Griffith University midwifery graduate Alison Rule has overcome incredible adversity to score her dream job.
Ali, a domestic violence survivor and single mum of four, has secured a position at Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) after undertaking her placement there last year.
The alumnus was recently named the recipient of the 2019 Midwifery@Griffith Meta-Values award and comes from a line of midwives, with her mother and maternal grandmother also taking on the important role.
“My grandmother was a bush nurse out in Central Queensland where my mum grew up,” Ali said.
“As I grew up, I learned the power of birth and the rite of passage that positive birthing offers to women.”
Ali is a mother to four daughters, the youngest of which was only three months old when she began to study her Bachelor of Midwifery.
She gave birth to her first three children in the UK, two of which were under community models where she had continuity of care from a small group of midwives. However, she had a very different experience with her fourth pregnancy.
“When I fell pregnant with my fourth baby here in Australia I was astounded at the lack of choice for women and the medicalisation of the system here,” she said.
“At that point I decided to return to my dream of training as a midwife, as I felt compelled to push for positive change from inside the system.”
Ali completed her placement last year as part of a successful trial between the hospital and Griffith University and she recommends the placement option to prospective midwifery students.
“The team at SCUH are forward thinking and collaborative in their approach to birthing women, their families and students.”
Griffith University Head of Midwifery Professor Jenny Gamble said Ali “best demonstrates the values of commitment to evidence-based care, advocacy for women and cultural safety.”
“A great midwife is technically competent, demonstrates sound clinical judgement and is deeply women-centred — qualities portrayed by Alison to a high degree,” Professor Gamble said.
Professor Gamble also agreed SCUH was a great option for placement as the student is able to undertake all of their placements there over their degree.
“SCUH is a world-class facility with commitment to scaling up models of maternity care that provides best outcomes for women and babies,” she said.
“Specifically, they are committed to improving access for women to continuity of midwifery care.”
For more information on Griffith University’s midwifery offerings, visit the website.