Course Outline
MID705 Integration into the Midwifery Profession
Course Coordinator:Anna Robins (arobins@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Midwifery
2026Session 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 develop knowledge and skills to enable you to work to the full scope of practice of the midwife. You will be provided with a comprehensive and final preparation for transition to practice as a competent beginning midwife. Experienced practitioners provide support and supervision. You will critically self-appraise and reflect on your practice. Clinical skills essential for caring for women will be consolidated prior to undertaking clinical experience in a variety of maternity settings (240 hours) and finalisation of continuity of care experiences (CONNECT).
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Laboratory 1 – On campus laboratory workshop | 28hrs | Week 1 | Once Only |
| Placement – Clinical placement. | 240hrs | Week 2 | Once Only |
| Learning materials – Online asynchronous learning and teaching materials and options for lecturer and peer to peer collaborations, and lecturer and peer zoom drop ins. | 5hrs | Week 1 | 3 times |
Course Topics
- Promotion of normal birth.
- Detection of severe maternal and neonatal complications.
- Preventative and emergency measures for the deteriorating woman or infant.
- Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches.
- Legal, regulatory and professional frameworks in midwifery.
Mature Content
What level is this course?
700 Level (Specialised)
What is the unit value of this course?
24 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 | Critically review your knowledge and work to the international definition of a midwife (ICM 2023). |
Empowered Sustainability-focussed |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| 2 | Critically analyse and reflect upon personal, cultural, social, and feminist influences of your professional identity as a new midwife. | Creative and critical thinker |
1.4, 3.1, 3.4, 5.1, 7.3 |
| 3 | Utilise the Australian College of Midwives 'National Midwifery Guidelines for Consultation and Referral' and digital health and emerging technologies to guide the management of women requiring highly complex care. | Knowledgeable |
3.1, 3.5, 7.3 |
| 4 | Demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement, of knowledge adaptability and responsibility when working to the international definition of a midwife (ICM 2023) and completing the ANMAC Midwifery Professional Experience (MPE) requirements and hours for the course. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Empowered Ethical Engaged Sustainability-focussed |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| 5 | Apply principles and practice of academic writing, referencing and research. |
Knowledgeable Ethical |
1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 3.3, 4, 6, 7.3 |
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia | |
| 1 | Standard 1: Promotes health and wellbeing through evidence-based midwifery practice |
| 1.2 | The midwife accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings, for safe, quality midwifery practice |
| 1.4 | The midwife undertakes ongoing processes of reflection to ensure professional judgements acknowledge how personal culture impacts on practice |
| 1.6 | The midwife supports the development, implementation and evaluation of evidenced-based health initiatives and programs |
| 2 | Standard 2: Engages in professional relationships and respectful partnerships |
| 3 | Standard 3: Demonstrates the capability and accountability for midwifery practice |
| 3.1 | The midwife understands their scope of practice |
| 3.3 | The midwife participates in own continuing professional development to maintain the required knowledge and skill base for safe and effective practice |
| 3.4 | The midwife contributes to a culture that supports learning, teaching, knowledge transfer and critical reflection |
| 3.5 | The midwife engages in timely consultation, referral and documentation |
| 4 | Standard 4: Undertakes comprehensive assessments |
| 5 | Standard 5: Develops a plan for midwifery practice |
| 5.1 | The midwife interprets assessment data and best available evidence to develop a plan for practice |
| 6 | Standard 6: Provides safety and quality in midwifery practice |
| 7 | Standard 7: Evaluates outcomes to improve midwifery practice |
| 7.3 | The midwife uses evaluation and reflection to inform future practice and professional development |
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
Completion of 72 units and enrolled in GD007
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
Limited Grading (PNP)
Details of early feedback on progress
Early feedback will be provided by the clinical facilitator when completing the Progressive component of the Clinical Assessment Tool. This feedback includes assessment of your competency in all standards. The facilitator will discuss the deliberations with you and you will have the opportunity to provide comment on the tool during both the Progressive and Summative components.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Written Piece | Individual | 1500 |
Week 3 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 2 | Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece | Individual | 1000 |
Week 7 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 3a | Portfolio | Individual | N/A |
Week 8 | SONIA |
| All | 3b | Placement performance | Individual | 240 hours |
Week 8 | SONIA |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Reflection | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | To apply a reflective model to analyse your midwifery practice in the care of a woman with complex needs, integrating digital health technologies, collaboration and scholarly evidence to demonstrate woman-centred care. |
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| Product: | Written Piece | ||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Further details provided on Canvas |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Concept map | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | The aim of this assignment is to critically reflect and analyse your role and scope as a current student midwife then plan and develop a concept map as a newly graduated midwife (over 1-3 years). |
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| Product: | Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece | ||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Further details provided on Canvas. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 3a:ANMAC Midwifery Practice Experience (MPE) and CSATs | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Evidence of progress towards your achievement of the requirements for ANMAC Midwife Accreditation Standard 3: Program of study, and to demonstrate requisite knowledge and safe midwifery practice. |
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| Product: | Portfolio | |||||||||||||||
| Format: | Further details provided on Canvas. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Organisation |
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| All - Assessment Task 3b:Clinical Assessment Tool | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | To demonstrate completion of allocated placement for this course and satisfactory competency based on the NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice as measured in the Clinical Assessment Tools. Each competency must be satisfactorily met to pass the course. |
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| Product: | Placement performance | |||||||||||||||
| Format: | Further details provided on Canvas. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Organisation |
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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 | Sally Pairman,Sally K. Tracy,Hannah Dahlen,Lesley Dixon,Priscilla Peart,Bernadette Pulis | 2023 | Midwifery Preparation for Practice | n/a | Elsevier |
| Required | Sara Bayes,Sally De-Vitry Smith | 2022 | SKILLS FOR MIDWIFERY PRACTICE AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND EDITION. | n/a | n/a |
| Required | Roslyn Donnellan - Fernandez,Maryam Bazargan,Clare Davison,Michelle Gray,Kirsten Small | 2024 | Pharmacology in Midwifery | n/a | Elsevier |
Specific requirements
Your clinical placement may have specific requirements, and information will be provided during your placement orientation. UniSC uniform as outlined on Canvas is to be worn on all placements.
How are risks managed in this course?
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
This course will be graded as Pass in a Limited Grade Course (PU) or Fail in a Limited Grade Course (UF) as per clause 5.1.1.3 and 5.1.1.4 of the Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA) - Academic Policy.
In a course eligible to use Limited Grades, all assessment items in that course are marked on a Pass/Fail basis and all assessment tasks are required to be passed for a student to successfully complete the course. Supplementary assessment is not available in courses using Limited Grades.
Assessment: Submission penalties
You must contact your Course Coordinator and provide the required documentation if you require an extension or alternate assessment.
Refer to the Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs – Procedures.
SafeUniSC
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 SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.
The SafeUniSC 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
- 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
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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