KEY POINTS:
Qualification: Bachelor of Health Science Midwifery.
Where: AUT North Shore Campus.
Course dates: Three years full-time, starting early March.
Enrolment dates: November 1-16 (applications after these dates will be accepted if the programme is not full).
Contact: Debra Spinetto, programme information adviser, debra.spinetto@aut.ac.nz or ph (09) 921 9735 or www.autuni.ac.nz/health/study-options/Midwifery/.
Course cost: Approximately $4500 pa.
Course numbers: Maximum 75 Auckland students.
Prerequisites: University entrance, must meet Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act requirements, police clearance, medical check and reference.
Courses: Monday to Friday; but students also are given placements with hospitals and midwives.
Salary: Starting from $45K.
Career prospects: Midwives work in the areas of pregnancy, childbirth and the first four to six weeks after childbirth. They can work in public hospitals and birthing centres, or set up practice as an independent midwife.
Witnessing the miracle of life is all part of a midwife's job - but one that never loses its appeal.
"It is an extremely rewarding job," says Jackie Gunn, head of Midwifery, at AUT.
"The magic never goes out of it."
An unanticipated growth in New Zealand's birth rate in the past four years has ensured there is a growing demand for midwives, both self-employed and in the hospital system.
The career suits people who enjoy working with women and families. They work with the woman during her pregnancy through the labour and birth; and then mother and baby for a month after giving birth.
Midwives have to be good at communicating - listening to what women have to say and giving information back; as well as monitoring the growth of the baby and the mother's wellbeing.
In their own lives, they have to be organised, balancing work and home commitments, and making sure they get enough sleep between call-outs and long labours. For this reason, midwives always have a backup person.
AUT's Bachelor of Health Science Midwifery training involves 60 per cent practice and 40 per cent theory. The programme covers working with women and their families; providing excellent midwifery care; understanding normal childbirth; and using knowledge of complicated childbirth and neonatal care.
"We provide the midwifery care for women who have complications," explains Gunn, "but obstetricians and paediatricians take responsibility for the care of women who have complications."
Students have placements in small and large hospitals. They are also placed with midwives in the community who are caseloading; going out for between five and 11 weeks of on-call work experience.
THE GRADUATE MIDWIFE
Name: Kate Hare, age 43
Midwife at Waitakere Maternity (Waitemata DHB)
Graduated 2007
I was inspired to become a midwife through my transition to parenthood. My relationship with my midwife made that experience positive and empowering.
I wanted to have a more stimulating and rewarding career, and I feel privileged to be able to be share in and contribute to peoples' lives at such a special time.
The midwifery training at AUT covers a comprehensive theoretical base, as well as providing practical clinical experience working with midwives in the field.
The course helped me develop critical thinking, decision making, and communication skills to assist me in my role as an autonomous practitioner.
I started at Waitemata in February, and have chosen to work three 12-hour shifts a week. A great aspect of a midwifery career is that you can adapt your work hours to suit your lifestyle - some choose eight-hour shifts, some work more night shifts, and others work as independent midwives.
As a staff midwife I work across the midwifery scope of practice - antenatal, labour and birth, and postnatal. There is variety and challenge, and we work in partnership with women and their families, as well as with other health professionals and services.
I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from the staff at Waitakere, and am excited by the ongoing learning opportunities midwifery offers.
The lecturers at AUT are dedicated and they ignite a passion for midwifery and a thirst for further learning. The relationships I formed with other women on the course are also highlights of my time there.
THE EMPLOYER
Emma Farmer, associate director of midwifery, Waitemata District Health Board
In order to achieve a good clinical skill mix each year we employ between four and eight newly qualified midwives.
Good midwives are mature, sensitive, skilled professionals. We expect midwives to be able to work in a range of environments including hospitals, clinics and women's homes. We expect them to be experts in normal pregnancy and birth and the care of newborns, and to be able to work in partnership with women and their families and to work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team.
AUT's midwifery gives graduates an excellent grounding in midwifery practice, academically and clinically.
* donna.mcintyre@xtra.co.nz
