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Midwifery is an exciting and evolving profession. Midwives share the unique journey of a woman and her family from pregnancy to parenthood. Being involved in the birth of a new life is just one part of this rewarding career.

Midwives work with women to give support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period. The practice of midwifery includes:

  • conducting births
  • providing care for newborns and infants
  • preventative measures
  • promotion of normal birth
  • detecting complications in mother and child
  • accessing medical care or other assistance

Midwives play and important role in health counselling and education for women, their families and the community. This can include antenatal education and preparation for parenthood, women's health, sexual or reproductive health and child care.

Resources for Midwives

Your work as a midwife can take place in a variety of settings;

  • maternity units in public and private hospitals
  • antenatal clinics
  • caseload models
  • midwifery group practice
  • homes
  • birth centres
  • labour/birth suites
  • postnatal and neonatal units
  • community-based health services
  • universities (as midwives, teachers and researchers)
  • childbirth and parent education classes
  • private practice
  • in practice with obstetricians

Private Midwifery Practice in NSW Public Hospitals

NSW Health is committed to facilitating women's options for maternity care and supports public hospitals to enable admitting and practice rights for privately practising endorsed midwives (PPEM) in line with Commonwealth maternity reforms.

A Privately Practising Endorsed Midwife (PPEM) is a registered midwife in private practice who holds endorsement with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to prescribe schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines.

Privately practising endorsed midwives seeking to provide private care in NSW public hospitals can apply for an access agreement with participating hospitals.

An Access Agreement outlines the terms and conditions under which the NSW public health organisation agrees to grant the privately practising endorsed midwife a right of access to the public hospital(s) operated by the public health organisation. 

Please find the  application form to apply for an access agreement with a maternity service in NSW Health.

Rural Midwifery

Midwives in rural NSW provide a crucial service for regional women and their families. They are eligible for a range of education initiatives.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for all nurses and midwives from the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Scholarships pages.

Scholarship support is available for undergraduate and postgraduate midwifery students.

This supports the recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives within the NSW public health system.

Midwifery in NSW Ministry of Health

The Principal Advisor of Midwifery supports the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer within the Nursing and Midwifery Office.

To ensure the profession of midwifery is well represented, this position works in collaboration with many branches across the Ministry of Health, My Health Learning and the Clinical Excellence Commission.

Kelley Lennon, Principal Advisor of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Office

As our Principal Advisor of Midwifery, Kelley:

  • provides strategic policy advice on midwifery, maternity and child and family health matters.
  • leads, coordinates and develops public policy in relation to midwifery and child and family health workforce issues
  • leads and supports teams of NSW Health staff and key external stakeholders in the design, development and implementation of statewide projects in the areas of midwifery, maternity and child and family health services
  • provides expert guidance and clinical advice to the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer (CNMO), the Ministry and Government on issues relating to midwifery, maternity and child and family health services

For additional information contact Kelley via email at Kelley.Lennon@health.nsw.gov.au or call the Nursing and Midwifery Office on (02) 9391 9528.

Current as at: Friday 2 June 2023
Contact page owner: Nursing and Midwifery