Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery

What is this course about?

The Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery combines theory and practice in a hands-on one-year distance education course aimed at allowing registered nurses in all midwifery settings (both rural and urban) to remain in their communities while achieving their midwifery qualification.

Charles Sturt University has many years of experience in educating midwifery students to the level that is required for registration as midwives with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Nursing and Midwifery Board.

The midwifery course at Charles Sturt University commenced in 1990 after concern was raised by local maternity services about decreasing numbers of midwives in rural NSW. The course has grown to a eight-subject Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery, with over 50 hospitals approved to have midwifery students in ACT, NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

The CSU Postgraduate Diploma model is unique. It has been designed to allow registered nurses to work in a maternity unit for the duration of the course in midwifery practice while studying the theoretical component by distance education. Students only work in midwifery, rather than care for general patients, during their midwifery practice hours. Upon successful completion of the two components (midwifery practice and academic study), students are eligible to apply for registration as a midwife with the AHPRA Nursing and Midwifery Board.

Study by distance education provides opportunities for rural students to remain in their communities and achieve a midwifery qualification. The program is also increasingly utilised by urban students in city hospitals.

Registered midwives who wish to gain a Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery can also enter this program and will not need to complete any practical component or to attend residential schools.

Application process

It is the responsibility of any Registered Nurse wishing to undertake this course to become a Registered Midwife to first seek employment as a midwifery student in a hospital with an accredited maternity unit. Application processes differ depending on where you wish to undertake your midwifery practice placement.

If you wish to be employed as a midwifery student in a NSW public hospital, you must apply between early July and early August in the year prior to which you wish to enrol.

Admission requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery at CSU

Closing dates for applications

Application closing dates will be determined in relation to hospital acceptance notifications. Hospitals need to notify the University prior to 1 May for the Session 2 intake, and 1 November for the Session 1 intake. Contact info.csu on 1800 334 733 (free call) or make an online enquiry for further details.

Credit

Registered midwives wishing to upgrade their qualifications will receive an initial credit package of 24 points (the midwifery practice subject), with up to a further 8 credit points available, depending on midwifery experiences and qualifications.

More information about credit and pathways.

Articulation

After successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery, students continuing on to study CSU's Master of Midwifery can apply for 64 points credit.

Scholarships

Information on scholarships is available from the following sources:

• Nursing and Midwifery Board
• State Nurses Association
• State Midwives Association
• Royal College of Nursing Australia
• State Health Department
• Australian College of Midwives

More about Nursing and midwifery scholarships

Residential school

Students, who are not registered midwives are required to attend two compulsory residential schools at Charles Sturt University's Wagga Wagga Campus.

The first is held before the start of midwifery practice and is of six days' duration. This school aims to:

• introduce the student to the University and teaching staff
• introduce the student to the use of study materials
• provide lectures, demonstrations and workshops on selected areas of midwifery practice

The second five-day residential school is usually held half-way through the duration of the course. It provides formal lectures and opportunities for students to explore areas of midwifery practice in depth.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Admission requirements

Applicants are required to be Registered Nurses within Australia.

Two intakes

There are two intakes per year for pre-registration midwifery students (students who are already Registered Nurses but NOT Registered Midwives). One intake is in late January / early February while the mid-year intake is in late June / early July.

Applicants must apply through the process detailed below. Once this application has been processed and the student is accepted by the maternity unit, students then apply for enrolment with CSU.

It is the responsibility of any student wishing to undertake this course to first seek employment as a midwifery student in a hospital with an accredited maternity unit.

Students wishing to register as a midwife

Students entering this course must be Registered Nurses to gain registration as a midwife. The majority of students who enter this course have had more than 12 months' clinical nursing experience.

Students who wish to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board for registration as a midwife upon completion of their Postgraduate Diploma must study all other subjects while undertaking a 12 month midwifery practice placement to be eligible.

Registered Midwives

Registered Midwives who wish to complete the Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery will be eligible for a minimum of 24 credit points, with a further 8 credit points available depending on previous studies and experience.

Application process

NSW Public hospital

If you wish to be employed as a midwifery student in a NSW public hospital, you must apply:

• between early July and early August in the year prior to which you wish to enrol
• online on the NSW Health website and follow the links (please state the hospital you wish to be employed at and that you would like to study midwifery at Charles Sturt University).

Once you have been through the application and interview process and have become a successful applicant at your chosen hospital, you must then apply to study midwifery at CSU.

Non-NSW hospital / private NSW hospital

If you wish to be employed as a midwifery student in a non-NSW hospital or private NSW hospital, you must apply through the partnership hospital at which you wish to be employed as a midwifery student while enrolled at CSU. Once this application has been processed and you have been accepted by the hospital, you then apply for enrolment with CSU.

Registed Midwife applicants

If you are already a Registered Midwife and wishing to upgrade your qualifications, you do not need to be employed as a midwifery student and you apply directly to the University. Please state in your application cover letter that you are already a Registered Midwife seeking to upgrade your qualifications.

Note: enrolments in Session 3 are open only to students who are Registered Midwives.

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

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This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2; Session 3