Undergraduate
Bachelor of Midwifery
2021
Domestic students only
External: this course is available online through distance education with some on-campus attendance requirements.
Through a partnership approach, midwives provide woman centred, evidence based care for women and babies throughout the childbearing journey in a variety of settings. Midwives play an important role in promoting the health and wellbeing of women and their families by supporting the woman's childbearing choices and providing expertise around pregnancy, birth, postnatal and the newborn period. Midwives collaborate with other health professionals to continue midwifery care in complex situations.
The Bachelor of Midwifery at CDU is aligned with the International Confederation of Midwives' definition of the midwife. Students require a high level of motivation, determination and organisation to successfully negotiate study and clinical experience requirements with work and family commitments. The online nature of the course requires students to be disciplined and committed in their study habits. Students should consider whether their family life and work commitments will support their attendance at placement and time available for study.
Placement may occur during and outside of the semester and students may be required to travel away from home to complete up to 6 weeks of placement at their own expense. Students need to be aware that:
- placement is arranged by Charles Darwin University and dates are determined by the availability of places at the health service facility, therefore dates for placement may not be negotiable
- students are required to attend the arranged placement to progress in the course
- non-attendance at placement may only occur in extenuating circumstances. Childcare and work commitments are not extenuating circumstances for the purpose of placement
- placements may include morning, evening, night duty, on-call and shifts on weekends and public holidays
There are inherent requirements for midwifery. Inherent requirements are the essential abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve course learning outcomes and to be able to safely practise as a midwife. Midwifery requires a degree of physical strength and mobility, endurance, communication and cognitive abilities for safe practice. For more detailed information see Inherent Requirements for Midwifery.
Reporting obligations: Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, CDU is required to register midwifery students with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and to notify AHPRA if a student has or develops a health impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm. Students have obligations under the National Law and are expected to understand their obligations prior to enrolling. More information available at NMBA Student Registration.
This is a quota course with more applicants than places available, eligible applicants will be ranked in order of academic merit.
Career opportunities
Graduating from this course may lead to career opportunities in roles including midwifery group practice, homebirth and working in public or private hospitals.
Professional recognition
Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to practice as a midwife in all Australian States or Territories and some overseas countries.
Credit transfers & pathways
Pathways for VET to Higher Education
Guaranteed credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
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This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
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Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
Course structure
This course consists of 24 units. Two foundational units provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully complete the course, become lifelong learners and explore issues related to living, studying and working in diverse social and cultural environments. Core units promote the concept of cultural safety in practice and address the needs of Aboriginal women and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Units in bioscience, sociology, psychology and midwifery sciences and practice are combined with extensive periods of clinical experience.
Students practice reflective, evidence-based midwifery encompassing primary health care principles as well as the emotional, physical and social aspects of birth based on an evidence-based multidisciplinary, teaching and learning framework. All students explore the challenges of contemporary midwifery practice and maternity service provision in Australia and internationally as well as addressing the perspectives and needs of Aboriginal women including residents of remote communities.
Units are offered in mixed-modes of study including compulsory on-campus clinical teaching blocks for all students, at their own expense. Clinical teaching blocks are held at the Casuarina and Sydney campuses. Once students have completed their clinical teaching block students undertake midwifery professional experience placements in approved health service facilities.
Pre-Clinical Requirements
You must provide proof that you have met all university and State/Territory pre-clinical requirements before starting clinical placements. These requirements include, but are not limited to:
- immunisation requirements
- Senior First Aid qualification
- annual criminal record checks
- working with children clearances
- fitness-to-practice requirements.
Midwifery is woman-centred and continuity of care is a core element of the course so a commitment to out-of-hours and between semester clinical work is mandatory. Students must follow 10 women across the course of the degree seeing them four times antenatally, being on call for birth, and seeing them twice postnatally. These requirements are in addition to placement. Potential applicants are advised that midwifery is a profession which places considerable physical and psychological demands on the individual however the rewards of the profession can be profound.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Common Units (2 units) |
20cp | Common units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below.
CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability (compulsory) Select Common Units to find out more about individual units and advanced standing options. |
| Core Units (21 units) |
210cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 210 credit points as detailed below.
MID101 Introduction to Midwifery Practice |
| Specialist Elective (1 unit) |
10cp | Specialist Elective unit totalling 10 credit points as detailed below.
