What is midwifery?
Midwifery is a specialised healthcare profession that focuses on providing antenatal care during pregnancy, labour and birth, and postnatally. Midwives provide care and support to mother and baby in the first 6 weeks after birth.
A Bachelor of Midwifery will give you the knowledge and skills you need to work in partnership with women and other health care professionals, working in many different maternal settings.
How to become a Midwife in Australia
At USQ you can complete a nursing qualification, such as a Bachelor of Nursing and go on to study a postgraduate Nursing and Allied Health degree, such as the Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry.
Once you have completed your midwifery degree you need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) which will allow you to work in a variety of maternal settings.
How long does it take to become a midwife?
A Bachelor of Midwifery or our Bachelor of Health (Honours) (Midwifery) qualification will take you approximately 3 to complete. If you are a Registered Nurse and study a postgraduate Nursing and Allied Health degree, such as USQ’s Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry, it will take you approximately 2 years to complete. Some students choose to study part-time which increases the time it takes to finish the required courses.
Can you become a midwife with a nursing degree?
Yes, you can! If you are a Registered Nurse (RN) with a current Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration and obtained a GPA of at least 4 from your previous nursing studies you can apply to study USQ’s Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry.
Is midwifery for me?
Like any career or industry, a passion or specific skillset will help you naturally align your strengths to a job you love. Midwifery is no different. Some important qualities many midwives have include:
- The ability to empathise and sympathise with others – showing care and compassion for your patients and their babies at a momentous time in their life is a big part of the job.
- Patience and people skills – many first time mothers have a lot of concerns or questions so being able to patiently answer any and all questions is important. You will also be required to work in different medical settings with a variety of health care professions so being able to relate to people and get along well with others is imperative.
- A strong stomach – a midwife needs to capably handle many medical situations which may involve blood, bodily functions and medical procedures, so having a ‘squeamish’ stomach isn’t going to pair well in this career.
Are flexible study options available?
Yes! You study the Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry externally which means you can learn your subject theory online and in your own time. You complete your clinical experience in a range of settings, such as hospitals, family planning clinics, community health and home visits.
You also have the choice of studying full-time or part-time, allowing you to balance your life, work and family commitments.
Discover more about the ways you can study at USQ.
What pathways are available?
If you aren’t a Registered Nurse (RN) with a bachelor degree in nursing or equivalent you can apply to study a Bachelor of Nursing and then continue your studies with a Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry to qualify as a Midwife.
Please view the entry requirements section of this page for details.
Can I study midwifery online?
Our Nursing and Allied Health Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry degree is available to study externally which means you learn your subject theory online and attend clinical experience in a variety of health care environments during Semester 1 and 2 of your studies.
Why study a Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) with USQ?