It’s exciting that you’ve decided to embark (or re-embark) on your journey towards a career in midwifery and this course is designed to help you on your way. This course has been specifically designed for Registered Nurses and 're-entry midwives' and brings together content from a number of courses for which you may have received credit. These include, Foundations of Midwifery, Healthy Mothers and Babies and Becoming a Midwife. Historically, midwifery has often been viewed as a subset of nursing and although your existing skills and knowledge will provide a valuable foundation,  we hope you gain further insight into philosophy of midwifery. If you have been away from midwifery for a while , welcome back! This course will help you to gain insight , or an update, into the factors that have influenced midwifery over many years, internationally, nationally and at a local level in our own State. You will learn (or be refreshed) about the rich historical perspectives of midwifery and will understand how geographical, cultural, medical and political factors have all helped to shape midwifery into its current form.

To get the most out of this course you will need to participate fully in each activity that has been developed for you. We recognise that as adult learners, you will be self-directed, however evidence shows us that the students who engage the most gain the most from their learning. We also know that studying externally can be somewhat isolating and present more challenges than internal study. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to connect with others who are completing this course. A good way to do this is to participate in the discussion forums by posting your own responses and responding to the contributions of your peers.

You are entering (re-entering) a dynamic profession, that will continue to change to meet the needs of those who need us most; women and babies. We hope that this course will help you to gain confirmation that you are indeed on the right path. Welcome!

Jane Warland (Course Coordinator and online tutor) 

 

For all Midwifery Program related inquiries and to ensure you receive a prompt response, please use the following email address midwifery.enquiries@unisa.edu.au

If you have any IT challenges please contact the IT Help Desk: ithelpdesk@unisa.edu.au

 

There are no prerequisite courses to be completed before this course can be undertaken.

There are no corequisite courses to be completed in conjunction with this course.

The aim of this course is to develop students' knowledge and understanding of the contemporary role of the Midwife in a national and global context.

On completion of this course, students should be able to:

CO1. Demonstrate an understanding of midwifery practice, professional frameworks and models of maternity care, within local and global contexts.

CO2. Explain the role of midwifery in public health and primary health care with particular consideration to sexual, reproductive and women's health.

CO3. Explore the early development and needs of the newborn from birth to six weeks postpartum supporting women's informed choice in infant feeding.

CO4. Describe the advocacy role of the midwife for women, families and communities, including the principles of the Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI).

CO5. Demonstrate the range of literacies that inform Midwifery practice including lifelong learning, critical thinking and evidence-based practice.

CO6. Critically analyse current and future professional contexts, issues and directions in midwifery and the role of midwives as agents of change.

CO7. Demonstrate the ability to practice according to ethical and legal requirements for Midwifery practice and commence the provision of continuity of midwifery care to women through pregnancy, labour, and birth, to six weeks postpartum.

Upon completion of this course, students will have achieved the following combination of Graduate Qualities and Course Objectives:

A graduate of UniSA:

GQ1. operates effectively with and upon a body of knowledge of sufficient depth to begin professional practice

GQ2. is prepared for life-long learning in pursuit of personal development and excellence in professional practice

GQ3. is an effective problem solver, capable of applying logical, critical, and creative thinking to a range of problems

GQ4. can work both autonomously and collaboratively as a professional

GQ5. is committed to ethical action and social responsibility as a professional and citizen

GQ6. communicates effectively in professional practice and as a member of the community

GQ7. demonstrates international perspectives as a professional and as a citizen

Midwifery professional practice standards, codes and guidelines; professional regulation and association and scope of practice; professional boundaries. History and politics of the midwifery profession; the midwifery philosophy of being ‘with-woman’; woman-centred care and promoting normal birth; models of midwifery care; continuity of care, public health and primary health care in midwifery practice; sexual and reproductive health; nutritional needs of the mother in the perinatal period and the newborn; Baby Friendly Health Initiative; breastfeeding promotion and support; community support; current and future contexts of midwifery at a local, national and international level; diagnostic processes and tools; interpretive and analytical skills; evidence based practice; interprofessional collaboration; communication, leadership and teamwork skills.

