Overview
Prepare for a career supporting life and bringing new life into the world. Our double degree in midwifery and nursing gives you the knowledge and skills for two distinct, in-demand professions.
During your Bachelor of Midwifery/Bachelor of Nursing degree, you’ll acquire practical skills for each profession – and the healthcare knowledge common to both.
You'll practise your new skills in a safe environment on campus, using technology that simulates patient care. You'll also undertake many weeks’ supported clinical practice, working with real patients. By the time you graduate, you'll be work-ready – with genuine experience caring for women through pregnancy, childbirth, and post-birth.
We will teach you to understand your patients’ health needs, as well as their social need to feel safe in your care, based on:
- up-to-date and evidence-informed health care
- awareness and understanding of cultural safety and sensitivity
- woman-centred and person-centred quality care
- development of professional relationships and workplace integration.
Nursing and midwifery complement each other perfectly, and give you choice and flexibility in your career. After graduating from this course, you’ll be able to register and practise as a registered midwife and registered nurse.
Location: Please note that you will study at St Albans Campus for years 1-2, and at Sunshine Clinical School for years 3-4.
Cutting-edge learning technology
Our state-of-the-art technology lets you participate in classroom simulation learning, practising your new skills in a safe environment.
We have nursing lab facilities designed to simulate a hospital environment where you can practise your nursing and midwifery on models before you move on to real people.
Through simulation-based education (SBE), you’ll have repeated opportunities to learn in situations you might not encounter in your placements. You’ll try out your inter-professional skills, with specific and immediate feedback to help you learn quickly.
Video recording from fixed cameras helps you improve your learning through greater understanding of your approach.
Partnerships & work placements
You’ll graduate career-ready, having spent 25 per cent of your course working in clinical placements.
We have practical nursing-placement opportunities in over 200 clinical venues. Our strong partnerships with Western Health and Werribee Mercy Hospital give you access to acute teaching and training hospitals for nursing and midwifery students.
You’ll also meet and follow at least 10 women through:
- pregnancy
- childbirth
- post-birth.
VU midwifery graduate Andy Ackerly is passionate about delivering the next generation with the highest level of care.
Careers in midwifery and nursing
Registered midwives work in hospitals, group practices and the community sector in antenatal, birthing and postnatal units.
Nursing graduates work in general practice, acute care, aged care, rehabilitation, mental health, palliative care and health education.
Many of our graduates hold nursing positions at Sunshine Hospital (Western Health) and the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Job titles
- registered midwife
- registered nurse
- nursing manager
- nursing educator
- clinical nurse specialist.
Salaries
Use Labour Market Insights to find average salaries in Australia:
- average midwife average salary, via Labour Market Insights
- average registered nurse salary, via Labour Market Insights.
An in-demand profession
The nursing and midwifery professions need qualified employees.
In 2021 the State of the World's Midwifery report identified a global shortage of midwives. In nursing, there are large demands for aged-care nurses, mental health nursing and critical care (HealthTimes).
The number of job openings for midwives and registered nurses is expected to continue to grow over the next five years (Labour Market Insights).
Become a registered nurse & midwife
When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to practise as a registered nurse and registered midwife in the Australian healthcare system.
You’ll also meet the standards of midwifery and nursing practice to register with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
National recognition for nursing
In the 2015 Excellence in Research (Australia) ratings, nursing at VU was given the highest rating of 5 (well above world standard).
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Midwifery/Bachelor of Nursing is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).
Course structure
To attain the Bachelor of Midwifery / Bachelor of Nursing, students will be required to complete:
- 384 credit points of Core Midwifery and Nursing studies.
Course structure and units
Year 1, Semester 1
-
- Unit code
- HBM1001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HNB1001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB1001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HNB1102
- Credits
- 12
Year 1, Semester 2
-
- Unit code
- HNB1002
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HBM1202
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB1002
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB1003
- Credits
- 12
Year 2, Semester 1
-
- Unit code
- HMB2001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HNB2001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HNB2003
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HNB2004
- Credits
- 12
Year 2, Semester 2
-
- Unit code
- AEK1203
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB2002
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB2003
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HNB2007
- Credits
- 12
Year 3, Semester 1
-
- Unit code
- HMB3001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB3002
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HNB2002
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HNB2006
- Credits
- 12
Year 3, Semester 2
-
- Unit code
- HIP3001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB3003
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB3004
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB3005
- Credits
- 12
Year 4, Semester 1
-
- Unit code
- HMB4001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB4002
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HNB3001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HNB3141
- Credits
- 12
Year 4, Semester 2
-
- Unit code
- HMB3006
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- HMB4003
- Credits
- 24
-
- Unit code
- HNB3002
- Credits
- 12
Achieve more with the VU Block Model
We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.
Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.
You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.
Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.
Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.
Find out more about the VU Block Model.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
| 1. | Utilise comprehensive health assessment of the client, including consideration of physical, psychological, sociological, spiritual and cultural factors; | ||
| 2. | Advocate for principles of culturally sensitive woman-centred and person-centred care across the lifespan; | ||
| 3. | Adopt a wellness and preventative health approach to woman-centred and person-centred care using principles of health promotion; | ||
| 4. | Synthesise bioscience and pharmacology knowledge and apply this to midwifery and nursing practice; | ||
| 5. | Interrogate evidence relating to midwifery and nursing philosophy and practice to inform planning, implementation and evaluation of care; | ||
| 6. | Exhibit values, behaviours and professional knowledge congruent with legal, professional, and ethical standards for registered midwifery and nursing practice; | ||
| 7. | Utilise effective and therapeutic communication skills in the healthcare context; and | ||
| 8. | Critically reflect on their identity as a developing health professional by articulating self-care strategies and their plan for lifelong learning. |
What's a unit?
A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.
Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.
Credits
Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.
Admissions
Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.
Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.
Inherent Requirements
'Inherent requirements' are the abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to meet the learning outcomes of a course. These should be met while preserving the academic integrity of the university’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes.
You need to be able to demonstrate that you hold, or can acquire, the inherent requirements for this degree.
We may be able to make reasonable adjustments to help you manage circumstances that impact your studies – provided these don't fundamentally change the academic integrity of the degree.
Entry requirements
Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in any other English (or equivalent).
AND
Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in one of Biology, Chemistry, Health And Human Development, any Mathematics or Psychology.
OR
Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent) in Nursing, Health Sciences or similar.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON NURSING AND MIDWIFERY BOARD OF AUSTRALIA (NMBA) ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS REGISTRATION STANDARDS
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English language skills registration standard. Applicants can obtain further information about the Standard and sitting requirements for the English Language Tests at: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx
As part of this standard, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have evidence of completing:
• At least 5 years (full time equivalent) continuous education taught and assessed in English, in any of the recognised countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United States of America, Canada, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom).
OR
• IELTS with a minimum IELTS (academic module) overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• OET with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test: 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing, and 23 for speaking.
Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.
Additional information
Police check: Students must complete a National Police Records check prior to undertaking hospital/agency placements on an annual basis.
Working with Children Check: Students must complete a Working with Children Check prior to undertaking clinical placements.
Evidence of mandatory documents and vaccinations for placement is a hurdle for specific units in year 2, year 3 and year 4. Students must provide evidence of achievement of the required vaccinations and documents by 5pm on Friday of Week 3 of the Block in order to be eligible to pass the unit and to go on placement. Evidence of annual flu vaccination is also required (subject to availability).
Health status: Students must be prepared to declare their fitness for practice and immunization status prior to undertaking hospital/agency placements.
A Clinical Placement fee applies in all situations where the student is enrolled in a unit with a clinical placement component and/or has been provided with a clinical placement opportunity and fails to meet minimum standards for external placement, this can include late cancellations, failure to attend, student and professional misconduct, failure to provide mandatory documentation, regardless if the student discontinues prior to the enrolled Census Date. For placement fee details relevant to your course refer to https://www.vu.edu.au/current-students/your-course/fees/additional-fees-....
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALL DOMESTIC STUDENTS ON NURSING AND MIDWIFERY BOARD OF AUSTRALIA (NMBA) ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS REGISTRATION STANDARDS
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the requirements of the NMBA English language skills registration standard. Proof of this English language competency can be achieved via ONE of the following two pathways:
Primary Language Pathway
Students are to provide a declaration that English is their primary language;
OR
English Language Test Pathway
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have achieved the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests and meet the requirements for test results specified in NMBA's English language skills registration standard:
• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 7.0 (with no individual band less than 7.0); OR
• OET: minimum score of B in each of the four bands; OR
• TOEFL iBT: minimum overall score of 94 (with minimum score of 24 in listening and reading, 27 in writing and 23 in speaking) OR
• PTE (A): with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
Pathways & credits
There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.
Pathways from VU courses
Find out more about pathways and credits.
Credit for skills and past study
Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.
If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.
Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.
How to apply
We are currently accepting international applications, and we welcome you to apply for this course.
Click 'apply' to begin, and we will guide you through the application process.
If you have questions, please get in touch:
- Phone: +61 3 9919 1164
- Online: enquiry form
Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students. Fees are accurate at the time of viewing and will be subject to annual increases. Some courses require students to purchase equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above – check your Letter of Offer for an estimate on non-tuition-fee-related expenses.
VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.
