Course Outline

HLT310 Leadership and Governance in Maternity Care

Course Coordinator:Elaine Jefford (ejefford@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Midwifery

2023Semester 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 usc.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

In this course you will consolidate and synthesise your midwifery knowledge and skills as you work toward competence to register and practice. You will be challenged to examine your role as a midwife to enable you to practice as a future oriented professional. Specifically, you will examine the role of the midwife in leadership and governance. You will examine professional and regulatory requirements as they provide the framework for leadership in the profession.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online asynchronous learning and teaching recording 1hr Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus tutorial. 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

  • Promoting health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • Promoting health in the global context
  • Leadership in practice
  • Governance in midwifery
  • Professional issues in midwifery
  • Economic, environmental, political and social influences on maternity policies, service planning and models of care
  • Regulatory and legislative frameworks

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

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 Identify the maternity care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, women with culturally diverse backgrounds and other vulnerable groups. Ethical
1, 2
2 Evaluate economic, environmental, political and social influences as they shape maternity care. Sustainability-focussed
7
3 Communicate and collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams to facilitate safe and effective care for women and their infants. Engaged
2.8, 5.2
4 Apply and integrate leadership principles to practice. Engaged
3.7
5 Interpret and use evidence as a basis to inform practice, policy, guidelines and decision-making. Creative and critical thinker
1
6 Apply principles and practices of academic writing and referencing Engaged

                                    

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
1 Standard 1: Promotes health and wellbeing through evidence-based midwifery practice
2 Standard 2: Engages in professional relationships and respectful partnerships
2.8 The midwife participates in and/or leads collaborative practice
3.7 The midwife recognises and responds appropriately where safe and quality practice may be compromised
5.2 The midwife collaboratively develops plans until options, priorities, goals, actions, anticipated outcomes and timeframes are agreed with the woman, and/or relevant others
7 Standard 7: Evaluates outcomes to improve midwifery practice

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

HLT203 and enrolled in Program SC393

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

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

Early feedback on progress will be provided through informal discussion during the week three tutorial. Students will be encouraged to bring a draft of task one – written piece – for review and feedback.    

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 Written Piece Individual 25%
1500 words
Week 4 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Report Individual 40%
2000 words
Week 8 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Written Piece Individual 35%
1500 words
Week 13 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Written assignment
Goal:
You are aiming to identify the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to the maternity services. You will discuss key perinatal health issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Specific reference is to be made to the potential contribution midwifery could make to improve the health of this group.
Product: Written Piece
Format:
An original word document assignment using evidence from a review of the academic and government literature to present a contemporary discussion of appropriate maternity services and midwifery care.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Demonstrate knowledge of the health needs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families
1
2
Evaluate the economic, environmental, political and social influences as they shape maternity services planning and models of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families
2
3
Discuss the potential contribution of midwifery to improving health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families.
1
4
Use of relevant literature and critical analysis of the literature
5
5
Demonstrate appropriate written expression (academic writing, terminology, referencing etc.)
6
All - Assessment Task 2:Critique of an evidence-based clinical guideline
Goal:
Your goal is to critique an evidence-based clinical guideline.
Product: Report
Format:
A 2000-word report (template provided)
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Evidence of critical appraisal of an existing maternity and/or neonatal clinical guideline, using a validated appraisal instrument.
2
2
Use of relevant literature to support argument and critique
5
3
Information literacy skills: use of sources and citations
5
4
Demonstrate appropriate written expression (academic writing, terminology, referencing etc.)
6
All - Assessment Task 3:Commentary
Goal:
Your goal is to articulate your proposed approach to practice as a midwife in both a visual and written form. You will be required to demonstrate this approach to practice within professional, regulatory and legislative frameworks.
Product: Written Piece
Format:
Concept Map (5%): Concept maps form a visual representation of your thought processes. Information about concept maps will be provided on the course Canvas site. 
Written Commentary (30%): 1500 word written response elaborating on your concept map, explaining your anticipated approach to your future practice as a midwife, and how this aligns with the Midwife Standards for Practice and Code of Conduct for Midwives.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Visual appearance reflects a professional presentation
3
2
Articulation of an approach to future practice
4
3
Addresses professional, regulatory and legislative standards for ongoing practice in Australia
2
4
Key concepts are linked visually in the concept map
5
5
Application of professional, regulatory and legislative frameworks (Codes) to future midwifery practice once registered
4
6
Demonstrated understanding of the Code of Conduct for Midwives and the Midwife Standards for Practice
2
7
Evidence of knowledge and critique around professional role as a midwife (nationally and internationally)
5
8
Demonstrate appropriate written expression (academic writing, terminology, referencing etc.)
6

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

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Editors: Sally Pairman, Sally Tracy, Hannah Dahlen, Lesley Dixon 2022 MIDWIFERY PREPARATION FOR PRACTICE. 5th 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:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

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
  • Administration of Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Academic Misconduct
  • 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

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au