACE subjects taken at Stage 2 level;
included at least four Stage 2 subjects that are approved Higher Education Selection Subjects(HESS);
obtained an achievement score of 10 or better for prerequisite subjects;
obtained a competitive Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER).

Alternatively, applicants may qualify for entry if they have:

completed the equivalent secondary education qualifications as required for university entry under SACE;
completed or partly completed a recognised higher educational program at a recognised higher education institution;
completed at least four Open Universities Australia subjects at the appropriate level;
completed an award from TAFE or from another registered training organisation at AQF Diploma level or above;
completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma, obtaining a minimum score of 24 points;
qualified for Special/Mature Age Entry;
completed the Health Science stream of the UniSA Foundation Studies program.

Or, be:

a Registered Nurse holding a current practising certificate; or
a Registered Midwife with a current practising certificate seeking to upgrade to a degree qualification.

English language entry requirements
In addition, International students who speak English as a foreign language must satisfy the following:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic): Overall score of 6.5 obtained within the last two years or corresponding results from an equivalent test such as TOEFL or the appropriate Academic English language level delivered at CELUSA;
OR
Successful completion of a secondary qualification in Australia within the last two years;
OR
Successful completion of at least one year of tertiary study in Australia within the last two years;
OR
Successful completion of one year of secondary or tertiary study conducted and completed in English within the last two years in a country in which:

English is an official language as determined by the University.

Content/structure

The area of study is midwifery with a focus on primary health care and cognisance of the social determinants of health. Midwifery study is supported by human bioscience, social and behavioural sciences. It is an international profession which has the safe delivery of children as a unifying skill. However, birthing practices differ the world over, and emphasis is placed on the practice of midwifery for a multicultural society in metropolitan, rural and remote settings. A range of professional placements provide opportunities for students to integrate theory into practice and further develop midwifery knowledge and decision making skills. The program is designed to provide graduates with the skills to be lifelong learners and thus the ability to extend their competence and knowledge through critical analysis and reflection on practice, taking responsibility for their professional development.

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the Nurses Board of South Australia.

Honours

Students obtaining a credit level average or higher may be accepted into an Honours program in accordance with the current policy, and then proceed to postgraduate research degrees.

Fee information

Fees for Domestic students: Commonwealth Supported
Fees for Commonwealth Supported Students are calculated at the course level. Click on individual courses in the schedule below to determine total program fees.

Fees for International students: $AU 16,750 per 1.0 EFTSL for students commencing in 2010.
Fees are calculated on a per Unit basis with 1.0 EFTSL = 36 Units.
Fees for International students are determined one year in advance and are subject to variation.

Program requirements

Course name	Area + Cat. No.	Units	EFTSL
FIRST YEAR
First Half (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Normal Pregnancy and Childbirth 1	NURS 1042	4.5	0.125
Human Body 1	BIOL 1047	4.5	0.125
Being a Health Professional	NURS 1033	9	0.250
Second Half (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Normal Pregnancy and Childbirth 2	NURS 1043	4.5	0.125
Health Care for Women and Families	NURS 1041	4.5	0.125
Human Body 2	BIOL 1048	4.5	0.125
Cultural Perspectives on Health	NURS 1036	4.5	0.125
SECOND YEAR
First Half (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Women and Midwives	NURS 2028	9	0.250
Scientific Basis of Clinical Practice 1	BIOL 2054	4.5	0.125
Maternal-Infant Bonding and Nutrition	NURS 3039	4.5	0.125
Second Half (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Complications of Pregnancy and Childbirth	NURS 2026	9	0.250
Physiological Adaptations in Pregnancy	BIOL 2056	4.5	0.125
Health Care Pharmacology and Diagnostics	NURS 3037	4.5	0.125
THIRD YEAR
First Half (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Childbirth and Neonatal Care	NURS 3036	9	0.250
Psychological Perspectives of Pregnancy and Childbirth	NURS 3040	9	0.250
Second Half (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Determining Australia's Health	NURS 1035	9	0.250
Midwifery Practicum and Professional Practice	NURS 3038	9	0.250

Rules

Police Checks: All students in the Division of Health Sciences who undertake field or clinical placements, or participate in University clinics as part of their program, must have had a police clearance prior to the commencement of any placement or clinic activity.
Credit for previous studies or exemption from work within courses may be granted in accordance with University policy.
Registered Nurses and Midwives seeking to upgrade to the Bachelor of Midwifery are expected to undertake three years part time study and are required to complete the following courses totalling 54 units:
Students are required to satisfy the standard of dress and behaviour as prescribed by institutions in which field placements are undertaken. Failure to satisfy such requirements may prevent them satisfying the requirements for the completion of the program.
Students must have completed a recognised senior first aid course and provide evidence of this before being permitted to commence professional placement within the program.
To achieve the standards required by the Nurses Board of South Australia, and the competencies of the ACM, professional experience is required for undergraduate students over the three years of the programs. Students are required to participate in and document 40 births which will include the care and support of a woman during the ante partum, intra partum, post partum and post natal experience (regarded as 'Follow through' care)
All students who undertake the program, whether full-time, part-time, internal, or external, will be required to attend clinical placements on a full-time basis. Shiftwork will be required.

Notes

Due to the rigorous demands of the program, students are advised that they should be physically fit. In addition, students may be required before commencing their professional placements, to undergo medical examinations as determined by the relevant hospital authorities.
It is recommended that all students are vaccinated against Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis before commencing the program. Failure to do so may limit placement opportunities in some health care settings.
Due to the unpredictable nature of 'Follow throughs' students may be required to carry these out over more than one study period, hence receiving an "I" grade for the course. All interim notations will be converted to the appropriate final assessment grade within one academic year as per the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual.
Some of these 'Follow throughs' may occur outside of the normal teaching periods.
This program is available by internal and external delivery mode.
Placements are an integral component of the program and are normally undertaken in health agencies in South Australia. Interstate students should note that they may be required to attend placements in South Australia.

top^

Resources and Tools