Career pathways

Becoming a midwife

Why become a midwife?

Midwives in Australia play a crucial role in the healthcare system by providing woman-centred care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Midwives have a broad scope of practice and work in many spaces including: 

• clinics
• maternity wards/hospitals
• birth centres
• neonatal units
• primary care settings
• family planning clinics
• community health centres
• women’s homes
• education
• research 
• policy 

Midwives offer support, education, and clinical expertise to ensure the well-being of both mothers and babies. Becoming a midwife in Australia is a rewarding career choice, it allows you to make a significant impact on families' lives and be part of a profession that values compassion, clinical skills, and continuous lifelong learning. 

How to become a midwife

A midwife is a registered professional with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). To become registered, you will need to complete an accredited course at a recognised university. 

Upon successful completion, you can apply for Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia registration. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Home (nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au) 

Do I need to be a nurse first?

No. Nursing and midwifery are both amazing, vital professions. They are, however, different professions and work in very different ways. Some people are ‘dual registered’ (both registered nurses and midwives), but being a nurse is not a requirement before becoming a midwife. There are undergraduate pathways to becoming a midwife in addition to postgraduate pathways. 

• Undergraduate pathways are provided by universities as accredited courses. These are for people who have not undertaken university studies before or have undertaken a degree which is not considered relevant to midwifery. Undergraduate pathways do not require you to be a nurse to enrol.
• Postgraduate pathways are for nurses and paramedics who want to become midwives and are provided by universities as accredited courses. These courses are shorter as they recognise the relevance of the study and work you have already undertaken. The Tasmanian Department of Health has a range of scholarships available for postgraduate, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island applicants to assist you financially on this journey. To find out more, please visit: Tasmanian Nursing and Midwifery Scholarships | Tasmanian Department of Health 

Opportunities for Midwifery Students

The Department, in collaboration with the THS is currently implementing the Registered Undergraduate Student of Midwifery (RUSOM) role. This provides undergraduate midwifery students an opportunity to be employed following successful completion of their first year of studies and clinical placements. This role will commence in 2025. 

Find out more

Before you can enrol in most university midwifery courses, confirmation of clinical placement is required. Midwifery clinical placements are offered in the North West, North and South. Registered nurses undertaking post registration midwifery study are eligible for paid employment during clinical placements. Additionally, the Commonwealth ‘Prac Payment’ will be available from 1 July 2025 and means that eligible undergraduate students will be able to access a payment during mandatory clinical training periods. 

For more information on midwifery pathways contact: 

• Southern Tasmania: [email protected]
• Northern Tasmania: [email protected]
• North West Tasmania: [email protected]
• Statewide:  [email protected]

Becoming a doctor

The medical profession includes opportunities to work in:

• accredited university teaching hospitals
• mental health
• palliative care
• public health
• alcohol and drug services
• community health centres
• education
• research. 

Public hospital training opportunities

Interns and Resident Medical Officers programs

You will gain training in:

• medicine
• surgery
• general training

Registrar programs

You will gain training in:

• general practice
• gastroenterology
• neurology
• paediatrics
• endocrinology
• genetics
• cardiology
• surgery
• ophthalmology
• psychiatry
• radiology
• pathology
• obstetrics and gynaecology
• emergency medicine
• anaesthesia.

How to apply

• You must complete an appropriate university qualification with the University of Tasmania.
• You must be registerable under Tasmania’s Medical Practitioners Registration Act 1996.

Find out more

University of Tasmania – Hobart campus

• Phone: (03) 6226 4757
• Website: www.medicine.utas.edu.au

University of Tasmania – Launceston campus

• Phone (03) 6348 8792
• Website: www.medicine.utas.edu.au

Download more information about medical careers with us in Tasmania