Werna Naloo –‘We Us Together’: the birth of a midwifery education consortium

Abstract

The journey took midwife academics from one paradigm to another, forging partnerships between universities to develop an innovative undergraduate midwifery curriculum that shares academic expertise and resources. Consultation between a multitude of competing interests and voices became one of our biggest challenges, but this process itself has helped to change the very landscape in which we travel. In the end, we had to examine our baggage, and much that was excess had to be abandoned. In particular, our emphasis on language and the politics of the midwifery partnership with women became the subject of much debate and contention, and reflects the competing philosophies developing in the midwifery profession. Despite this, there were many who suggested that we had left behind too much, and others who would have us pack even more. Compromises were inevitable if we were to proceed and set up the next stage of a journey that would open a new and challenging frontier to working with Australian childbearing women.

Bachelor of Midwifery: Reflections on the first 5 years from two Victorian universities

“…Initially the consortium consisted of three universities, Monash University, ACU and Victoria University. 2 The goal of taking a consortium approach was seen to ''pool expertise, provide support and collegiality and realize economies of scale'' (p. 181). 2 Each member developed 'consortium units' that are taught at all stages of the courses, and offered online across all of the participating universities.…”

“…2 The goal of taking a consortium approach was seen to ''pool expertise, provide support and collegiality and realize economies of scale'' (p. 181). 2 Each member developed 'consortium units' that are taught at all stages of the courses, and offered online across all of the participating universities. The size of the consortium has since been revised to a two university consortium structure with Victoria University's gradual withdrawal from 2005.…”

‘They don’t know much about us’: educational reform impacts on students’ learning in the clinical environment

“…The midwifery profession introduced undergraduate degrees in 2001. Previously midwifery training was provided via a postgraduate program which was only available to registered nurses (Cutts et al 2003;McCall et al 2008). Paramedic education and training shifted from a post-employment to undergraduate and graduate entry university degrees.…”

Out of the Ashes: The new bachelor of midwifery curriculum at Victoria University

“…1 This new direction in midwifery education in Australia was fuelled by several Women and Birth (2007) Summary In the past decade, midwifery education has changed significantly in Australia. Previously, a nursing qualification (division 1) was required for entry into midwifery programs and on completion, graduands obtained a postgraduate diploma of midwifery.…”