Course Outline

HLT200 Midwifery Care Across the Continuum

Course Coordinator:Holly Meyer (hmeyer@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Midwifery

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course develops essential knowledge required to provide midwifery-led care across the continuum. The emphasis is on the role of the midwife in promoting and supporting physiology and providing woman-centred, evidence-based care. Effective communication skills will be developed and an understanding of psycho social, cultural and emotional influences on pregnancy birth and the postnatal transition will be explored.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online asynchronous learning and teaching recording 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus tutorial 2hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

Module 1: Pregnancy and antentatal care

Module 2: Labour, birth and intrapartum care

Module 3: Postnatal period and postpartum care

Module 4: Common variations

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
1 Advocate for the rights of women to participate in their care and provide adequate information to assist their informed decision-making. Empowered
1.1, 2.1, 2.2
2 Apply professional, ethical and legal codes and standards to midwifery care. Ethical
2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2
3 Interpret and use evidence as a basis to inform midwifery practice. Creative and critical thinker
1.1, 1.2, 7.2
4 Promote and protect physiology throughout the childbearing continuum for women and their infants. Empowered
1.7, 7.2
5 Apply the principles and practices of academic writing and referencing. Creative and critical thinker
1.2, 1.6
6 Reflect on knowledge and skills relating to resilience, self-care, mitigation of personal risk, to sustain midwifery practice Empowered
Sustainability-focussed

                                    

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
1.1 The midwife identifies what is important to women as the foundation for using evidence to promote informed decision-making, participation in care, and self-determination
1.2 The midwife accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings, for safe, quality midwifery practice
1.6 The midwife supports the development, implementation and evaluation of evidenced-based health initiatives and programs
1.7 The midwife identifies and promotes the role of midwifery practice and the midwifery profession in influencing better health outcomes for women
2.1 The midwife supports the choices of the woman, with respect for families and communities in relation to maternity care
2.2 The midwife partners with women to strengthen women’s capabilities and confidence to care for themselves and their families
2.3 The midwife practises ethically, with respect for dignity, privacy, confidentiality, equity and justice
2.4 The midwife practises without the discrimination that may be associated with race, age, disability, sexuality, gender identity, relationship status, power relations and/or social disadvantage
3.1 The midwife understands their scope of practice
3.2 The midwife practises within relevant legal parameters and professional standards, codes and guidelines
7.2 The midwife revises plan and actions based on evidence and what is learned from evaluation

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

(HLT100 or LFS112) and HLT132 and enrolled in Program SC393 OR

Co-requisites

HLT121 and HLT132 for students who have received RN pathway credit

Anti-requisites

HLT122

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

In week 4 students will complete Task 1 which will provide early feedback on their progress within the course and assist with preparation for Task 2 and Task 3.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Case Study Individual 15%
750 words
Week 4 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Written Piece Individual 40%
1500 words
Week 8 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 45%
1 hour
Week 12 In Class
All - Assessment Task 1:Case Study
Goal:
Revise key concepts introduced in the first 4 weeks of the course and prepare for Assessment Task 2 and Task 3.
Product: Case Study
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will choose a case study from the options provided on Canvas. Details regarding the assessment will be provided by the course coordinator on the course Canvas site.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Promotion and protection of physiology
4
2
Interpretation and use of relevant evidence as a basis to inform midwifery practice
3
3
Provide adequate information to assist decision making
1 2 3
4
Demonstrate appropriate written expression (academic writing, terminology and referencing, etc.)
5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Analysis of evidence-based midwifery practice
Goal:
Analyse and apply theory and evidence to support midwifery practice
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will choose a specific aspect of midwifery practice from the options provided on Canvas). Details regarding the assessment will be provided by the course coordinator on the course Canvas site.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Promotion and protection of physiology
4
2
Interpretation and use of relevant evidence as a basis to inform midwifery practice
3
3
Demonstrate a woman-centred approach to midwifery care
1 2
4
Application of the principles and practices of academic writing and referencing.
5
5
Apply professional, ethical and legal codes to midwifery care
2
Generic Skills:
Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:In-class Assessment
Goal:
Demonstrate knowledge and application of evidence-based midwifery practice across the continuum of care.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Details regarding the assessment will be provided by the course coordinator on the course Canvas site.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Interpret, use and critically analyse evidence as a basis to inform midwifery practice.
3
2
Demonstrate an understanding of the midwife’s role in promoting and protecting women’s wellness and enhancing the health of the infant
4
3
Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the midwife in assisting women to make informed decisions that take into account individual preferences and cultural needs.
1
4
Reflect on knowledge and skills relating to resilience, self-care, mitigation of personal risk, to sustain midwifery practice
1 2 3 6
5
Demonstrate appropriate written expression (academic writing, terminology and referencing, etc.)
5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Sally Pairman,Sally K. Tracy,Hannah G. Dahlen,Lesley Dixon, PHD, RM 2023 Midwifery Preparation for Practice 5th Elsevier
Required Nicky Leap,Billie Hunter 2022 Supporting Women for Labour and Birth: A thoughtful guide 2nd Routledge
Required Lily Nichols 2018 Real Food for Pregnancy n/a Lily Nichols
Required Maria Pollard 2017 Evidence-based Care for Breastfeeding Mothers n/a Routledge
Required Roslyn Donnellan - Fernandez,Maryam Bazargan,Clare Davison,Michelle Gray,Kirsten Small 2024 Pharmacology in Midwifery n/a Elsevier

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: