This program aims to meet the current professional requirements for midwives practicing in a variety of environments who will be capable of working in partnerships with women, families, communities and multidisciplinary health care teams. The knowledge and skill requirements for a practitioner working in remote, rural and complex areas for current and future role developments are incorporated at all stages of student learning.

At completion of this program the student will be able to:

• Understand the relationship between historical and contemporary aspects which affect women and family health within all cultural contexts;
• Evidence competence in meeting the ACM and International Council of Midwifery standards;
• Work in partnership with the woman and multidisciplinary team to implement preventative measures, promote and normal birth and detect complications in woman and infant;
• Work in partnership with the woman to give the necessary continuous supervision, care and advice for women prior to, during and following pregnancy;
• Conducts deliveries on their own responsibility and cares for the newborn infant;
• Execute primary and secondary emergency measures in the absence of medical help and/or access relevant medical care (consultation or referral) and other appropriate assistance in order to carry out emergency measures;
• Incorporate primary health care principles in the maternity context to benefit the long term health of mother, child, the family unit and the community while providing women-centred care in all aspects of assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of midwifery care and maternity services;
• Evidence high order communication skills and apply these in counselling, education and professional documentation across all aspects of midwifery practice;
• Relate legal and clinical governance requirements to the role of the midwife in various contexts of practice, while applying ethical standards and reflective strategies; and
• Demonstrate the ability to apply evidence based research to the role of the midwife working within a multidisciplinary team providing care to childbearing women and their families.

To be eligible for the award of Graduate Diploma of Midwifery students must complete a total of 10 courses/68 units of credit as set out in the program structure.