Graduate Diploma of Midwifery

What you will study

You must pass eight credit points to complete the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery. This includes:

• DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
• Eight credit points of core units

Most units are equal to one credit point.

Core units

Year 1 - Trimester 1 (Commencing February)

• Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)
• Partnerships in Midwifery 1: Pregnancy Care
• Partnerships in Midwifery 2: Labour and Birth Care
• Partnerships in Midwifery 3: Postnatal Care

Year 1 - Trimester 2

• Complex Midwifery Care
• Neonatal Challenges in Midwifery Practice
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' History, Culture and Health

Year 2 - Trimester 1

• Emergency Midwifery Care
• Contemporary Midwifery Practice

Entry requirements

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements and individual circumstances. You must meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

Please note that this course has limited places and entry is competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible. If all spots are filled, applications for this course may close prior to the published closing date.

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree, you will need to meet all the following criteria:

• Completion of a Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent.
• Registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia with no conditions or restrictions.
• Evidence of secure, ongoing employment or clinical placement support in a maternity setting within Australia, with appropriate clinical supervision.

English language proficiency requirements

Language tests and meet the requirements for test results specified in the NMBA English language skills registration standard:

• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 7.0 (with no individual band less than 7.0).
• OET: minimum score of B in each of the four bands.
• PTE Academic: minimum score of 65 (with no communication band less than 65).

Non-academic requirements

As this midwifery course is offered collaboratively between the University and a range of partnership/collaborating hospitals, student selection into the course is a joint process. Students must independently apply for and seek permanent employment or clinical placement within a collaborating hospital to support learning and complete the midwifery experience requirements of this accredited course. Applicants are required to complete an Applicant Declaration form to be uploaded with their application

Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have completed previous studies that may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of prior learning. You must provide a certified copy of your previous course details to determine your credit. If you are eligible, your offer letter will be filled out with information about your Recognition of prior learning.

You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system, which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

The midwife is recognised as a responsible and accountable professional who works with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, as well as to conduct births and provide care for the newborn and the infant. The midwife has an important task in health counselling and education, not only for the woman, but also within the family and the community. This work involves antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to women’s health, sexual or reproductive health and childcare. A midwife may practise in any setting, including the home, community, hospitals, clinics or health units.

Employment opportunities for registered midwives have never been greater due to the current shortage of qualified midwives locally and overseas. Throughout your course, you will develop the knowledge and skills that make you highly employable within the specialist field of midwifery.

Learning outcomes

• Practice midwifery that is underpinned by the philosophy of woman-centred care.
• Critically engage in assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation to provide evidence-based, safe and quality care to optimise outcomes in partnership with the woman.
• Be a reflective lifelong learner who is cognisant of and actively develops and maintains their midwifery knowledge, skills and mindsets required for contemporary midwifery practice.
• Develop sustainable, respectful partnerships built on collaboration, mutual trust, respect and cultural safety.
• Foster effective professional relationships to ensure safe and quality care.

Fees and CSP

Indicative first-year tuition fee in 2025: $4,627 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

The indicative first-year fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one academic year, depending on the type of place you are offered, for example, a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or full-fee paying (FFP) place. For a graduate certificate, this is usually four units studied full-time over one term or part-time over two terms.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

• The number of units studied per term.
• The choice of major or specialisation.
• Choice of units.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Could you contact the university directly to confirm?

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPS to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you only need to pay some of your tuition fees. The student contribution amount is the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

• Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
• Depending on the study areas they relate to.
• Reviewed and adjusted each year.

HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.