Charles Darwin University
1 year
This postgraduate certificate prepares registered midwives to deliver maternity care in rural and remote Australian communities where resources are limited and they may work as the sole midwife. It combines evidence-based practice with cultural competency and community relationship-building.
Applicants must be currently registered as a registered midwife with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Domestic students must meet standard English language proficiency requirements for higher education at CDU, which can be demonstrated through previous study in English, successful completion of Australian secondary schooling year 12, or approved English language test scores (IELTS 6.0 overall with no band below 6.0, or equivalent).
The course comprises three core units totalling 40 credit points. Semester 1 includes NUR563 Primary Health Care and First Nations Health (10 cp), which examines primary healthcare principles with specific focus on working with First Nations people, and MID516 Partnering with Women and Communities to Manage Chronic Conditions During Pregnancy (10 cp), which addresses chronic disease challenges in rural and remote midwifery contexts. Semester 2 features MID517 Clinical Midwifery Practice in Rural and Remote Regions (20 cp), which focuses on adapting pre-existing midwifery knowledge to lower-resourced settings, including women's health in primary healthcare and community-based neonatal care. Students attend a mandatory 4-day simulation teaching block at the Alice Springs campus.
Charles Darwin University is ranked #2 in Australia for postgraduate nursing starting salary and #3 for postgraduate nursing employment outcomes (GUG 2024), with #3 ranking for postgraduate learner engagement in nursing. CDU delivers nursing and midwifery education through passionate expert lecturers guided by evidence, innovation and patient-centred care. The university offers flexible study options (online, on-campus, part-time, full-time) and provides practical experience through placements and state-of-the-art clinical simulation suites located across Australia.
Graduates are prepared for employment in rural or remote settings where they work as the only midwife on shift or in the community, alongside other healthcare professionals such as nurses or Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander health workers. Employment opportunities exist with public health services or Aboriginal community controlled health services. The qualification enhances career prospects and earning potential in rural and remote healthcare delivery.
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