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HE Unit Template
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Midwifery as a Profession
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MIDGD6202 - Midwifery as a Profession
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20270200
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Course
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3.2
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2026-09-10
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2026-09-10
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Midwifery
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Institute of Health and Wellbeing
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Midwifery
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Postgraduate - Coursework
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15
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.125
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060303
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Midwifery
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060303 - Midwifery
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<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/midgd6202">View unit fees</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
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Intermediate
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160
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<p>This unit explores the professional identity, scope of practice and contemporary context of midwifery, underpinned by the principles of woman-centred care. Students will examine the role of the midwife in providing care for women, infants and families from diverse and vulnerable backgrounds, including those affected by perinatal and infant mental health challenges and family violence, across a range of practice settings. The unit includes a clinical placement component that provides opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in contemporary midwifery practice environments.</p>
<p>The midwifery scope of practice will be explored in detail, underpinned by professional codes, standards and legislative frameworks. To gain an understanding of the midwifery profession, students will review the historical development of midwifery in Australia and globally and use this foundation to explore the future of the profession, maternity services reform, and the evolving role of the midwife in supporting the health and wellbeing of women, infants and families.</p>
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<p>This unit focuses on midwifery as a profession, contextual issues in midwifery practice, and midwifery and organisational support of women's psychosocial health and wellbeing, including: </p>
<ul>
<li>Midwifery as a Profession</li>
<li>Contextual Issues in Midwifery Practice</li>
<li>Midwifery as primary health care</li>
<li>Women's psychosocial health and wellbeing</li>
<li>Professional Organisations and Advocacy</li>
</ul>
<p><br></p>
<p>The ANMAC National Accreditation Standards for the Midwife (2021), Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Midwife Standards for Practice (2018), the NMBA Code of Conduct for the Midwife (2018) and the Code of Ethics for the Midwife (2014) have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit.</p>
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<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
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2027
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2026
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Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
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Overview
Unit description
<p>This unit explores the professional identity, scope of practice and contemporary context of midwifery, underpinned by the principles of woman-centred care. Students will examine the role of the midwife in providing care for women, infants and families from diverse and vulnerable backgrounds, including those affected by perinatal and infant mental health challenges and family violence, across a range of practice settings. The unit includes a clinical placement component that provides opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in contemporary midwifery practice environments.</p> <p>The midwifery scope of practice will be explored in detail, underpinned by professional codes, standards and legislative frameworks. To gain an understanding of the midwifery profession, students will review the historical development of midwifery in Australia and globally and use this foundation to explore the future of the profession, maternity services reform, and the evolving role of the midwife in supporting the health and wellbeing of women, infants and families.</p>
Unit content
<p>This unit focuses on midwifery as a profession, contextual issues in midwifery practice, and midwifery and organisational support of women's psychosocial health and wellbeing, including: </p> <ul> <li>Midwifery as a Profession</li> <li>Contextual Issues in Midwifery Practice</li> <li>Midwifery as primary health care</li> <li>Women's psychosocial health and wellbeing</li> <li>Professional Organisations and Advocacy</li> </ul> <p><br></p> <p>The ANMAC National Accreditation Standards for the Midwife (2021), Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Midwife Standards for Practice (2018), the NMBA Code of Conduct for the Midwife (2018) and the Code of Ethics for the Midwife (2014) have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Midwifery
Study level:
Postgraduate - Coursework
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
060303 - Midwifery
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 1</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
Yes
Placement hours:
160
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/midgd6202">View unit fees</a>
Requisites
Prerequisite
<p>Must be undertaking MW4 Graduate Diploma of Midwifery</p>
Corequisite
<p>must be enrolled in <a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=HEAPH6001" target="_blank">HEAPH6001</a></p>
Exclusion
None
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
<p>On successful completion of this unit, students are expected to gain the following [K]nowledge, [S]kills and [A]pplication of knowledge & skills</p>
Learning Outcomes
Ref
Outcome
K1
<p>Analyse the development of the midwifery profession and maternity care, from legal, ethical, historical and current perspectives.</p>
K2
<p>Critically evaluate the scope of midwifery practice in contemporary Australian maternity care, including the professional and legislative frameworks, codes and guidelines and provide a critique of this scope against the ICM International Definition of a Midwife.</p>
K3
<p>Analyse the roles and functions of professional organisations, locally, nationally, and globally, that have an impact on the delivery of maternity services and the health and wellbeing of women and babies.</p>
K4
<p>Critically examine how the midwifery profession engages with and supports women from diverse and vulnerable populations, including its role in perinatal screening and other public health activities to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.</p>
S1
<p>Discuss and critique the boundaries of care in midwifery including legal, ethical and professional standards and competencies.</p>
S2
<p>Employ reflective practice and identify evidence-based care for women, babies and their families across the childbearing continuum.</p>
S3
<p>Demonstrate an understanding of the use and applications of psychosocial screening tools in the perinatal period.</p>
A1
<p>Demonstrates integration of ethical and legal principles into the provision of woman-centred care.</p>
A2
<p>Critically examine the politics of childbirth and develop a critique of maternity service delivery in Australia informed by professional literature, government reports and observation and experience.</p>
A3
<p>Demonstrate skills providing care in partnership with women based on individual women’s needs according to the NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice.</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Application of woman-centred midwifery practice concepts in context of working with vulnerable women and families</p>
<p>Case study</p>
<p>40-60%</p>
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2
2
<p>Theoretical concepts of midwifery history, professional issues and professional and legislative frameworks</p>
<p>Audio/visual assessment</p>
<p>30-50%</p>
K2, K3, K4, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3
3
<p>Satisfactory achievement of identified NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice in midwifery practice experiences. (Compulsory PASS required)</p>
<p>Midwifery practice portfolio </p><p>1. Completion of five (5) Midwifery Clinical Assessment Tools (MCAT) to minimum ‘assisted-proficient’.</p><p>2. Completion of 160 midwifery practice hours. Submit completed AMSAT assessed at a minimum level 'Satisfactory' overall performance or above.</p>
<p>10% Hurdle requirement</p>
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2
4
<p>Attendance at all on-campus intensive sessions</p>
<p>100% Attendance</p>
<p>S/U Hurdle</p>
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2
Supplementary assessment available:
Yes
Supplementary assessment information:
<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
FedTASK
FedTASK
<p>Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FedTASKs (<strong>T</strong>ransferable <strong>A</strong>ttributes <strong>S</strong>kills and <strong>K</strong>nowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key, transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and co-operative learning opportunities.</p>
FedTASK
Description of FedTASK outcome
FedTASK 1: Interpersonal
Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in: Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods Active listening for meaning and influencing High-level empathy for others Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams
FedTASK 2: Leadership
Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth Inspiring and enabling others Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems
FedTASK 3: Critical Thinking and Creativity
Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in: Reflecting critically on complex problems Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry Proposing creative solutions in problem solving
FedTASK 4: Digital Literacy
Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities
FedTASK 5: Sustainable and Ethical Mindset
Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in: The responsible conduct of research Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Midwifery
Study level:
Postgraduate - Coursework
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
060303 - Midwifery
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 1</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
Yes
Placement hours:
160
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/midgd6202">View unit fees</a>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: MIDGD6202 - U3.2