Bachelor
This course incorporates midwifery theory, science and clinical practice in a range of health facilities. Graduates of the course are competent midwives who have the skills, knowledge and confidence to practise midwifery according to the international definition of the role and scope of practice of the midwife.
Taking a transdisciplinary approach, the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation utilises multiple perspectives from diverse fields, integrating a range of industry experiences, real-world projects and self-initiated proposals, equipping graduates to address the wicked problems, complex challenges and untapped opportunities in today's world.
The Bachelor of Midwifery program prepares students for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. UTS delivered the first Bachelor of Midwifery program in New South Wales.
By focusing on the high-level conceptual thinking and problem-solving practices that lead to the development of innovative, creative and entrepreneurial outcomes, students of the combined degree also gain leading edge capabilities that are highly valued in the globalised world, including dealing with critical and creative thinking, invention, complexity, innovation, future scenario building and entrepreneurship, and the ability to work on their own across disciplines. These creative intelligence competencies enable graduates to navigate in a rapidly changing world.
Career options include practising midwife in hospital, community, public and private settings in metropolitan and rural areas. Career progression opportunities include midwifery education management and research, and consultancy roles such as lactation or midwifery consultant.
By being creative thinkers, initiators of new ideas, scenario planners, global strategists, open network designers or sustainable futures innovators within their chosen field of study, graduates maximise the potential of their chosen profession, making them highly sought after graduates with the ability to identify and develop solutions to some of the most complex issues that face their disciplines and society.
Students must gain a minimum of 144 credit points to complete the Bachelor of Midwifery and 96 credit points in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation. The creative intelligence and innovation subjects are undertaken in accelerated form within July and Summer sessions during the first three years of study, and through one full year of study after completion of the professional degree. The Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation is not offered as a separate degree, but is completed only in combination with the professional degree program.
Full-time students study four subjects a session incorporating midwifery theory, science and clinical practice.
This course includes extensive midwifery practice, which is a compulsory component. Students undertake midwifery professional experience in an allocated area health service facility. Clinical placements occur in blocks each session and are in addition to time spent in the midwifery clinical practice laboratories that simulate the clinical environment. The placements involve morning, evening and possibly night shifts. Over the duration of the course, students are also required to follow 20 women throughout their pregnancy, birth and the period after birth. This requires students to be on-call to attend the labour and birth. Students in the final year of their program undertake a prolonged period of clinical experience with much of their time spent in a clinical environment. Students also have the opportunity to complete a rural and remote placement.
All midwifery students must adhere to the requirements in the Ministry of Health policy directive, 'PD2020_017 Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases', prior to commencement of any clinical practice placements.
The policy should be read in full as it outlines students' obligation for screening and immunisation against certain infectious diseases prior to commencing their clinical placement. Students are asked to provide evidence of their immunity or vaccination status, and screening for tuberculosis (TB) status may also be required prior to or at the time of commencement of the first clinical placement. Students should be aware that if they do not meet the requirements of the policy they cannot commence the placement and as a result are not able to complete the course.
Students are also required to undertake a National Criminal Record Check and obtain a National Police Certificate.
In the full-time program, students commence midwifery professional experience in the clinical setting in first year and this continues into second and third years.
In the final year of the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation, students can undertake between 6 and 12 credit points of internship (work experience) that relates to innovation within their research, career development or core degree specialisations. For students undertaking 12 credit points of internship, international internships may be negotiated. Students may be required to relinquish intellectual property when they opt in to certain industry-related experiences, particularly relating to internships and capstone projects.