Why Graduate Diploma in Midwifery?
Level up your midwifery career. Go beyond tradition to provide specialised family and woman-centred care.
Advance your clinical knowledge and develop your leadership, innovation, and research capabilities. Position yourself to make a difference to the lives of women and infants through pioneering improved practice.
Enjoy flexible study that suits your lifestyle. Choose to study full-time or part-time and tailor your studies to suit your areas of professional interest.
Overview
Advance your professional midwifery practice and knowledge through the Graduate Diploma in Midwifery at Adelaide University.
Build critical thinking, analysis, innovation, leadership, and research skills while developing advanced specialised knowledge. You’ll learn to apply established theories to practice further your expert judgement and adaptability as a midwife.
You’ll have the opportunity to tailor your learning to your professional goals with the flexibility to select from a range of electives across speciality areas such as pharmacology, critical care, perinatal mental health, and Aboriginal health.
Immerse yourself in cutting-edge technology and gain insights into advancements shaping the midwifery field. You’ll gain experience with innovative developments that will elevate your practice and build your confidence to lead the way in delivering enhanced care.
You can choose to exit early with a Graduate Certificate or advance your studies by continuing with the Master of Midwifery.
Key features
Equip yourself with advanced midwifery skills and knowledge.- Prepare yourself for leadership or management roles.
- Study your way and choose electives aligned with your professional interests.
- Discover cutting-edge technology, tools, and techniques within the midwifery field.
- Enhance your learning through Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (AR).
- Exit early with a Graduate Certificate or advance your studies through the Master of Midwifery.
What you'll learn
The Graduate Diploma in Midwifery at Adelaide University is designed for qualified midwives. You’ll advance your professional knowledge and be prepared to take the next step in your career.
With a range of specialised electives, you’ll have the flexibility to tailor your learning to your interests.
Develop your skills to be accredited to safely prescribe medications or better understand the principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Build your knowledge of infection prevention and control or expand your understanding of Aboriginal health.
Choose to advance your knowledge of maternal and child health through exploring contemporary issues, interventions and programs. Gain in-depth expertise in women’s reproductive and sexual health, or further your proficiency in breastfeeding and lactation management.
You’ll also develop research design competencies spanning conceptualisation, methodology and ethics to further inform your midwifery knowledge, practice and research.
Your learning will be enhanced through a variety of applied and immersive teaching practices, reality-rich projects and cutting-edge technology including 360-degree Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (AR).
As the Graduate Diploma in Midwifery is part of a nested suited of programs you can choose to exit early with a Graduate Certificate or advance your studies by continuing with the Master of Midwifery.
What courses you'll study
Complete 48 units comprising:
- 48 units for Electives
Complete 48 units comprising:
- 48 units from Program electives
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Epidemiology for Advanced Practice
|
Course code
NURS5017
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Primary Health Care
|
Course code
NURS5023
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Research for Advancing Nursing, Midwifery and Health Care
|
Course code
NURS5029
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Perinatal Mental Health for Health Professionals
|
Course code
NURS5030
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Best Practice in Adolescent Mental Health
|
Course code
NURS5032
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Teaching and Learning in Health Education
|
Course code
NURS5038
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Implementing Teaching and Learning in Health Education
|
Course code
NURS5039
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Leadership and Management in Nursing and Midwifery
|
Course code
NURS5062
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Perioperative Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5066
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to High Acuity Nursing and Midwifery
|
Course code
NURS5067
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Prescribing for clinicians
|
Course code
NURS5103
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Clinical Practice
|
Course code
NURS5105
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Infection Prevention and Control in Practice
|
Course code
NURS5106
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Lactation and Breastfeeding
|
Course code
NURS5108
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Maternal, Child and Family Health
|
Course code
NURS5109
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health
|
Course code
NURS5110
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Decision-Making for Midwifery and Nursing Practice
|
Course code
NURS5171
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Clinical Inquiry
|
Course code
NURS5904
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Health Assessment, Diagnostics and Investigations
|
Course code
NURS6904
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Nursing Practice
|
Course code
NURS6905
|
Units
12
|
Career outcomes
You’ll be prepared to take your career to the next level with the Graduate Diploma in Midwifery. You’ll graduate well positioned to pursue advanced clinical or leadership roles. Depending on your elective choices you may also consider roles within clinical education, research or academia. Your advanced midwifery skills and knowledge will be sought-after in roles such as:
- Clinical midwifery specialist
- Lactation consultant
- Midwifery unit manager
- Neonatal care specialist.
Industry trends
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care (2025) demand for midwives is expected to grow across the coming decade. As Australia’s population continues to grow healthcare is evolving to enhance the role of primary care providers such as midwives to deliver comprehensive, coordinated and continuous care which will continue to drive demand for professionals with advanced and specialised knowledge (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024).
Ready to apply?
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
