Australian Catholic University

What you'll study

The program combines foundational bioscience and professional midwifery practice with midwifery‑specific scholarship and an honours research project in the final year. Core study areas include anatomy and physiology relevant to pregnancy and childbirth, pharmacology for midwifery, normal and complex labour and birth care, antenatal and postnatal assessment and support, newborn care, mental health in pregnancy and the postnatal period, public health and population approaches to maternal and child health, ethics and legal issues in midwifery, and culturally safe practice including care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

Practical clinical skill development is a major focus: students complete repeated supervised clinical placements across hospitals, birthing centres and community settings to gain skills in labour ward practice, antenatal clinics, postnatal wards, home or community midwifery and continuity‑of‑care models. The honours component requires a research methods sequence and an independent research project or dissertation, enabling graduates to demonstrate research literacy and contribute to evidence‑based midwifery practice.

Entry requirements

Applicants are typically admitted on the basis of successful completion of secondary school (or recognised equivalent) and meeting university entry criteria through the relevant tertiary admissions centre. Mature‑age applicants and those with previous tertiary study or health qualifications may be considered through alternative entry pathways. Selection may take into account personal statements, referees and interview or portfolio processes where required.

All students must meet professional placement requirements before commencing clinical practice, which commonly include national police checks, working with children checks (or state equivalent), up‑to‑date immunisation and demonstration of current CPR/first aid competence. Successful completion of the programme makes graduates eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) via AHPRA.

Career prospects

Graduates work as registered midwives in a wide range of settings: public and private hospitals, birthing centres, community and home‑visiting services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services, remote and rural practice, and specialised maternity clinics. Career paths include clinical midwifery, team and service leadership, continuity‑of‑care midwifery models, maternity education, policy and advocacy roles, and research.

Many graduates choose to continue study at postgraduate level (for example, clinical master’s programmes, public health, or research degrees) to specialise in areas such as advanced practice, education, research or midwifery management.

Why study at Australian Catholic University

ACU emphasises student‑centred learning, professional values and ethical practice within a faith‑based yet inclusive environment. The university offers small cohort sizes and accessible academic support, which helps students build strong clinical skills and professional confidence.

Midwifery students benefit from ACU’s established clinical partnerships with hospitals, birthing services and community health providers, hands‑on learning in simulation suites and structured placement coordination. The honours component provides supervised research training, linking students with academic staff and research centres focused on maternal and perinatal health, enabling graduates to combine clinical competence with research capability.