Welcome to Foundations of Midwifery, which I hope you will find both interesting and challenging. The purpose of this course is to provide you with a beginning understanding of the professional role, responsibilities and relationships of the midwife, as well as the practice standards you will need in order to provide effective contemporary midwifery care. As we will explore, working as a health professional places you in a privileged position in society, so you need to be aware of the ethics, professional guidelines and personal responsibility required in this role, as well as begin to develop your own self-awareness and philosophy of midwifery care. The women and families you care for will rely on you to have the necessary knowledge and expertise to ensure that they have the best possible health outcomes, therefore academic literacy and research are also introduced in this topic, giving you a foundation both for your continuing studies, and your future midwifery practice.

The material for this course is designed to encourage you to actively participate in your learning by questioning, critically analysing, and problem-solving as you engage with the weekly readings. These are essential skills for your academic and midwifery practice and it is vital that you begin to take responsibility now for your own professional learning. In this circumstance, this means that you come to class having done all of the required readings so that you can contribute equally to class discussion with your peers.

Our best wishes for a rewarding and enjoyable introduction to your career and for your success in this course.

Lois McKellar (Course Coordinator), Cathy Stoodley (tutor) and Amye Eden (tutor)

Tutorial

Student information

A tutorial can be conducted either in person or online in a virtual classroom. A tutorial is a facilitated group discussion, where your tutor leads analyses of issues and/or more detailed explanations related to the topics provided to you in online resources and/or lectures.

All students are expected to be familiar with relevant lecture content and readings prior to a tutorial and to participate actively in the related activities assigned for preparation. Tutorials may include a range of activities, including problem solving, group work, practical activities, and presentations.
 

Workshop

Student information

A workshop is a structured activity, delivered either in person or online in a virtual classroom in which the student is required to actively contribute. Your instructor will facilitate guided activities that relate to course content previously covered in a lecture and/or seminar and/or tutorial.

All students are expected to be familiar with relevant lecture seminar and/or tutorial content prior to a workshop in preparation for undertaking the activities in the workshop.
 

Sick Leave
If you are sick you should not attend tutorials or scheduled workshops. Please be aware if you are required to obtain a medical certificate students can attend the UniSA Health Medical Clinic if unable to get to their own GP in a reasonable time.

Tutorials
If you are unable to attend your tutorial, please contact your tutor. The option of attending an alternative tutorial may be available. Students must make up any missed tutorials by working through the activities online.

Compulsory Workshops
If you are unable to attend your scheduled compulsory workshops, please contact your tutor and/or the Course Coordinator as soon as possible. In order to ensure that we are able to provide you with a makeup workshop, a medical certificate and/or other supporting evidence is required. Please do not simply attend another workshop.

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 lectures, tutorials and workshops.

Pre-tutorial preparation
It is an expectation that students will undertake all pre-tutorial preparation. This may include, completing identified readings, online videos, activities or group work. Students who have not completed the pre-tutorial preparation may be asked to leave the tutorial and complete the preparation before continuing with the class.

Communication with Students
The University’s primary method of communication with students is electronic, through the UniSA student email
account and the student portal. For further information refer to Guidelines on Electronic Communications with
Students at the following website: http://w3.unisa.edu.au/policies/codes/miscell/ecomstudents.asp

Student Workload
The assumed student workload for a 4.5 unit course is 35 hours per unit which is 157.5 hours for a 15 week study period. This equates to approximately 10 hours/week of contact and non-contact hours and includes approximately:

• 7.5 hours/week for activities such as, participation in online activities, workshops, self-directed and independent course related reading and reflection to enable deep engagement with the course materials. 
• 2.5 hours/week for researching, further reading and completing course assessments for submission

For further information on time management and study planners refer to the following website: https://lo.unisa.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=1144639&chapterid=169634

Student Access Plans (SAP)
Student should contact the Course Coordinator before the start of each course if they have a current student access plan and believe they may need any adjustments to the course. This includes extending timelines for assessment tasks, predicted absence from course activities or accommodations in the Horizon Hospital and Health Service (HHHS). The Student Access Plan and course requirements will be reviewed with a course specific plan developed before the student commences the course.

Workshop/seminar attendance

Attendance at all workshops/seminars is compulsory. Attendance will be recorded at all sessions for both internal and external mode students. Students who miss one or more workshops and/or the seminar without evidence of unexpected or exceptional circumstances will fail the course. In this case you will 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 Course Coordinator to consider the reason for non-attendance. It is an expectation of the course that you come prepared to engage in the workshops 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.

The program text "Midwifery Preparation for Practice' will be utilised in this course and you will be required to have continual access to the book "Aussie Midwives" Fiona McArthur as we will be reading this throughout the course.

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.

Cover sheets

This assessment item encourages you to actively participate in the discussion of issues related to your current role as a midwifery student and your future role as a midwife. It is linked to the development of your knowledge and understanding of the profession of midwifery and midwifery practice.

