Accredited online and on-campus courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
About Midwifery
Average Salaries
Midwifery workers may earn between $33,000 and $78,000 per year
You’re caring, empathetic and want to make a difference. Now, turn your natural talents into a career by studying a midwifery course.
Play a key role in meeting the most urgent demands of the Australian health system while building your career path by studying a midwifery course.
Filling a key role in health care provision, midwives provide care and advice to women during pregnancy, labour and childbirth, and provide postnatal care, instruction and advice for mothers and babies.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one baby is born in Australia every 1 minute and 41 seconds. Qualified midwives play a vital role in supporting thousands of Australian mothers to have a safe, healthy and happy birth experience, and to bring new Australians safely into the world.
As a midwife, you’ll work closely with other medical practitioners to deliver best-practise care to your patients and their families. Fast-paced and people-focused, working as a midwife suits people who enjoy working with people and thrive when challenged.
If you want a career where you can work hands-on with people and really make a difference, a career as a midwife may be for you.
In a midwifery course, you’ll learn the foundations of physical, biological and behavioural sciences related to health, and build the practical skills required to work in a hospital, clinic, community, home-based or other setting, providing vital birthing and postnatal care to women. Often assisting in home birth environments, midwives are skilled in patient care, counselling and management in addition to providing medial care. A midwifery course will equip you with both the theoretical knowledge and personal insights you need to succeed in this dynamic and deeply rewarding profession.
You may study a midwifery course as a bachelor’s or master’s degree and must seek approval before practising as a midwife. In order to practise as a midwife, you must complete an accredited course and obtain registration from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Bringing you face-to-face with one of life’s most intimate processes, a career in midwifery is a unique and exciting opportunity to make a real difference and see something new.
What do midwifery graduates do?
After completing a midwifery course, you’ll work as a midwife, performing tasks including:
- Providing advice and support to patients during pre-conception, intra-partum, antenatal and postnatal periods;
- Observing patients and administering simple treatments and remedies;
- Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating pregnancy and childbirth care plans;
- Providing care and management of pregnancy and birth;
- Assessing progress and recognising signs of potentially abnormal pregnancies;
- Referring patients to obstetricians if required;
- Monitoring the condition of women and foetuses during pregnancy and through childbirth;
- Conducing health education classes and seminars to promote the health of mothers and babies;
- Providing advice on nutrition, childcare and family planning; and
- Working with a health care team to provide support to a patient and their family.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
You may also choose to complete further study after finishing a midwifery course, and pursue employment in health administration or general nursing roles.
After completing a midwifery course, you may choose to work as a:
Is midwifery right for you?
You’ll enjoy working as a midwife if you:
- Care deeply about people
- Want to help people in your work
- Are empathetic and patient
- Can work well under pressure
- Can make sound decisions
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Have excellent organisational and time management skills
- Can work well both independently and in a team
- Like babies and birth
- Want to make a real difference to someone else’s life
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook reports employment opportunities for midwives have grown strongly over the past decade. Currently employing approximately 17,400 people, the profession is likely to continue expanding, and will employ approximately 18,500 people by 2020. The size of the profession indicates midwifery roles are available in most areas of Australia.
Average Salaries
PayScale reports that midwives may expect to earn a salary between $33,000 and $78,000 per year, with an average industry salary of approximately $61,000 per year.
While earning capacity rises in line with experience, with more experienced midwives earning up to $83,000 per year, PayScale reports that entry-level midwives can expect to earn on average $53,000 per year. PayScale notes that nearly 50 per cent of midwives in Australia have less than five years of professional experience, indicating that people choose to progress through the profession after qualifying as a midwife.