Midwifery

midwife and babyWhy study Midwifery?

Our postgraduate coursework programs are for those with a nursing degree and experience who want to specialise in midwifery, and for qualified midwives who want advanced training to qualify as a maternal and child health nurse or neonatal intensive care nurse. Develop the knowledge and skills to be an expert clinical practitioner.

Career opportunities

Graduates are prepared for careers in the health care industry, education and government.

Courses

Local students

Midwifery courses
Offer yearCourse titleCampus(es)DurationSemester starts
2013 Master of Midwifery Distance education
Melbourne
1 year full-time or 2 - 3 years part-time Semester 1 and 2 (March and July)

Master of Midwifery continued…

Course description
This course aims to prepare midwives to undertake an advanced practice role and provides them with sound research training.

Please note the course will only be conducted if sufficient enrolments are achieved.
Prerequisite
Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery Science or equivalent, with minimum B grade average, and current registration as a midwife with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Applicants must also have at least one year's recent clinical practice in midwifery and be employed in an approved area of midwifery practice.
Fee type
Fees (Fee-Help available)
Fee amount
Indicative (2012): $16,640 per 120 credit points.

Additional costs
Federal Police check - A$15 to A$43, Immunisations - approximately A$500, Working with Children Check - A$77. Accommodation for any clinical placements may vary according to the venue and location.
How to apply
Apply direct to the University. Download, complete and submit a postgraduate coursework application form . Please ensure you also provide all supplementary information required.
Please also complete the Nursing Supplementary Application Form.

Application closing dates are subject to change and are set in August each year.
Full course details
Course structures and subject information for the following cours(es):
Midwifery (Master)Melbourne
2013 Master of Nursing Distance education
Melbourne
Full-time: 1.5 years or part-time: 2-3 years Semester 1 (February)

Master of Nursing continued…

Course description
This course is ideal for suitably qualified nurses who want to pursue a career in one of the specialisations offered, while undertaking advanced clinical training. You can choose from the following specialisations: Acute Care, Breast Care, Cancer and Palliative Care, Cardiac Care, Child, Family and Community, Critical Care, Emergency Care, Intensive Care, Neonatal Care, Perianaesthetic Care, Perioperative Care, Renal Care, Urology and Continence.

Please note: You have the option to exit early from the degree with either a Graduate Certificate or a Postgraduate Diploma in all specialisations, except Child, Family and Community which has an exit option at Postgraduate Diploma only.
Prerequisite
Applicants seeking entry into the Master of Nursing must be a Division 1 Registered Nurse and hold a current practising certificate with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), or equivalent international body. They must also have at least one year of recent relevant nursing experience, a degree or diploma for a college or university, or nursing certificate from a hospital-based program. And either already be employed in the relevant clinical area or an agency approved by the Course Coordinator, or applicant must have applied to the agency to undertake their clinical placement at the time of applying for the course. In the latter case, an offer into the course will be conditional upon confirmation of the clinical placement (2).

This course includes some subjects that are undertaken fully online via the Learning Management System (LMS), which is an internet-based environment & is easily accessible using a computer with a web browser at any of the University's campuses. It is an essential requirement to have internet access to do this course.

Please note: (1)The Spinal Cord Injury specialisation will not be available in 2013
(2) In addition, applicants for the Child, Family and Community clinical specialisation must also have APHRA registration to practise as a midwife (and at least one year's experience post-registration in midwifery). Although applicants are encouraged to organise their own clinical placement, clinical practicum in the Maternal Child Health Service will be arranged by the University, through negotiation with the student and local government agencies.
Fee type
Commonwealth Supported Places subject to competitive selection; full fee places are also available
Fee amount
Full-Fee $16,640 (per 120 credit points undertaken). FEE-HELP (Deferred payment of tuition fees) is available for eligible Australian citizens. A limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) are available in the course.

Additional information
You may be eligible for institutional credit - please contact the Faculty for more information.

Depending on your choice of specialisation, you'll study via our flexible online delivery mode and/or in-person at one of our affiliated hospitals. For most subjects, the online learning modules are supported by a limited number of on-campus workshop days (or equivalent online virtual classrooms) with location dependent on specialisation. All online subjects require broadband internet access.
How to apply
Apply direct to the University. Visit our postgraduate website to download an application form. Please also complete the Nursing Supplementary Application Form.