In order to fulfil the requirement of this assessment, you must attend and participate in tutorials or online discussion groups and the communication workshop. Specifically, you are required to demonstrate preparation for all tutorial/discussion forums and workshops, and actively participate in group discussions and activities in tutorials, online discussions and workshop activities. Your contributions should be a mix of original contributions and responses to the contributions of others, peers or tutor. Contributions must:

    - Demonstrate accurate and relevant knowledge through discussion activity
    - Demonstrate professional behaviour in the group environment
    - Acknowledge and respect the opinions of others

When your contribution is assessed, it is the quality of your discussion that is important. This will be assessed with regard to the demonstration of the following behaviours:
    - Questioning (thoughtful query)
    - Defining problems clearly
    - Collecting, examining or presenting evidence
    - Appropriate critiquing or supporting peer contributions, i.e. “ditto” and “I agree” without any further comment will not be counted as a contribution
    - Critical thinking and logical reasoning

It is expected that students will participate regularly (>80%) with discussions through tutorials (internal students) and through the online discussion forums (external students). In the case of sick leave, you MUST inform your tutor prior to the tutorial commencing. The communication workshop is compulsory; 100% attendance and participation is required for this.

This will be an ongoing assessment for the duration of the course beginning in Week 1. You are required to complete and submit your participation rubric for moderation.
For more information on the assessment, refer to the course learnonline assessment tab
NOTE: As you prepare your assessment, remember to refer to the assessment rubric which explains how your assessments will be marked.

This continuous assessment item is composed of a social media activity and three quizzes.

The social media activity must be completed by you and uploaded on to the learn online to receive a grade. This will be discussed in class or your virtual classroom.

Each quiz will draw on content covered in the previous weeks tutorial and will require you to apply this knowledge in responding to the questions.

    - Quiz 1 Weeks 1-4

    - Quiz 2 Weeks 5-7

    - Quiz 3 Weeks 8-11

Each quiz will close at 11pm 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 tally of the completed social media module and the three quizzes will provide a final score and grade for this assessment.

Address one only of the following topics, using current literature* and your textbooks.

1) The concept of woman-centred care is central to midwifery practice and has been embedded as the central focus in the Strategic Directions for Australian Maternity Services (COAG 2019). Discuss the bioethical principles of autonomy, justice, beneficence and non-maleficence and how these principles underpin the midwifery philosophy of woman-centred care.

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

OR

 
2 ) The Strategic Directions for Australian Maternity Services (COAG 2019) has identified four values which underpin twelve principles for woman centred maternity care in Australia. Principle 1.1 states "women receive individualised information and appropriate care during the perinatal period that is based on current, high quality evidence." 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. 

PLEASE NOTE: Students may request a re-submission for Assessment 3 – Eligibility for re-submission will be determined and administered as per Section 5.2 of the Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual.

Re-submissions will be considered for assignments that receive an F1 grade

Re-marking
Re-marking will occur as per section 5.1 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual

Extension Request Policy
Extensions to assessment task will follow the University of South Australia Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual (APPM) clause 7.3 - Extension to complete an assessment task.

All assessment extensions requests must be:

• submitted via the Learnonline site to the Course Coordinator

• lodged two (2) working days prior to the time and date that the assessment item is due

• include a reason for the extension request

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 the following Saturday will not be marked and will be assigned a zero grade

Considerations of unexpected or exceptional circumstances are as per Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual sections 7.8 - 7.11

This course does not have an exam.

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/

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 Access and Inclusion for more information: https://i.unisa.edu.au/students/student-support-services/access-inclusion/

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 7.6.5

Special consideration is not available for this course. APPM 7.3.2

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

Details for which variation may be considered are discussed in section 7 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.

More information about variation to assessment is available in section 7 of the Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual. http://i.unisa.edu.au/policies-and-procedures/codes/assessment-policies/

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. The Assessment, Policies and Procedure Manual (APPM) can be accessed here https://i.unisa.edu.au/policies-and-procedures/codes/assessment-policies/

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.

It is an offence for any person or company to provide academic cheating services to students of Australian universities, irrespective of whether the service is provided by an Australian or overseas operator (see Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (Prohibiting Academic Cheating Services) Bill 2019 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2020A00078). “Academic cheating services” includes providing or undertaking work for students, where that work forms a substantial part of an assessment task.

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

The information below show the suggested alterations/considerations for assessment items and exam dependent on the duration of the unplanned  outage

less than 1 hour outage. No impact on either assessment or examination

1 to 4 hour outage.     Assessment  - Consider an extension. Examination - No impact.

4 to 24 hour outage.     Assessment - 24 hour extension. Examination - Be mindful of outage when marking

Over 24 hour outage.   Assessment - 48 hour extension. Examination- Be mindful of outage when marking