Midwifery course to boost regional birthing services

Access to midwifery services for expectant mothers in the Mackay region and beyond will be boosted with the launch of a face-to-face component based in the city.

12 registered nurses have begun a Graduate Diploma of Midwifery at James Cook University’s Clinical Education Facility in Mackay, equipping them with crucial perinatal skills that are in high demand.

JCU Ngudya Yamba (Mackay) campus Nursing and Midwifery site coordinator Dr Maude Chapman said offering the face-to-face component of the diploma in Mackay removed the need for nurses in the central Queensland region to travel to Townsville for their two week residential study period and allowed them to train at their nominated health facility - such as Mackay Base and Mater Mothers’ Private hospitals.

“This is a significant step for JCU and the Mackay region as it demonstrates a commitment by JCU to support growing our healthcare workforce,” she said.

“It also demonstrates a commitment to the region by listening to what the community has asked for in that we need more midwives for the region.”

Students will be taught the full spectrum of midwifery skills over 18 months online, extending to pre-birth care, during labour, and post-natal care.

“There’s a national shortage of midwives and our region is no different,” Dr Chapman said.

“However, if we can educate midwives within our region, that also helps to serve our outlying communities like Moranbah, Dysart, Proserpine and Bowen.

Dr Chapman said offering the diploma in Mackay meant it was also possible for nurses based as far away as Emerald to upskill.

“We have a Centre for Rural and Remote Health in Emerald so registered nurses can travel from there to Mackay for the face-to-face component, which previously was seen to be out of reach because it was only offered in Townsville,” she said.

“Having that here means we’ve got an uptake of interest from current registered nurses to become midwives, which will improve the quality of healthcare within our region.”

Dr Chapman said local healthcare facilities were “extremely supportive” of the diploma and would provide nursing educators to teach parts of the course.

“All of the clinical education is current and visible for students when they go out into their nominated healthcare facility because we have those nurse educators here,” she said.