Timely Closing Date 12 October 2012 (for CSP). Fee-Place Closing Date by 20 December 2012.
Full course details
Course structures and subject information for the following cours(es):
Nursing (Master)Melbourne
Nursing (Master)Distance education
2013 Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery Science Bendigo
Melbourne
1 year full-time See additional information

Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery Science continued…

Course description
This course aims to prepare graduates to practise as entry-level midwives across the wide spectrum of healthcare contexts and cultural groups. It aims to give you the skills necessary to provide direct midwifery care and evaluate the impact of that care, and the capacity to advocate for the women in your care. Please note the course will only be conducted in 2013 if sufficient enrolments are achieved.
Prerequisite
A three year Bachelors degree in nursing, or international equivalent, and current registration as a Division 1 nurse with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and at least one year's post-registration acute medical/surgical nursing experience. Applicants must also have a clinical place at an approved clinical midwifery agency in either the metropolitan or regional area before the start of the course.
Fee type
Commonwealth Supported Places subject to competitive selection; full fee places are also available
Fee amount
Indicative (2012): $16,640 per 120 credit points.
Commonwealth Supported Places also available.
Additional costs
There may be additional costs associated with National Police Checks (A$15), immunisations and with clinical placements.
Additional information
Course commences Week 8 of Semester 1. Applicants must apply to the hospital for their clinical placement at the same time they apply for the course.
How to apply
Apply direct to the University. Download, complete and submit a postgraduate coursework application form . Please ensure you also provide all supplementary information required.

Please also complete the Nursing Supplementary Application Form.
Professional recognition
Graduates are able to register to practise as midwives with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Full course details
Course structures and subject information for the following cours(es):
Midwifery Science (Postgraduate Diploma)Melbourne
Midwifery Science (Postgraduate Diploma)Bendigo

How to apply?

Methods of application vary from course to course. Please see the course entry above for details of how to apply for the course you are interested in.

Fees and scholarships

Postgraduate coursework programs are either:

  • Fee-paying (where you pay the full cost of the course). FEE-HELP is available.
  • CSP (Commonwealth Supported Place), subsidised by the Commonwealth Government where you pay a contribution towards course costs. HECS-HELP is available.

Students enrolled for certain postgraduate coursework programs may be eligible for student income support.

International students

Show mid year entryShow next year’s courses

Midwifery international courses
Offer yearCourse title (CRICOS)Campus(es)DurationSemester startsAnnual Tuition Fee (AUD)
2013 Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses (IRON Program) (068287G ) Bendigo
13 weeks January, May $10 500

Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses (IRON Program) continued…

Year
2013
Course description
The Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses (IRON) course allows suitably qualified, internationally-registered nurses to undertake a short, non-award course, which is required to register and work as a registered nurse in Australia.
Participants who successfully complete the IRON course will attain the National Competency Standards for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC).
The course, which consists of 12 modules, addresses:
- Contemporary thinking and research about current best practice and evidence based health care and nursing practice
- Health care in the Australian context
- Interpersonal communication and teamwork with patients, other nurses and interdisciplinary health care staff
- Nursing knowledge and skills required for the provision of person-centred care and health outcomes
- Roles and responsibilities expected of a Division 1 Registered Nurse in Victoria inclusive of areas around patient care, interdisciplinary practice and risk management.
La Trobe University Bendigo campus has agreements with a number of regional clinical venues for high-acuity clinical placements. The primary venues for clinical placements are Bendigo Health and St John of God Hospital, both of which are located in Bendigo.
English Language Requirements
Applicants must provide evidence of an IELTS score of 7.0 overall with at least 7.0 in all components of the test, or pass an OET with A or B only in each of the four components.

Please check the NMBA website
for the latest requirements
Academic entry requirements
Candidates must be qualified and currently registered as a nurse in a country other than Australia; apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for approval to undertake the course. Visit: the NMBA website and provide a letter from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia stating eligibility for registration upon satisfactory completion of the course.
Special requirements
Students are required to obtain a National Police Check A$15.50 (2012 fee, indicative only) and Working with Children (WWC) check at no cost, before undertaking professional placements.
Additional information
Some clinical placements may be located outside Bendigo. Applications for the January 2014 program open in April 2013, and applications can not be accepted before this date. Applicants must ensure that they have an AHPRA letter which will be valid at course completion, and valid IELTS.
Professional recognition
Graduates attain registration as Registered Nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

How to apply?

Enquire now about any course for international students or find out how to apply.

 

Fees and scholarships

Estimated fees for international students are indicated for each course above. Fees are indicative only and set at 120 credit points per course, unless otherwise stated, and may vary depending on the number of credit points in which students enrol. Some courses may vary in credit point load and fees will be adjusted accordingly.

There is also a range of scholarships available for international students to assist students.

Your study experience

Midwifery placements

Clinical placements are an important part of our courses and you must complete the requisite number of hours.

Overseas study opportunities

You may be eligible for our student exchange program.

Student profiles

Students from our Faculty talk about their experience at La Trobe.

About the academic staff

You'll get to meet a large number of academics during your course, from tutors through to lecturers. You can view all the staff from the Faculty of Health Sciences or focus on staff in Midwifery.

Midwifery events

Please see the Event Calendar for events that are related to this study option.

If you would like to see the latest events for this page come up automatically, please enable JavaScript.

Browse all events