Midwifery
A midwife is a person who has undertaken an accredited education program in order to register to practice midwifery. Midwives provide care for childbearing families throughout the preconceptual period, pregnancy, labour and birth and the early postnatal period. They also provide care for newly born infants. Throughout the world, the majority of healthy pregnant and birthing women are cared for by midwives.
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What does a midwife do?
Midwives look after mothers before and during birth, and the newborn baby after the birth by being able to assist with a normal birth, or be able to recognise any problems and seek the attendance of a doctor. They also give emergency medical assistance until help arrives, or if further assistance cannot be obtained. Midwives are trained to not only recognise abnormal factors in the mother and baby during pregnancy, and during and after labour, but also to apply preventative measures to ensure the safety of mother and child.
Midwives also provide support and education for women during their pregnancy, and provide advice during childbirth on issues such as the most comfortable positions for birth as well as other techniques to assist with pain management in labour.
What career opportunities are available to midwives?
Midwives can work in hospitals, in the community and women's health care settings. Some midwives work in private practice, offering care for women in the woman's own home. Midwives give family planning advice and assist with other women's health issues. They can also become involved in education and can hold management positions in health care facilities and health advisery bodies.
How do I become a midwife?
At present, a person must be a registered nurse in order to gain entry to a midwifery education program in Queensland. Midwifery education programs are offered at graduate diploma and masters levels at a number of Queensland universities. For more information on postgraduate course availability in this area, click here to go to the further education section.
Where can I get more information on becoming a midwife?
In Queensland, the universities offering midwifery post-graduate courses are:
- Griffith University
- Queensland University of Technology
- Australian Catholic University
- University of Southern Queensland
- Central Queensland University
- James Cook University
Additional information about midwifery practice, education and research can be obtained from the Australian College of Midwives,
phone (07) 3366 7641 or 1300 360 480.
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