Griffith’s Bachelor of Midwifery Program has been applauded for its excellent clinical trainingfor midwives and its commitment to driving Australia’s National Maternity Reform Agenda.
Announced last night (Sep 12) as a finalist in the ‘Education or Training Provider’ category of theWorkforce Council’s Workforce Innovation Awards, the program was also recognised for itsinnovative approach to building workforce capacity.
“This is an amazing win for the Bachelor of Midwifery programand is truly reflective of thewhole Griffith team and the way that we run our program,” said Professor Jenny Gamble, deputyhead of the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
A unique study model
“Griffith has a unique study model which provides our graduates with the ability to provide care tothe full scope of midwifery practice emphasising a continuity of care framework.
“This includes assessing students’ core skills as a midwife in order that they can competentlyperform tasks such as canulation (drip insertion), perineal suturing and NEORESUS
resuscitation.”
The Griffith Bachelor of Midwifery program — undertaken on the university’s Logan campus – waslaunched in 2010 and has consistently been a high demand, high-performance program withapproximately 75 commencing students each year. In 2013 the OP cut off was 6. There arecurrently 341 students in the program and many students choose a part-time study option.
“A key objective at the outset, was to support capacity building in the midwifery workforce andthis was determined in partnership with industry to enable a joint approach to undertaking theNational Maternity Reform Agenda,” said Professor Gamble.
“This Agenda is successfully introducing new models of care where midwives provide continuitywithin a caseload model and the midwife becomes the primary care provider to the women andtheir newborn.”
Working in partnership
Currently working in partnership with the Gold Coast University Hospital, Toowoomba Hospital,Townsville Hospital, private midwifery practices such as My Midwives and Metro South
Hospitals, Professor Gamble said the program is providing a blended learning model whichenables students to spend the majority of their time within practice in various organisations to
support and learn from clinical staff.
“Griffith’s Bachelor of Midwifery can be distinguished from other programs by the strongpartnership with clinical practice and our focus on preparing graduates to competency in the skillsthey need to actively promote and implement caseload model of care,” said Dr MarySidebotham, BMiD program director.
Each year, the Workforce Innovation Awards recognise creative and strategic efforts made byorganisations, collaborations and individuals to overcome workforce challenges and deliverquality outcomes for communities and individuals in Queensland’s health and community servicesindustry. For more information, visit: http://www.workforce.org.au/workforceinnovation/workforce-innovation-conference-awards/innovation-awards.aspx