Accredited courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
Qualification Level
Accredited courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
Midwifery sits at the heart of maternal healthcare in Australia. Midwives support women through pregnancy, labour and the weeks after birth, combining clinical skill with steady, reassuring care. They work across hospitals, birthing centres and community health teams to keep mother and baby well at every stage. Many follow one woman through her entire pregnancy, which builds a strong bond of trust.
The profession is almost entirely female and slightly younger than the workforce average, with a median age of 38 (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026). Part-time work is common, which suits people juggling study, family or a second area of practice. Most midwives hold a bachelor’s degree, and many go on to postgraduate study to sharpen specific clinical skills or step into leadership roles.
Career paths branch out from there. Some midwives focus on continuity-of-care models, following one woman through her whole pregnancy and birth. Others move toward maternal-fetal health, lactation support or perinatal mental health as they gain experience. Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia is mandatory, and ongoing training keeps skills current as clinical guidelines evolve.
Rural and regional Australia consistently need more midwives, which opens doors for people willing to work across multiple sites. Several states also fund training places for eligible students. Together, this makes midwifery an accessible route into a stable, respected healthcare career for people who want hands-on work with real impact.
Midwifery workers may earn between $80000 and $130000 per year
Midwives in Australia typically earn between $95,000 and $115,000 a year, according to SEEK career advice data (SEEK, 2026). Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time earnings of $2,114 a week, well above the all-occupations median (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026). Rural and remote roles often pay toward the higher end of that range. New graduates typically start closer to the bottom of the scale.
Graduates from nursing and midwifery courses move into a range of healthcare settings, where they provide direct care and support to patients every day. Common roles people step into after graduating include working as a:
Nurses and midwives take on a wide range of tasks that are central to good patient care. They assess each person’s needs, plan the right care, carry out treatment and watch how patients respond, changing course as things shift. They work closely with doctors and other health staff to keep everyone on the same page.
Beyond hands-on care, many also play a big part in health education. They run classes and talks that help people understand their own health and prevent illness before it starts. Experienced staff often mentor newer nurses and midwives too, passing on skills to the next generation.
Common day-to-day tasks include:
Thriving in nursing and midwifery takes a mix of clinical skill and a calm head under pressure. The work asks you to stay sharp while still treating each patient as a person, not a task on a list. Look for these strengths in your own approach to work:
The job market for nursing and midwifery graduates stays strong, with roles opening up across much of the health system. Jobs and Skills Australia expects nursing demand to keep growing over coming years, especially in aged care and community health. An ageing population and rising healthcare needs are driving that growth.
Graduates find work in public and private hospitals, community health groups, aged care homes and schools or training providers. There is also strong demand in remote and rural areas, where health services often struggle to fill permanent roles.
Career progress is well supported too, with clear paths into areas such as midwifery, mental health nursing and critical care. Ongoing training keeps skills current and helps graduates stay competitive as the job market shifts over time.
Yes. Every midwife must sign up with AHPRA, short for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. This comes after you finish an accredited course that meets board rules.
Most students finish a direct-entry bachelor degree in midwifery. Registered nurses can instead study midwifery at postgraduate level, which is often quicker since it builds on skills they already have. Look for courses at a provider registered with TEQSA, the higher education watchdog.
Placements run right through the course, in each year of study. They cover antenatal clinics, labour wards and care after birth. Many courses use a model where students follow the same woman through her pregnancy, rather than moving between strangers each shift.
Public roles are mostly hospital-based, with union-set pay and hours. Private midwives may work alone or through birth centres. This gives more freedom, but you will also need extra cover and to set up as a small business.
Yes. Common paths include high-risk pregnancy care, breastfeeding support, care for Indigenous mothers and mental health after birth. You must keep training to renew your licence, so a specialty area also helps you meet that rule.
