University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
1.17 years full-time (14 months)
This Graduate Diploma transforms registered nurses into professional midwives through intensive theoretical and clinical training. Combining hands-on experience in accredited hospitals with research-based knowledge, graduates emerge equipped to provide comprehensive maternal and newborn care across diverse healthcare settings.
Applicants must be registered nurses in Australia with a completed Australian bachelor's degree or higher qualification in Nursing, or equivalent overseas qualification. Alternatively, applicants need current nursing registration, evidence of an accepted employment position offer as a midwifery student in an approved partner hospital, minimum 1 year full-time post-degree relevant paid employment in the previous year, and demonstrated general capacity for tertiary education. English language requirements: IELTS Academic 7.0 overall (all bands 7.0), TOEFL iBT 94 overall, Pearson PTE 65 overall, or OET B in all components. Selection is based on academic merit (GPA). Applicants must secure employment as a student midwife through NSW Ministry of Health's MidStART process or direct application to affiliated private hospitals.
The course comprises 48 credit points across nine compulsory subjects covering core midwifery competencies. Core subjects include: Translating Research into Midwifery Practice, Midwifery as Primary Healthcare: a Public Health Strategy, Promoting, Supporting and Protecting Breastfeeding, Power, Politics and Midwifery, Midwifery Practice 1 and 2, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Women and Babies, Perinatal Mental Health, and Midwifery in Complex Situations. Students complete two practical placements in real clinical settings, building hands-on experience in maternal and newborn care, cross-cultural care, and professional practice. Summer subjects are delivered online via learning modules, while Autumn and Spring subjects use a blended delivery model combining online and on-campus learning.
UTS is recognized for its comprehensive blend of theory and clinical practice in midwifery education. The university partners with several public and private hospitals in Sydney, providing students with access to world-class facilities and expert academics. UTS holds above-world-standard recognition for Medical and Health Sciences (2018 ERA evaluation) and is committed to transdisciplinary learning that prepares graduates for lifelong careers. The program is fully accredited by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, meeting national and international standards. Faculty members are described as knowledgeable, supportive professionals dedicated to student success.
Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and can pursue diverse career pathways. Career options include clinical midwife roles, midwife manager, midwife educator, lactation consultant, policy officer, global health officer, researcher, clinical midwife consultant, and private practice midwifery. With midwifery being one of Australia's fastest-growing professions and in high demand across public and private health systems, graduates possess in-demand clinical and research skills applicable to domestic and international healthcare settings. The specialised knowledge and practical experience position graduates for leadership roles in maternal and newborn health.