PSY209 Social-Cultural Psychology (replaces HSC201 Health Promotion from 2020) |
| 240cp | Total Credit Points |
Students who commenced in or after 2013
No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.
Of the total 240 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)
* not more than 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units
* a minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or above
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
Course Changes 2020
Specialist Electives
HSC201 Health Promotion has been replaced by PSY209 Social-Cultural Psychology
HSC205 Health Care Policy has been replaced by SWK317 Dynamics of Loss and Grief
Course Changes 2018
NUR210 Health Sociology has been recoded to HSC210 Health Sociology
HEA230 Cultural Competence in Healthcare has been recoded to HSC230 Cultural Safety in Healthcare
Study plan
Students should refer to the attached document for information on recommended study plans
Students commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | P = Placement/Practicum |
Recommended Study Plan Full-Time - No Prior Qualifications
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability | CU | SWK102 Communication Skills | CO |
| SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 | CO | SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 | CO |
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | PSY202 Developmental Psychology | CO |
| MID101 Introduction to Midwifery Practice (CTB 2 weeks placement) | P | MID102 Fundamental Skills for Midwifery Practice (CTB 3 weeks placement) | P |
| Year 2 | |||
| MID201 Healthy Childbearing 1 | CO | MID205 Midwifery Evidence Informed Health Research | CO |
| MID202 Professional Midwifery Practice 1 (CTB 6 weeks placement) | P | HSC230 Cultural Safety in Health (replaces HEA230 from 2018) | CO |
| HSC210 Health Sociology (replaces NUR210 from 2018) | CO | MID203 Healthy Childbearing 2 | CO |
| HSC203 Perspectives of Indigenous Health | CO | MID204 Professional Midwifery Practice 2 (6 weeks placement) | P |
| Year 3 | |||
| MID302 Healthy Childbearing 3 | CO | MID307 Specialist Neonatal Care (3 weeks placement) | P |
| MID303 Professional Midwifery Practice 3 (CTB 6 weeks placement) | P | Specialist Elective | SE |
| MID301 Women's Health (2 weeks placement) | P | MID305 Healthy Childbearing 4 | CO |
| MID304 Midwifery in Global Perspective (up to 7 weeks international clinical placement optional) | CO/P | MID306 Professional Midwifery Practice 4 (6 weeks placement) | P |
Recommended Study Plan Part-Time - No Prior Qualifications
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability | CU | SWK102 Communication Skills | CO |
| SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 | CO | SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 | CO |
| Year 2 | |||
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | PSY202 Developmental Psychology | CO |
| MID101 Introduction to Midwifery Practice (CTB 2 weeks placement) | P | MID102 Fundamental Skills for Midwifery Practice (CTB 3 weeks placement) | P |
| Year 3 | |||
| MID201 Healthy Childbearing 1 | CO | MID205 Midwifery Evidence Informed Health Research | CO |
| MID202 Professional Midwifery Practice 1 (CTB 6 weeks placement) | P | HSC230 Cultural Safety in Health (replaces HEA230 from 2018) | CO |
| Year 4 | |||
| HSC210 Health Sociology (replaces NUR210 from 2018) | CO | MID203 Healthy Childbearing 2 | CO |
| HSC203 Perspectives of Indigenous Health | CO | MID204 Professional Midwifery Practice 2 (6 weeks placement) | P |
| Year 5 | |||
| MID302 Healthy Childbearing 3 | CO | MID307 Specialist Neonatal Care (3 weeks placement) | P |
| MID303 Professional Midwifery Practice 3 (CTB 6 weeks placement) | P | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Year 6 | |||
| MID301 Women's Health (2 weeks placement) | P | MID305 Healthy Childbearing 4 | CO |
| MID304 Midwifery in Global Perspective (up to 7 weeks international clinical placement optional) | CO/P | MID306 Professional Midwifery Practice 4 (6 weeks placement) | P |
Recommended Study Plan Full-Time - With Enrolled Nurse (Cert IV) Qualification
CT = Credit Transfer
CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability
MID102 Fundamental Skills for Midwifery Practice
HSC203 Perspectives of Indigenous Health
200-level Specialist Elective
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability | CU | SWK102 Communication Skills | CO |
| SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 | CO | SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 | CO |
