Graduate Certificate in Prescribing for Midwives

What you will study

Qualification for the award requires the completion of 40 units of coursework, comprising 40 units of core courses. Unless otherwise indicated, each course is worth 10 units.

Core courses

Complete the following core courses to fulfil the requirements of this program.

• Introduction to Pharmacotherapeutics and Prescribing for Health Care Professionals
• Pharmacotherapeutics for Midwifery Primary Care
• Advanced Practice: Diagnostics and Interventions (20 units)

Entry requirements

Applicants must be a Midwife holding current, unconditional registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

All applicants require a minimum of one year's full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant experience across the full scope of midwifery practice, or in a specified context of midwifery practice.

Work experience can be identified through a detailed curriculum vitae, a statement of service, or signed letters from employers confirming role, duties and period of employment.

English language requirements

All Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the University’s English proficiency requirement. The English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy contains further information regarding English language proficiency requirements. Contact the university for more details.

• IELTS Overall Minimum: 7
• IELTS Sub Test Minimum: 7

Contact the university for more information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The University of Newcastle wants to help you fast-track your degree, recognising that your prior study is one way they can do that. If your application is successful, you can reduce the number of courses you need to study, saving you time and money. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Critically analyse the principles of the quality use of medicines, legislation, regulatory frameworks, guidelines and codes related to prescribing drugs in Australia as applied to the scope of midwifery practice.
• Critically evaluate pharmacotherapeutics within a midwifery context to understand the safe pharmacological management of individuals’ health conditions.
• Synthesise results from undertaking comprehensive health histories, clinical assessments, screening and diagnostic tests to form accurate diagnoses.
• Develop sound clinical judgment about safe therapeutic responses and interventions, based on advanced knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics and diagnostics.
• Use high-quality evidence, sound clinical judgment and knowledge of the woman’s needs, desires and baby's needs to prescribe medicines safely.
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills using a philosophy of woman-centredness and primary health care principles to function autonomously and collaboratively as a safe prescriber of medicines in the maternity health system.

Career outcomes

Upon graduation, you may be eligible to become an endorsed midwife practitioner.

An endorsed midwife can apply to Medicare Australia for a Medicare provider number and/or a PBS provider number. Once endorsed midwives meet the Medicare Australia requirements, they can provide Medicare-rebatable services and become authorised PBS prescribers.

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $3,511.27 (Commonwealth Supported Places)

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $16,715 (domestic full-fee paying place)

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 40 units (normally four courses).

A student’s annual fee may vary depending on:

• The number of courses studied.
• Choice of programs.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.

Student fees shown are subject to change. 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 the courses 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 program.