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Curtin University
Courses Handbook 2014

This handbook contains information for courses and units at Curtin in 2014.
Information for the previous year's courses and units is available at Courses Handbook 2013.

151504 v.3 Master of Midwifery

MMidwifery(Curtin)

This course is not available to International Onshore Students on Student Visas



Course Overview

Master degrees (coursework) prepare students to apply advanced knowledge for professional practice, scholarship and further learning corresponding to AQF level 9 qualifications.


This course builds on undergraduate preparatio and the extensive clinical midwifery expertise of the student. It enhances the professional development of the expert midwife practitioner through the investigation of varied theoretical perspectives pertinent to midwifery issues. Recognising and building on extensive midwifery practice prepares students as scholars, leaders and change agents within midwifery.


Career Opportunities

Upon completion, students will be able to expand their provision of expert midwifery clinical care to childbearing women from differing cultural backgrounds and their families.


Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials.



Course Entry and Completion Details

Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au. Subject to the duration of the course applicants usually require a bachelor degree or equivalent (and may require relevant work experience), bachelor honours degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma.


Specifically, applicants must be eligible for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), possess a Graduate Diploma in Midwifery or equivalent and have recent midwifery practice. Applicants who are eligible for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), have a hospital based certificate in midwifery, and recent midwifery practice, may be eligible for credit for recognised learning to the second semester of the course.


Credit for Recognised Learning

Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au.


To support applications for credit for recognised learning, students are required to submit a professional portfolio detailing evidence of accomplishments.


Pathway to Further Study

Graduates may qualify for entry to doctoral degrees. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au.


Course Entry/Completion Note

Applicants for this course should refer to the Communicable Diseases and Criminal Record Screening and Clearance section of the faculty website.



Course Organisation

Master degrees (coursework) contain a series of units in a specialised area of study which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may also contain a range of majors/streams for students to choose from.


This course aims to enhance the professional development of expert midwives. Students will investigate varied theoretical perspectives pertinent to midwifery issues. This course will build on the students’ initial midwifery qualification and their clinical midwifery expertise to prepare them as a scholar, leader and agent for change within midwifery. Studies will synthesise knowledge, skills and research findings from the humanities, biological and behavioural sciences into evidence-based practice.



Duration and Availability

This fee-paying course is three semesters' full-time or equivalent part-time study.


Location and delivery Mode


Year Location Period All* Internal Partially Online Internal^ External Fully Online#
2014 Bentley Campus Semester 1   Y      

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.




Course Structure Hrs/Wk Credit
Year 1 Semester 1
13412 v.2 *   Midwifery 660 100.0
  100.0
Year 1 Semester 2
13414 v.3   Midwifery Studies 661 4.0 50.0
4712 v.3   Qualitative Methods in Health Research 582 4.0 25.0
  OR  
13152 v.3   Health Research Methods 681 4.0 25.0
  OR  
301950 v.4   Research and Evaluation in International Health 600 8.0 25.0
  SELECT OPTIONAL UNITS TO THE TOTAL VALUE OF:   25.0
  100.0
Year 2 Semester 1
13413 v.3   Midwifery Science 661 2.0 25.0
310475 v.1 **   Health Project 691 20.0 50.0
  OR  
301413 v.3   Health Contract 590 8.0 50.0
  SELECT OPTIONAL UNITS TO THE TOTAL VALUE OF:   25.0
  100.0
Optional Units (No Year Level Specified) Hrs/Wk Credit
306931 v.1   Advanced Nursing Practice - Primary Health Care 561 6.0 25.0
301952 v.4   Maternal and Child Health in Developing Countries 600 8.0 25.0
303673 v.4   Sexually Transmissible Infection and HIV - International Perspectives 600 8.0 25.0
13157 v.4   Health Promotion Planning 681 3.0 25.0
13170 v.5   Health Promotion, Media and Advocacy 682 4.0 25.0
13172 v.4   Health Promotion in Challenging Contexts 681 4.0 25.0
13162 v.3   Public Health Nutrition Principles 682 3.0 25.0
307484 v.2   Advanced Diagnostics 561 4.0 25.0
307495 v.1   Developmental Health 561 4.0 25.0
11099 v.2   Health Planning and Evaluation 582 3.0 25.0
13367 v.2   Health Services Quality Development 583 3.0 25.0
309594 v.5   Health Partnerships, Politics and Power 681 3.0 25.0
4860 v.6   Introduction to Health Economics 584 3.0 25.0
308409 v.1   Health Project Preparation 591 25.0
6115 v.9   Health Services Management 584 3.0 25.0
4712 v.3   Qualitative Methods in Health Research 582 4.0 25.0
5755 v.6   Managerial Effectiveness 571 39.0 25.0
310476 v.1   Health Project 692 20.0 50.0
311225 v.1   Clinical Leadership 561 3.0 25.0
307053 v.2   Inquiry into Quality Health Care 532 3.0 25.0
310475 v.1   Health Project 691 20.0 50.0

*    Midwifery Registration and Clinical Practice.

**    Only with the approval of the Course Coordinator students may select Health Project 691 and Health Project 692 in place of Healt




Further Information

For more information about the course, please contact the Faculty of Health Sciences on telephone (08) 9266 1000, email futurestudents@health.curtin.edu.au, or visit our website: http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au


Course Structure Disclaimer

Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.




Handbook Disclaimer

The online handbook is the repository of Curtin University of Technology (“Curtin”) course information. While Curtin makes all reasonable endeavors to keep its online courses handbook up-to-date, information within this website is subject to change from time to time. Curtin reserves the right to change the contents and/or the method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw/any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program without notification via the website.

For course overviews and enrolment information please visit our future students website.