| MID101 Introduction to Midwifery Practice (CTB 2 weeks placement) | P | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| HSC230 Cultural Safety in Health (replaces HEA230 from 2018) | CO | PSY202 Developmental Psychology | CO |
| MID201 Healthy Childbearing 1 | CO | HSC210 Health Sociology (replaces NUR210 from 2018) | CO |
| MID202 Professional Midwifery Practice 1 (CTB 6 weeks placement) | P | MID203 Healthy Childbearing 2 | CO |
| MID301 Women's Health (2 weeks placement) | P | MID204 Professional Midwifery Practice 2 (6 weeks placement) | P |
| Year 3 | |||
| MID302 Healthy Childbearing 3 | CO | MID205 Midwifery Evidence Informed Health Research | CO |
| MID303 Professional Midwifery Practice 3 (CTB 6 weeks placement) | P | MID305 Healthy Childbearing 4 | CO |
| MID304 Midwifery in Global Perspective (up to 7 weeks international clinical placement optional) | CO/P | MID306 Professional Midwifery Practice 4 (6 weeks placement) | P |
| MID307 Specialist Neonatal Care (3 weeks placement) | P | ||
Recommended Study Plan Full-Time - With Enrolled Nursing (Diploma) Qualification
CT = Credit Transfer
CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability
MID102 Fundamental Skills for Midwifery Practice
SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1
SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2
HSC203 Perspectives of Indigenous Health
HSC210 Health Sociology (replaces NUR210 from 2018)
PSY202 Developmental Psychology
200-level Specialist Elective
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability | CU | SWK102 Communication Skills | CO |
| MID101 Introduction to Midwifery Practice (CTB 2 weeks placement) | P | HSC230 Cultural Safety in Health (replaces HEA230 from 2018) | CO |
| Year 2 | |||
| MID201 Healthy Childbearing 1 | CO | MID203 Healthy Childbearing 2 | CO |
| MID202 Professional Midwifery Practice 1 (CTB 6 weeks placement) | P | MID204 Professional Midwifery Practice 2 (6 weeks placement) | P |
| MID301 Women's Health (2 weeks placement) | P | MID205 Midwifery Evidence Informed Health Research | CO |
| MID304 Midwifery in Global Perspective (up to 7 weeks international clinical placement optional) | CO/P | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| MID302 Healthy Childbearing 3 | CO | MID305 Healthy Childbearing 4 | CO |
| MID303 Professional Midwifery Practice 3 (CTB 6 weeks placement) | P | MID306 Professional Midwifery Practice 4 (6 weeks placement) | P |
| MID307 Specialist Neonatal Care (3 weeks placement) | P | ||
Recommended Study Plan Full-Time - With Registered Nurse (Bachelor) Qualification
CT = Credit Transfer
CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability
CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability
MID102 Fundamental Skills for Midwifery Practice
SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1
SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2
SWK102 Communication Skills
HSC230 Cultural Safety in Health
HSC210 Health Sociology (replaces NUR210 from 2018)
MID205 Midwifery Evidence Informed Health Research
PSY202 Developmental Psychology
MID301 Women's Health
200-level Specialist Elective
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| HSC203 Perspectives of Indigenous Health | CO | MID203 Healthy Childbearing 2 | CO |
| MID101 Introduction to Midwifery Practice (CTB 2 weeks placement) | P | MID204 Professional Midwifery Practice 2 (6 weeks placement) | P |
| MID201 Healthy Childbearing 1 | CO | MID307 Specialist Neonatal Care (3 weeks placement) | P |
| MID202 Professional Midwifery Practice 1 (CTB 6 weeks placement) | P | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| MID302 Healthy Childbearing 3 | CO | MID305 Healthy Childbearing 4 | CO |
| MID303 Professional Midwifery Practice 3 (CTB 6 weeks placement) | P | MID306 Professional Midwifery Practice 4 (6 weeks placement) | P |
| MID304 Midwifery in Global Perspective (up to 7 weeks international clinical placement optional) | CO/P | ||
Students commencing in Semester 2
There is no semester 2 entry available for this course.
Course fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) Australian Citizenship; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident visa holder who will be resident within Australia for the duration of the unit.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual course tuition fee for full time study of 80 credit points for commencing students in 2021 is AUD $32,320.00.
These fees are subject to annual increases each year of your study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.
Domestic students - undergraduate studies
SATAC
Semester 1 2021 applications are now closed.
UAC
Semester 1 2021 applications are now closed.