9 units

Rosters will be emailed to student approximately 4-6 weeks before placement starts, unless CPU advises that this will be undertaken by the venue, then it is issued on the first day. 

Evidence for Placement
Prior to you field placement, it is mandatory that you provide evidence that the pre-conditions have been met and submit this evidence by the due date. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of your placement. If your placement is cancelled, you will need to contact the School Office HYPERLINK "mailto:midwifery.enquiries@unisa.edu.au" midwifery.enquiries@unisa.edu.au  for a new study plan that will include you undertaking an on-campus compulsory module (short course) at your own cost.

You should note that it may be up to 12 months before you have another opportunity to undertake the placement. You will have been notified of these conditions and the required date of submission via email from the Clinical Placement Unit (CPU) and the School of Nursing and Midwifery Manager of Clinical Operations. These requirements are detailed in the online course resources, in the key dates brochure and on the CPU site available at http://w3.unisa.edu.au/health/cpu/info.asp  Some venues do have additional requirements, and you will find a comprehensive list of these (and contact details) on the CPU website. Students must retain evidence of compulsory requirements (e.g. certificates) in their Passport to Placement folder as this may be requested by the clinical venue. The completed Passport to Placement folder MUST be produced by the student on the first day of placement and thereafter whenever requested.

Sick Leave
If you are sick you should not attend field experience and/or scheduled workshop and you need to notify your Course Coordinator.

 

If you have circumstance which you believe will impact on your ability to undertake the field placement it is your responsibility to submit a Pre-Allocation Request form to the CPU. You can find the Pre-Allocation Request form on the CPU website: http://i.unisa.edu.au/students/health/cpu/forms/  

However, if unforeseen circumstances occur you must use the Variation to Placement form to seek consideration for any change. Please note that this cannot be guaranteed and it is advised that you fulfill the allocated placement, failure to do so may impede your ability to progress throughout the program and may incur additional fees. 

All students are required to attend orientation before placement commences except in circumstances where they are notified by CPU that this will occur on their first day. Information about venue orientation is available on the Bachelor of Midwifery Clinical Experience site: https://lo.unisa.edu.au/course/view.php?id=7069  



WHS
Students on placement are not employed by the host organisation and therefore Workcover does not apply. In the event that any treatment is required for a placement-related injury, it is made clear to the treating health care provider that this is not a Workcover-related matter. You should also notify Course Coordinator. 

When an incident or accident occurs while a student is partaking in practical work experience (or travelling to or from), the FS24 form is to be completed for University records. This form is not an insurance policy claim form. The form can be found at http://w3.unisa.edu.au/health/cpu/documents/Accident%20and%20Incident%20(fs24)%20Form.doc 

For enquiries regarding claimable insurance benefits please contact the Insurance Office, 8302 1678.
Midwifery students are advised that they can avail of the student insurance policy, whereby any out of pocket expenses (after using Medicare and their international insurance policy) from clinical placement incidents exceeding $50 will be paid via student insurance. The link below provides more detail. http://w3.unisa.edu.au/fin/Commercial_Support/Insurance/Student_Insurance/student_insurance.asp 

Alternatively students can attend the UniSA Health Medical Clinic at City East campus to be treated if unable to get to their own GP in a reasonable time. If students are covered by BUPA or Alliance they don’t have to pay anything. If they are covered under any other provider they can pay upfront and claim from their insurance later. The link to the clinic is http://www.unisamedical.com.au/

