Graduate Diploma of Midwifery inherent requirements

Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in this role.

Student demonstrates:

• Behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment.

Justification of inherent requirement

Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Midwifery students will be exposed to intimate, emotional, dynamic and emergency situations and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events.

Adjustments must ensure the standards, codes, guidelines and policies are not compromised or result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Student Equity Officers.

Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and competent midwifery care.

Student demonstrates:

• the capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information
• the ability to process information relevant to practice
• the ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Safe and effective delivery of midwifery care is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately.

Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective delivery of care.

Student demonstrates:

• the ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages.
• the ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information.
• the capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner.

Justification of inherent requirement

• The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective assessment, treatment and delivery of care.
• The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for the safe and effective delivery of midwifery care.

Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for safe and effective care.

Student demonstrates:

• the ability to interpret and correctly apply data, measurements and numerical criteria.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in nursing to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of midwifery care.

Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to nursing and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic and non-judgmental.

Student demonstrates:

• the capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues in all learning environments, including the classroom, laboratory, clinical, and workplace settings
• consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
• sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences.

Justification of inherent requirement

• The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships.
• Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic and professional relationships.
• Being sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships.
• The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for the safe and effective observation of maternal, fetal and neonatal wellbeing and reactions to facilitate the assessment and treatment of women and babies.

Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation of or appropriate response to effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of care.

Student demonstrates:

• sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences
• the ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
• the ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
• timely clear feedback and reporting.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships.
• Communication may be restricted to verbal because of physical limitations of the individual (e.g. injury, disease or congenital conditions).
• Speed and interactivity of communication may be critical for individual safety or treatment.
• Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is critical to individual safety, treatment and management.

Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety and appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental midwifery responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.

Student demonstrates:

• the capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances
• effective use of electronic record keeping and data management systems.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Construction of written text based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice.
• Accurate written communication, including record-keeping and patient notes, is vital to provide consistent and safe maternity care.

Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and clinical settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Midwifery is a profession governed by competency standards, codes of ethics, professional conduct and professional boundaries where midwives are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts.

The student:

Demonstrates knowledge of and engages in ethical behaviour in practice:

• interacts with individuals and groups in a professional manner in a range of settings
• demonstrates insight and ability to reflect on how personal behaviour impacts others and modify behaviour to ensure and maintain professionalism.

Justification of inherent requirement

Compliance with the standards, codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being of all.

Adjustments must ensure the standards, codes, guidelines and policies are not compromised or result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Midwifery practice is mandated by legislation to enable the safe delivery of care.

Student demonstrates:

• knowledge and compliance with Australian Law, professional regulations and scope of practice.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Knowledge, understanding, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary pre-requisites to clinical placements in order to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
• Compliance with these professional regulations and the Australian Law ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice.

Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective midwifery care.

Student demonstrates:

• sufficient aural function to undertake the required range of skills.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor, assess and manage an individual's health needs consistently and accurately
• Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective midwifery practice.

Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the hearing loss must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Sufficient tactile ability is required to perform competent and safe midwifery care.

Student demonstrates:

• adequate tactile function sufficient to undertake the required range of skills and assessments.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Sufficient tactile ability is necessary to monitor, assess and detect maternal, fetal and neonates physical characteristics and act on any abnormalities detected to provide thorough midwifery care.
• Tactile assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective midwifery practice.

Adjustments must have the capacity to make effective assessments of physical characteristics and abnormalities within safe time frames. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective midwifery care.

Student demonstrates:

• sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care of self and to others.
• Visual observations, examination and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective midwifery practice.

Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Midwifery is a profession that requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills.

Student demonstrates:

• the ability to use fine motor skills to provide safe effective care.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects and individuals. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.

Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety to self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Midwifery involves physical demands and requires gross motor function.

Student demonstrates:

• the ability to perform gross motor skills to function within scope of practice.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.

Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.

Midwifery practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level.

Student demonstrates:

• consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time.
• the ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately.
• the capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of time.

Justification of inherent requirement

• Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective care.

Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with our Support Equity Officers.