Paid student midwives to bolster country workforce

Eligible WA Country Health Service registered nurses are on a fast-track to become the next generation of country midwives, completing a fully funded Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery through a Department of Health initiative.

As part of the Paid Student Midwifery Model Pilot, country nurses stay in their existing workplace while upskilling to care for expectant women and newborns.

Participants are supported through flexible working arrangements, fully funded course fees, access to clinical facilitators and travel to the metropolitan area for study weeks.

The Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery for Registered Nurses allows students to obtain a qualification within 18 months, compared to four years for the double degree or three years for the Bachelor of Midwifery.

WA Country Health Service Director of Nursing Yvonne Bagwell said the initiative was an excellent opportunity to upskill country nurses.

“The Paid Student Midwifery Model is a fantastic initiative that provides some of our highly-valued country nurses with the opportunity to further their careers,” she said.

“Under the model, our nurses get to advance their skills while continuing to do what they do best – providing safe and compassionate care to regional communities.

“It’s another example of our work to grow our own and bolster the country health workforce.”

Yvonne said 17 country nurses commenced the program in February with more set to start in August.

Karratha Health Campus Registered Nurse Jemma Devenish said she was grateful for the support to complete her Postgraduate Diploma.

“When the opportunity came up in my professional development discussion, I jumped at the chance,” Ms Devenish said.

“It’s been fantastic to work with mums in the Pilbara setting, I feel very lucky to work with these incredible women.”

The Paid Student Midwifery Model builds on a number of programs designed to strengthen the country health workforce and is in addition to the recently announced HECS-HELP initiative, providing grants of up to $12,000 over three years to attract newly qualified nurses and midwives to work in regional WA.

For more information - Important information for scholarships (health.wa.gov.au) or email Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office