Communication with Students
The University’s primary method of communication with students is electronic, through the UniSA student email account and the student portal. Your Course Coordinator is the first point of contact for any questions you may have. Please use the general forum on your course learnonline site to seek clarification and ask course specific questions. For further information refer to Guidelines on Electronic Communications with Students at the following website: http://www.unisa.edu.au/policies/codes/miscell/ecomstudents.asp
Student Workload
9.0 unit workload
The assumed student workload for a 9.0 unit course is 35 hours per unit which is 315 hours for a 15 week study period. This equates to approximately 20 hours/week of contact and non-contact hours and includes approximately:
15 hours/week for activities such as attendance at lectures, tutorials, workshops, participation in online activities, self-directed and independent course related reading and reflection to enable deep engagement with the course materials.
5 hours/week for researching, further reading and completing course assessments for submission
For further information refer to Time/workload management at the following website: http://w3.unisa.edu.au/counsellingservices/balance/workload.asp
Workshop/seminar attendance
Attendance at the workshop is compulsory. Attendance will be recorded. Failure to attend the scheduled workshop may result in a student being unable to complete the course or a Fail grade for the course. In this case you may need to speak with the Program Director for a new study plan and can expect the program completion date to be altered which will extend the time in the program. Where there are extenuating circumstances a written request can be sent to the online tutor/Course Coordinator to consider the reason for non-attendance. It is an expectation of the course that you come prepared to engage in the workshop having undertaken all necessary preparation and readings. Students who attend and have not undertaken the necessary preparation will be asked to leave the workshop which may result in the student being unable to complete the course.
Uniforms
Student Uniform must be worn for field placements, including attending COCE. Students not attired correctly will be asked to leave their clinical placement. Any variation on the uniform including trouser colour is not acceptable.
Academic staff illness
Academic staff and visiting speakers may be unable to attend their scheduled teaching session due to illness or unanticipated life events. When this occurs the Course Coordinator will make every effort to ensure that the teaching session takes place supported by an appropriate member of staff. In the event that cancellation of the session becomes necessary, students will be notified by email and alternative arrangements made. To avoid an unnecessary journey, as a result of cancellation, students need to routinely check their student emails PRIOR to the workshops.

There are no textbooks listed for this course.

You will need to access your Program text books for this course. It is also recommended to read the text "Aussie Midwives" by Fiona McArthur.

All course related materials can be accessed through your learnonline course site which you will be able to access from the my Courses section in myUniSA.

All study related materials can be accessed through: https://my.unisa.edu.au

Details of assessment submission and return are listed under each assessment task. Assessment tasks will be returned to you within two to three weeks of submission.

If the Course Coordinator allows submissions in hard copy format, you will be required to attach an Assignment Cover Sheet which is available on the learnonline student help (https://lo.unisa.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=1843&chapterid=567) and in myUniSA.

The feedback proforma is available on your course site.

Assignment 1 is a continuous assessment item which runs over the length of the course. It is composed of an online social media module, three quizzes and field experience reflection. The social media module must be completed by you and a copy of the completion certificate uploaded on to the learn online to receive a grade.  Each quiz will draw on content covered in the previous weeks course content and will require you to apply this knowledge in responding to the questions. Each quiz will close at 5pm on the due date and you will no longer be able to access the quiz after this time. Any quiz not undertaken will result in a 0 mark for that item of the continuous assessment. The field experience reflection will comprise of a professional reflection on your filed placement experience within a midwifery-led model of care. You will be provided a template for this reflection. The tally of the complete social media module and the three quizzes will provide a final mark and grade for this assignment.

Answer one only of the following questions, using current literature* and your textbooks.

1) The concept of woman-centred care is central to midwifery practice. Discuss the bioethical principles of autonomy, justice, beneficence and non-maleficence and how these principles underpin the midwifery philosophy of providing woman-centred care.

(This essay requires you to provide evidence of a clear understanding of the four ethical principles, midwifery philosophy and woman-centred care).

OR

2) The maternity services plan identified four priorities for maternity care in Australia. Priority one identified the need to increase access for all women to local maternity services by expanding the range of models of care. Provide an overview of the models of care available for women in Australia and discuss these models in relation to the principles of public health, in particular consider the relationship of continuity of care and/or carer and maternal and neonatal outcomes.

