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Delivering a Healthy WA
Office of the Chief Nursing Officer  

Midwifery

Enhanced Role of the Midwife

A Reference Committee was formed in 1999 to review the recommendations from the NHMRC 1998 report "Review of Services Offered by Midwives". The most compelling finding of the review was that midwives commonly order and interpret tests and administer pharmacological substances not yet prescribed or ordered by a medical practitioner. The recommendations under review relate to the ordering and interpreting of routine laboratory tests and initiation and administration of certain pharmacological substances during uncomplicated pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum.

Purpose of the Reference Committee

The terms of Reference for the Reference Committee was to:

  • Determine an operational framework for the implementation of the enhanced role midwife within the Western Australia Government Health Industry including but not limited to aspects such as legislation, registration, clinical protocols, education and competence to practice, credentialling and implementation of the midwifery course.
  • Determine and implement valid mechanisms to evaluate the impact of recommended changes in midwifery practice on women and their babies.
  • Report the outcomes and develop the final report, making recommendations for consideration by the Commissioner of Health.

Progress so far

The Minister for Health launched the Interim Report for the Enhanced Role Midwife Project in December 2001 and announced support for the recommendations contained within the report [PDF / 78KB].

The tender for the development and implementation of the educational package for the project was awarded to Flinders University, South Australia. The Enhanced Role Midwife Course has been developed and the implementation of the pilot phase at three sites in the Government Health Industry in Western Australia: Armadale, Broom/Derby and Kalgoorlie was completed in 2004. There are legislative components that are yet to be finalised by the project team. The enhanced role midwife will be supported by clinical policies that are to be developed locally at the health service sites, using a template provided by the Department of Health, which is in accordance with principles from the guide published by NHMRC (1998) and other references.

Eligibility

Midwives eligible to undertake this program will be those who are:

  • Employed within the Public Health System.
  • Currently registered with the Nurses Board of Western Australia as a midwife.

Enhanced Role Midwives

Enhanced role midwives will be awarded a certificate upon successful completion of the coursework by the Department of Health Western Australia and will be able to practise in 'authorised' areas where endorsed clinical protocols are in place.

Course Information

The major aim of the educational course is to:

  • Prepare registered midwives, working in the Western Australian public health sector to be endorsed by the Department of Health WA to function as enhanced role midwives in the terms set out by the Interim Enhanced Role Midwife Report (WA Department of Health 2001).

Outcomes

At the end of the course midwives will be able to:

  • Assume professional responsibility and accountability for enhanced role midwifery practice.
  • Assess and utilise evidence-based protocols to inform enhanced role midwifery practice.
  • Devise strategies to facilitate women's capacity to make informed choices about certain pharmacological substances and laboratory tests offered during uncomplicated pregnancy, the intrapartum and the postpartum.
  • Critically review professional communication to enhance collaborative practice.
  • Devise strategies to follow-up and appropriately refer women where necessary to a medical practitioner.
  • Explore a legal and ethical framework for enhanced role midwifery practice.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning, critical thinking and professional development.

Future Development

It is intended that eventually all midwives in the following categories will be eligible to participate in the course:

  • Currently practicing midwives in the Public Health System.
  • Midwives re-entering practice.
  • Interstate or overseas registering midwives.
  • Student midwives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Enhanced Role Midwifery Certificate

Download the frequently asked questions [PDF / 895KB].

Course Website

This website link (http://www.ocno.health.wa.gov.au/ermcourse) is available for students only:

  • Submission of assignments
  • Contacting the course lecturer
  • Viewing grade results
  • Maintaining personal details.

You must have permission from the course co-ordinator to use the site. Only course participants will have authorisation to use the website.

Course Forum Board

The link for the Forum Board is (http://search.health.wa.gov.au/forums).

The Forum Board offers all course participants the opportunity to:

  • Participate in e-mail discussion with other enhanced role midwife colleagues
  • Share ideas, resources, information and provide support for your midwifery colleagues.

Contacts

For more information about the Enhanced Role of the Midwife project contact Kay Hyde, project director or Dr Yoni Luxford, senior lecturer for the educational components.

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