Program Overview

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Graduate Certificate in Midwifery Prescribing and Primary Care

The Graduate Certificate in Midwifery Prescribing and Primary Care equips midwives with advanced knowledge and skills to provide safe, evidence-based prescribing and extend their scope of practice. This nationally accredited program responds to the growing demand for midwives who can deliver holistic, culturally safe, woman-centred care across hospital and community settings.

Program Overview

Designed for registered midwives in Australia, the course blends theory with practice to support prescribing endorsement, professional growth, and leadership in primary maternity care. Flexible delivery allows students to balance study with clinical work, guided by experienced educators and interdisciplinary experts. Graduates will be equipped to deliver comprehensive care, work collaboratively across healthcare teams, and strengthen access to midwifery-led services nationwide.

Career Opportunities

Midwives with advanced skills in prescribing and primary care are uniquely positioned to broaden their scope of practice and respond to the evolving needs of the healthcare system. As models of care increasingly focus on continuity, community-based services, and person-centred approaches, there is growing demand for midwives who can work autonomously and comprehensively.

Potential Next Career Roles for Graduates

• Advanced Practice Midwife / Endorsed Prescriber: Work across hospital, community, or private settings with authority to prescribe medications.
• Midwifery Group Practice Lead / Continuity of Care Coordinator: Lead or support continuity-of-care models, providing full-scope care from pregnancy through postpartum.
• Community or Primary Care Midwife: Deliver holistic care in GP clinics, community centres, or women's health services.
• Private Practice Midwife: Offer expanded services in a private or self-employed setting, using prescribing rights to manage common conditions and enhance personalised care.
• Clinical Educator or Team Leader: Support midwifery teams through mentoring, education, and leadership in advanced practice and prescribing.

Program Details

Entry Requirements

Applicants must normally hold a Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification from an approved institution. Applicants must also hold a current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency as a Midwife.

Duration and Delivery

• Duration: 1 year (part-time)
• Delivery mode: Online
• Availability: Part-time
• Start dates: March

Fees

• Annual indicative fees (2026): $2,368 Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available.

Accreditation or Professional Recognition

The Graduate Certificate in Midwifery Prescribing and Primary Care at Flinders University is designed to meet the educational requirements for midwives seeking endorsement to prescribe scheduled medicines with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Program Structure

Key Areas of Study

• Prescribing and pharmacology: Safe and effective use of medicines within the midwifery scope.
• Investigations and diagnostics: Ordering and interpreting tests to support clinical decisions.
• Midwifery models of care: Exploring continuity-based and community-led care approaches.
• Perinatal and infant mental health: Understanding the impact of maternal wellbeing on families and early development.

Topics

The program includes core topics in prescribing, primary care, and midwifery practice, designed to meet Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia requirements for prescribing endorsement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

Applicants must be registered midwives with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and hold a Bachelor degree or equivalent from an approved institution.

Course Availability

The course is offered part-time only and is not available for international students.

Endorsed Prescriber

Yes, by completing the required topics and being a registered midwife without restrictions or notations, the course meets part of the educational requirements for endorsement for prescribing scheduled medicines via the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Additional Skills

You will build advanced knowledge in pharmacology, diagnostics, perinatal mental health, and midwifery models of care. The course also develops critical analysis, leadership, and collaboration skills to support expanded scope of practice and midwifery-led primary care.

Placement Requirements

There is no formal placement. However, you must be a practising midwife, as the course is designed to be undertaken alongside your clinical work and draws on your professional practice to meet learning outcomes.