(This essay requires you to provide evidence of knowledge of maternity models of care and an understanding of public health, as well as the relationship of continuity of care/carer to maternal and neonatal outcomes)

OR

3) The maternity services plan identified four priorities for maternity care in Australia. Priority two identified a need to ensure Australian maternity services provide high-quality, evidence-based maternity care. Provide an overview of evidence based practice (EBP) in maternity care and discuss at least three challenges and three benefits of EBP in the context of the philosophy of women-centred care.

(This essay requires you to provide evidence of a sound understanding of evidence based practice and women-centred care, and your ability to discern how evidence based practice may interact with providing woman-centred care.)

*You are required to reference your program textbook(s) and a minimum of four (4) additional peer reviewed journal articles
published from 2010. You may include articles before this date if they are significant and relevant to your discussion but you must have a minimum of 5 references (including text) dated after 2010.
 
Your paper must include:

1. An introduction demonstrating your understanding of the topic and your plan for the essay.
2. A clear response to the essay question with reference to up-to-date and relevant research as well as professional codes and guidelines. This does not mean directly quoting, or cutting and pasting large amounts of information. Instead, you will need to paraphrase and draw on the intent of the literature to support the argument you are making.
3. A concise conclusion that summarises the main points of your essay and returns the reader to the view, or position you have taken.
4. Please provide a reference list presented in UniSA Harvard Referencing System format.
6. Please attach a feedback form as the last section of your document. Instructions on how to do this can be found via the Assessment link on the course homepage.

Academic Writing Requirements
Please refer to information in the assessment folder on the learnonline course site.

This assessment item encourages you to actively participate in the online discussion forums relating to your future role as a midwife. This is linked to your ability to communicate effectively as a reflective practitioner.  This assessment item will be divided into two parts. You will be given an opportunity to self reflect  on your level of participation and assess yourself,  your tutor will also assess your participation.  You will be given more information about this assessment item during the course. Please also refer to the assessment feedback form for more details about what is expected

 

Attendance and participation in the half day workshop will contribute to 10% of your course grade.   

Please ensure that you are familiar with the Assessment Policies and Procedure manual 2018, in particular sections 4 and 5, 6,7

Extension Request Policy 
Students may request an extension for assessment. Extensions will be determined as per the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual clause 7.3 - Extension to complete an assessment task.

Late applications without a clear indication of the reason for the request and/or documentary evidence (requests greater than 7 days) will be rejected and the School of Nursing and Midwifery penalty for late submission of assignments will apply.

Late Submission of Assignments
Late submission of assignments (where an extension has not been granted) will result in a penalty. The penalty for late submissions will be:
- a deduction of 10 marks per day or part day, for each day that the assignment is late up to a maximum of 5 days.
- assignments which are more than 5 days late will not be marked and will be assigned a zero grade.

Example 1: If you submit a paper one and a half days late you will receive a penalty of 20 marks. Your paper will be marked and the 20 marks will be deducted from the mark which you would have obtained if your paper was submitted by the due date. A paper which was given a mark of 70/100 but was submitted 2 days late will receive a final mark of 50.

Example 2: A paper due 11pm on Monday and submitted after 11pm on Saturday will not be marked and assigned a zero grade

Considerations of unexpected or exceptional circumstances are as per Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual sections 7.7 - 7.11

This course does not have an exam.

Variation to exam arrangements does not apply to this course.

Supplementary assessment or examination offers students an opportunity to gain a supplementary pass (SP) and is available to all students under the following conditions unless supplementary assessment or examination has not been approved for the course:

1. if the student has achieved a final grade between 45-49 per cent (F1) in a course
2. if a student who has successfully completed all of the courses within their program, with the exception of two courses in which they were enrolled in their final study period, a supplementary assessment or examination may be granted where the final grade in either or both of these courses, is less than 45 percent (F1 or F2) and all assessments in the courses were attempted by the student. Supplementary assessment will not be available for a course under investigation for academic integrity until the investigation is completed, and determined that it did not constitute academic misconduct.

