Griffith’s Bachelor of Midwifery Program recognised for novel approach to building workforce capacity

Griffith’s Bachelor of Midwifery Program has been applauded for its excellent clinical training for 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 the Workforce Council’s Workforce Innovation Awards, the program was also recognised for its innovative approach to building workforce capacity.

“This is an amazing win for the Bachelor of Midwifery program and is truly reflective of the whole Griffith team and the way that we run our program,” said Professor Jenny Gamble, deputy head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

“Griffith has a unique study model which provides our graduates with the ability to provide care to the 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 competently perform tasks such as canulation (drip insertion), perineal suturing and NEORESUS resuscitation.”

The Griffith Bachelor of Midwifery program – undertaken on the university’s Logan campus – was launched in 2010 and has consistently been a high demand, high-performance program with approximately 75 commencing students each year. In 2013 the OP cut off was 6. There are currently 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 and this was determined in partnership with industry to enable a joint approach to undertaking the National Maternity Reform Agenda,” said Professor Gamble.

“This Agenda is successfully introducing new models of care where midwives provide continuity within a caseload model and the midwife becomes the primary care provider to the women and their newborn.”

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 which enables 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 strong partnership with clinical practice and our focus on preparing graduates to competency in the skills they need to actively promote and implement caseload model of care,” said Dr Mary Sidebotham, BMiD program director.

Each year, the Workforce Innovation Awards recognise creative and strategic efforts made by organisations, collaborations and individuals to overcome workforce challenges and deliver quality outcomes for communities and individuals in Queensland’s health and community services industry.