Bachelor
Incorporating a birthing suite, special care nursery and postnatal area, the Horizon Hospital and Health Service is a fully equipped, state-of-the-art clinical learning environment populated by the women and their families who live in our Horizon City and Community - a virtual health community unique to UniSA. It is designed to facilitate, enhance and support your understanding of real-world midwifery practice. The women of Horizon are interactive manikins, including birthing manikins who can be programmed to simulate a range of birth scenarios, and real people acting as family members. They each have their own personal stories, relationships and health histories, along with pregnancy care records. This will complement your off-campus clinical placements throughout your degree.
By learning from experienced clinicians and teaching staff who are well above world-class researchers,1 you are assured the very best in academic resources, learning facilities and support.
This degree can also be a great option for those wanting the flexibility that comes with online learning and on-campus workshops - we offer accessible online learning facilities and dedicated support staff who are with you every step of the way.
12018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).
Midwifery is an international profession and birthing practices are different all over the world. A focus of this degree is on addressing the political, socio-cultural, economic and technological influences on midwifery practices. The legal and ethical responsibilities of midwives are also explored.
There is a strong focus on theory and practical experience, and you will do much of your learning in our unique clinician-led, authentic simulated hospital and health service on campus. Here you will have the opportunity to practice your skills through real-life scenarios and feel confident and prepared for clinical practice. This simulated hospital environment fully led by practicing registered nurses and midwives (clinicians), known as the Horizon Hospital and Health Service (HHHS), is the only one of its kind in South Australia.
You will then be given the opportunity to further develop these skills when you embark on real-world clinical placements across metropolitan, regional and rural hospitals and health services, under the supervision of registered midwives. During these placements you will be actively involved in a minimum of 30 normal births, and in the pre- and post-birth care of at least 100 women. You will also follow 15 women through their pregnancy and birth journeys through Continuity Of Care Experiences (COCE).
All students will need to complete clinical placements in South Australia, and they must be completed on a full-time basis.
In addition, you may have the opportunity to study a portion of your degree internationally, with an overseas placement during your third year of study.
You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.
Midwives are the primary maternity care providers in Australia, providing care, support and advice to women during pregnancy, labour, birth and in the postnatal transition. They play an important role in the promotion of normal birth, which includes screening, assessments, detection of complications, and providing emergency care to both the woman and her baby in collaboration with other health professionals. Midwives play a significant role in health education such as family planning, preparing for birth, parenting and infant care.
Registered midwives can work in a wide variety of healthcare settings, such as:
As a Midwife, you may also have the opportunity to undertake further study in the areas of research with a Masters by Research or strengthen your supervisory skills with a Graduate Certificate in Health Science (Clinical Education) or Professional Certificate in Practice Education. Other options are the Graduate Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health and the Master of Midwifery.
Graduates may complete the Transition to Professional Practice Program with a participating employer.