More information about supplementary assessment is available in section 7.5 of the Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual.
http://i.unisa.edu.au/policies-and-procedures/codes/assessment-policies/

All students must adhere to the University of South Australia's policies about assessment:
http://i.unisa.edu.au/policies-and-procedures/codes/assessment-policies/.

Must attend and complete the Workshop Activity prior to commencing clinical fieldwork.

Students with disabilities or medical conditions or students who are carers of a person with a disability may be entitled to a variation or modification to standard assessment arrangements.  See Section 7 of the Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual (APPM) at:  http://i.unisa.edu.au/policies-and-procedures/codes/assessment-policies/

 

Students who require variations or modifications to standard assessment arrangements should make contact with their Course Coordinator as early as possible in order to ensure that appropriate supports can be implemented or arranged in a timely manner.

 

Students can register for an Access Plan with UniSA Access & Inclusion Service. It is important to make contact early to ensure that appropriate support can be implemented or arranged in a timely manner. See the Disability Hub for more information:  http://www.unisa.edu.au/Disability/Current-students

Students are advised there is a deadline to finalise Access Plan arrangements for examinations. Further information is available at:  http://i.unisa.edu.au/campus-central/Exams_R/Before-the-Exam/Alternative-exam-arrangements/

Deferred assessment or examination is not available for this course. APPM 7.6.4

Special consideration is not available for this course. APPM 7.7.4

Variation to assessment methods, tasks and timelines may be provided in:

Unexpected or exceptional circumstances, for example bereavement, unexpected illness (details of unexpected or exceptional circumstances for which variation may be considered are discussed in clauses 7.8 - 7.10 of the Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual). Variation to assessment in unexpected or exceptional circumstances should be discussed with your course coordinator as soon as possible.

Special circumstances, for example religious observance grounds, or community services (details of special circumstances for which variation can be considered are discussed in clause 7.11 of the Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual). Variations to assessment in expected circumstances must be requested within the first two weeks of the course (or equivalent for accelerated or intensive teaching).

 

Students with disabilities or medical conditions please refer to Students with disabilities or medical conditions.

Assessments will be returned to students within 2-3 weeks from submission

Academic integrity is the foundation of university life and is fundamental to the reputation of UniSA and its staff and students. Academic integrity means a commitment by all staff and students to act with honesty, trustworthiness, fairness, respect and responsibility in all academic work.

An important part of practising integrity in academic work is showing respect for other people's ideas, and being honest about how they have contributed to your work. This means taking care not to represent the work of others as your own. Using another person's work without proper acknowledgement is considered Academic Misconduct, and the University takes this very seriously.

The University of South Australia expects students to demonstrate the highest standards of academic integrity so that its degrees are earned honestly and are trusted and valued by its students and their employers. To ensure this happens, the University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. For example, work submitted electronically by students for assessment will be examined for copied and un-referenced text using the text comparison software Turnitin http://www.turnitin.com.

More information about academic integrity and what constitutes academic misconduct can be found in Section 9 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual (APPM): http://i.unisa.edu.au/policies-and-procedures/codes/assessment-policies/. The Academic Integrity Module explains in more detail how students can work with integrity at the University: https://lo.unisa.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=252142

Students will be able to provide feedback on the course via the online MyCourseExperience evaluation questionnaire. Students will be notified via email when the course evaluation is available. These Questionnaires are completed on-line and will be available at the end of the study period. This is a new course developed based on student feedback from previous years.

The alteration to assessment due dates and communication strategy is designed to minimise the impact of major unplanned learnonline system service outages on students and staff. They should only be considered when an unplanned outage occurs within 3 days of an assessment activity.

Any implementation or revisions are at the discretion of the course coordinator.

 

Outage Duration	Alteration to due date	Alteration to examination
Less than 1 hour	Nil impact	Nil impact
Between 1 and 4 hours	consider extension	Nil impact
Between 4 and 24 hours	24 hour extension	Consider when marking
Longer than 24 hours	48 hour extension	Consider when marking

 

 

Any changes to assessment activity will be communicated to you from your Course Coordinator via:

• Email 
• SMS message