Policies & Safety

• Follow local facility escalation procedures
• Prioritise patient safety
• Notify the Subject Coordinator immediately mpe@jcu.edu.au

• Performance concerns → managed through feedback and assessment (AMSAT)
• Safety or conduct concerns → require immediate escalation and may involve formal reporting

Student progress → manage concerns

Assessment & learning tools

While undertaking MPE, students and clinical staff are expected to uphold:

• JCU Social Media Policy
• JCU Student Code of Conduct Policy 1/01/2026
• JCU Professional Attire (Uniform) Policy
• Procedure for Infections Disease
• Professional Experience Placement Requirements Procedure
• NMBA (2018) Code of conduct for midwives
• NMBA (2018) Midwife standards for practice
• ICN (2014) Code of ethics for midwives
• Workplace Injury or Accident Guidelines - JCU Australia
• Local health service policies and procedures
•  

This includes:

• maintaining professional behaviour
• practising safely and ethically
• respecting women, families and healthcare teams
• maintaining professional boundaries
• acting in accordance with legal and ethical obligations

For further guidance please refer to the JCU PEP-Conduct and Expectations website

Mandatory notification applies only where there is a reasonable belief that a student has an impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm during clinical training.

“The National Law defines ‘impairment’ as ‘a physical or mental impairment, disability, condition or disorder (including substance abuse or dependence) that detrimentally affects or is likely to detrimentally affect the student’s capacity to carry out clinical training:

• as part of the approved program of study in which the student is enrolled, or
• arranged by an education provider.’”

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. (2025). Guidelines: Mandatory notifications about registered students (Section 2.1, What issues must be reported?).

Concerns related to performance, conduct or learning are managed through JCU processes, not mandatory notification.

James Cook University, as an education provider, is legally required to notify AHPRA when these thresholds are met.

Notifiers are protected from civil, criminal and administrative liability when acting in good faith.

Read full  guidance (AHPRA requirements)

Please see mandatory reporting below

Students are required to ensure they are fit for MPE. Further JCU specific  information can be found Conduct and Expectations - Health and safety

Students who are involved in an incident or  workplace event, the student is to notify the academic team via mpe@jcu.edu.au. They may also need to complete an incident form in the facility they work and/or complete one through Riskware

You must follow all workplace health and safety (WHS) requirements.

This includes:

• infection prevention and control
• use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• manual handling guidelines
• safe use of equipment
• responding appropriately to clinical risks and incidents

You must not undertake any activity that is:

• unsafe
• outside your level of competence
• not authorised within your scope of practice

All incidents must be:

• reported in accordance with local facility incident reporting processes
• documented appropriately
• escalated where required

Student Responsibility in Reporting Concerns About Health Professionals

Midwifery students have a professional responsibility to contribute to safe, ethical and respectful clinical environments during Midwifery Practice Experience (MPE).

Students are not mandatory reporters under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. However, students do have a responsibility to act if they become aware of conduct that may place the safety of women, babies, families, themselves or others at risk.

If a student has concerns about the conduct, health or practice of a registered health professional, including potential impairment, unprofessional behaviour or unsafe practice, they must:

• report the concern promptly to their Clinical Partner or Clinical Assessor, and notify the relevant JCU subject coordinator via mpe@jcu.edu.au without delay
• Where the concern relates to immediate safety or serious misconduct, students must follow the local facility’s escalation and incident reporting procedures as the first priority.
• Students are not expected to determine whether conduct meets the threshold for mandatory notification to AHPRA. Decisions about external notification are the responsibility of registered health practitioners, employers or James Cook University as the education provider.
• Concerns raised in good faith will be handled respectfully and confidentially in accordance with JCU policies, AHPRA guidance and local clinical governance frameworks. Raising a concern will not disadvantage a student acting appropriately and professionally.
• Students are encouraged to seek guidance early and to prioritise public safety, professional integrity and their own wellbeing when concerns arise.

Student Responsibility for Child Safety Reporting

James Cook University is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. All midwifery students share a responsibility to contribute to safe clinical environments during Midwifery Practice Experience (MPE).

• Students must remain vigilant to any concerns regarding the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a child or young person encountered during placement.
• If a student becomes aware of, suspects, or reasonably believes that a child or young person may be:
  • experiencing abuse or neglect, or
  • at risk of significant harm,

they must act promptly to report the concern.

• Students must:
  • follow the local clinical facility’s child safety and reporting procedures, including escalation pathways, and
  • notify their Clinical Partner or Clinical Assessor immediately.
• Students must also inform the relevant JCU Subject Coordinator via mpe@jcu.edu.au as soon as practicable, to ensure appropriate support and governance oversight.
• Students are not expected to investigate or substantiate concerns themselves. Reporting concerns in good faith is sufficient and appropriate.
• Where concerns involve immediate risk, students must prioritise local emergency and safeguarding procedures in accordance with facility policy.
• Concerns raised in good faith will be managed confidentially and respectfully. Students will be supported by JCU and the placement provider and will not be disadvantaged for appropriately raising child safety concerns.
• Students are expected to comply with:
  • relevant child protection legislation,
  • clinical facility policies, and
  • JCU codes of conduct and placement requirements.

Safeguarding children and young people is a shared responsibility, and early reporting of concerns is a critical component of safe, ethical and professional midwifery practice.