Future Students Midwife Training

About JCU's Midwifery Training & Courses

Midwives work with women and their children at the most pivotal point of life. If you want a career where you can make a difference wherever you go, the midwife training at JCU can give you the preparation and training you need to be ready today for tomorrow.

A midwifery course at university makes you uniquely qualified to make a difference in the lives of individuals and whole communities. You'll be working in partnership with families to provide the support, care, and education that truly changes lives.

One of the best things about being a midwife is the opportunity to work one-on-one, providing woman-centred support. You'll be providing education throughout a woman's pregnancy journey, offering advice in the early stages, support during the birthing process, and the kind of care new mothers need as they look after their newborns.

All around the world, there is a shortage of qualified midwives. Women all over the country need access to the kind of skilled healthcare you'll be able to provide as a qualified midwife. Whether you want to work autonomously or in a group practice we have you covered. You might wish to work with rural or remote women or in bustling metropolitan environments, your midwifery course at university will provide the preparation you need.

At JCU Nursing and Midwifery, you'll find lecturers committed to student success who make a conscious effort to put the student at the centre of the learning process. You'll learn in small class sizes and will receive one-on-one support from your lecturers.

First-Hand Experience

Experience has no substitute and your midwife training at JCU will have you working hands-on in clinical placements across Australia, and abroad, from your very first year of study.

Person-Centred Care

Through JCU's partnership with hospitals and health services in some of Queensland's rural and remote locations, you'll gain practical experience while learning how to provide respectful care to people of every cultural background.

A Complete Journey

During your practical experience, you won't just drop into the lives of pregnant women at different points. You'll be part of the journey from beginning to end. This will include attending antenatal and postnatal appointments, being present at labour and birth, and supporting women through the first six weeks after birth.

World-Class Education

Your studies at JCU will prepare you for a successful career. Once enrolled, you'll have student registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Once you graduate with your degree, you will be eligible to apply for professional registration with the NMBA. JCU's graduates are highly sought after, and your depth and breadth of knowledge will make you ready to take on tomorrow's challenges.

Your time at midwifery school should be a combination of building knowledge, applying it in practical situations, and growing the skills you need for a successful career.

Building a Foundation

Your midwife training will include essential knowledge of the human sciences including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and the social constructs of motherhood that you will use and apply no matter where you go in your career. Gain a deeper understanding of the human organism and how it functions, from the cellular level to the various bodily systems that regulate everything about human life.

Laws and Ethics

A degree and a job is important, and to launch a successful career you need a strong understanding of all the laws and ethical issues surrounding your chosen profession. Through your training, you'll be able to evaluate clinical practice through the lens of ethical practice and master the important laws that govern midwifery in Australia and Queensland in particular.

Education

During your career, you will be working alongside women and educating them from the earliest months of their pregnancy beyond the time they give birth. Master the role of the midwife as an educator as you learn about the pathophysiological processes of pregnancy and birth and how to care for women in complex pregnancy situations.

Applying Your Knowledge

From your first year at midwifery school, you'll spend time applying your knowledge in practical clinical situations. You have the opportunity to use what you have learned to understand and explain the processes behind pregnancy and birth. You'll also integrate knowledge with the use of technology, so you can provide midwifery care in even the most complex environments.

Newborns

You'll have the opportunity to work with infants in complex, special-care nurseries. Learn how to be part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team that stands beside families during the most difficult moments.

Mothers

In your clinical practice, you'll have hands-on opportunities to evaluate midwifery care and how you can best partner with pregnant mothers to ensure good health outcomes. You'll be on-deck, applying the woman-centred care principles you've learned in real midwifery situations.

Growing Your Skills

Midwifery is about more than just helping mothers through the birthing process. You know that a midwife must be an excellent educator, able to help women understand what's happening during their pregnancies and how to best care for themselves and their unborn children.

Communication

Your midwifery course at university includes learning and practising effective communication skills. Through your studies, you come to understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie in the various communication channels. Where you are strong, you'll become stronger. Where you are weaker, you'll become competent. Through it all, you'll gain a strong understanding of the barriers to effective communication and how to overcome them.

Cultural Competency

Another key skill for any midwife is the ability to work with people of other cultures in a respectful way while providing the healthcare they need. At JCU, you'll spend time working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and come to understand the cultural and historical issues that influence their healthcare outcomes. You’ll also learn how to build a reflective midwifery practice that considers the social, emotional, and physical well-being of everyone you care for.

Your future as a caring midwifery professional starts at JCU. Start your world-class, accredited degree course today at James Cook University, and make yourself ready for the careers of tomorrow.