Public consultation opens for Midwife standards for practice

03 Jul 2017

Today the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) opened public consultation on the draft Midwife standards for practice.

Interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback through an online survey, which is open until Friday 25 August 2017.

Deakin University was appointed to develop the Midwife standards for practice which included a review of the existing National competency standards for the midwife (2006).

The current National competency standards for the midwife are the core competency standards by which a midwife’s performance is assessed to obtain and retain registration to practise in Australia. Since these standards were published in 2006, the role and scope of practice for midwifery throughout Australia, the model of education and training, and the regulatory framework within which registration of midwives occurs, have developed substantially.

The NMBA Chair, Associate Professor Lynette Cusack, said that the draft Midwife standards for practice were contemporary and evidence based.

‘The draft Midwife standards for practice have been thoroughly researched so that they’re suitable for midwives in all contexts of practice. These standards will provide a framework for assessing a midwife’s competence to practise in Australia and are important for public safety.

‘We are now asking the profession and other stakeholders to review these standards and complete the survey to give us their feedback.’

The Midwife standards for practice consultation documents and survey can be accessed on the NMBA website.

For more information:

• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200
• Lodge an online enquiry form
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 9275 9009 (overseas callers)