Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery
2026 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery |
| Course Credit Points | 32 |
| Deakin course code | D355 |
| Course version | 3 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2023 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 4 years full-time (This course is only available full-time) |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026: Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS code | 057656M Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Articulated courses
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Third party arrangements
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Join one of the strongest growth areas within the health sector with Deakin's Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery. Secure your future career, with nursing and midwifery job opportunities expected to grow by 11.1% by 2029.^ Developed in consultation with our healthcare partners, ensuring you're always connected to those at the forefront of the industry, preparing you to provide high quality woman-centred midwifery care and patient-centred nursing care.
Professional experience placements are undertaken in various metropolitan, regional, and rural healthcare settings and provide an opportunity to care for women and people from diverse cultural backgrounds in a range of health care settings. Ranked #14 in the world for nursing* this accredited course provides you with knowledge, skills, and ethical understanding required to become a successful registered nurse and midwife – once you graduate the choice is yours as to which career path you select.
Aspiring to enter the health care sector with the confidence to succeed as both a nurse and a midwife?
Under the supervision of registered nurses and midwives, you will gain real-world experience by working within multidisciplinary healthcare teams across areas including:
- maternity care, including pregnancy, birthing and post-natal
- neonatal special care
- paediatrics
- acute/sub-acute care
- medical and surgical care
- aged care
- rehabilitation
- community settings
- mental health care settings.
Professional experience placements begin in Trimester 1 of your first year and continue throughout every trimester of the course with a total of 800 hours for nursing and approximately 840 hours for the midwifery component.
Gain a valuable mix of hands-on clinical practice and theory with a nursing and midwifery school ranked #14 in the world.* As one of the most research-active schools in Australia, our School of Nursing and Midwifery boasts some of the best facilities and resources available.
As a nurse and midwife, you will be part of the largest health professional group in the world. This means your skills will be in-demand, both in Australia and overseas.
Explore our diverse nursing courses, including double degrees like the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion and the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Psychological Science, designed to help you combine your interests, broaden your expertise and stand out in the healthcare workforce.
^2024 Occupation Projections - for the five years to 2029, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia
*2025 ShanghaiRankings Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This may include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
On successful completion of your course, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse and Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
The NMBA has mandatory registration standards that applicants need to meet to be registered. Course completion is one of these requirements. Core registration standards are available on the NMBA website.
This course is accredited with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and is an NMBA approved course.
Career opportunities
Nursing and midwifery are careers rich with opportunity, you will be highly sought after by industry for your knowledge, critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills, professionalism, and the ability to provide woman-centred and person-centred evidence-based care – which is why we are proud to record a high graduate employment rate of over 93%.*
As a registered nurse or registered nurse/midwife, you can pursue a global career in a range of work settings, such as:
- hospitals
- homes
- hospices
- aged care settings
- clinics
- schools
- universities
- government agencies and private industries.
Nursing and midwifery are diverse professions with a number of specialty practice areas available, it is expected that graduates will maintain professional development throughout their careers. This may include postgraduate degrees and/or research degrees, including masters and PhDs.
*Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021-2023, based on overall employment for undergraduate nursing graduates, Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT).
Participation requirements
The course involves compulsory professional experience placement totalling 41 weeks. The midwifery component consists of 21 weeks in midwifery settings across Victoria. The nursing component consists of 20 weeks in hospitals and community health centres in metropolitan, rural and regional areas. These placements may require travel to rural areas. Professional experience placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability.
To be eligible to undertake placements, you are required to supply mandatory documents (prerequisites) including police checks, working with children check and immunisation status.
Inherent requirements
A number of inherent requirements are essential to safely perform the skills and functions of the nursing and midwifery role and consequently to undertake and successfully complete the course. Learn more about the School of Nursing and Midwifery's Undergraduate Courses Inherent Requirements.
Mandatory student checks
Department of Health Safety Screening Requirements - Police Record Check, Working With Children Check and Immunisation Status
Police Record Check
In accordance with the Department of Health policy, all students are required to undertake a Police Record Check prior to professional experience placements in each calendar year of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check prior to the commencement of professional experience placement will not be able to undertake professional experience placement and this will impede progress in the course.
Working with Children Check
In accordance with the Worker Screening Act 2020, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of professional experience placement will not be able to undertake professional experience placement and this will impede progress in the course.
Immunisation
Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience. A health organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the health organisation.
Pathways
This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs.
Articulated courses
| Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) (H421) |
Course Learning Outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes | Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Thinks critically, analyses evidence and evaluates outcomes to inform quality nursing practice. | GLO4: Critical thinking: evaluating information using critical and analytical thinking and judgment |
| Foster effective therapeutic and professional relationships to ensure safe and quality care across the lifespan. | GLO2: Communication: using oral, written and interpersonal communication to inform, motivate and effect change. GLO7: Teamwork: working and learning with others from different disciplines and backgrounds |
| Self-manage behaviours to develop and maintain critical nursing knowledge, understanding and skills to ensure capability for practice in self and others. | GLO6: Self-management: working and learning independently, and taking responsibility for personal actions. |
| Apply nursing knowledge and capability in accordance with legal and ethical requirements to deliver comprehensive, holistic, culturally appropriate, evidence based, safe and quality care. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities: appropriate to the level of study related to a discipline or profession. GLO5: Problem solving: creating solutions to authentic (real world and ill-defined) problems |
| Use digital technologies in healthcare to locate, interpret and disseminate information and deliver quality and safe patient care. | GLO3: Digital literacy: using technologies to find, use and disseminate information. |
| Course Learning Outcomes | |
| Practice midwifery that is underpinned by the philosophy of woman-centred care. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities: appropriate to the level of study related to a discipline or profession. GLO2: Communication: using oral, written and interpersonal communication to inform, motivate and effect change. |
| Critically engage in a process of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation to provide evidence-based, safe and quality care to optimise outcomes in partnership with the woman. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities: appropriate to the level of study related to a discipline or profession. GLO3: Digital literacy: using technologies to find, use and disseminate information. GLO4: Critical thinking: evaluating information using critical and analytical thinking and judgment. GLO5: Problem solving: creating solutions to authentic (real world and ill-defined) problems. |
| Be a reflective lifelong learner who is cognisant of, and actively develops and maintains their midwifery knowledge, skills and mindsets required for contemporary midwifery practice. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities: appropriate to the level of study related to a discipline or profession. GLO3: Digital literacy: using technologies to find, use and disseminate information. GLO4: Critical thinking: evaluating information using critical and analytical thinking and judgment. GLO5: Problem solving: creating solutions to authentic (real world and ill-defined) problems. GLO6: Self-management: working and learning independently, and taking responsibility for personal actions. |
| Develop sustainable, respectful partnerships that are built on collaboration, mutual trust, respect and cultural safety. | GLO2: Communication: using oral, written and interpersonal communication to inform, motivate and effect change. GLO8: Global citizenship: engaging ethically and productively in the professional context, and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as diverse communities and cultures in a global context. |
| Foster effective professional relationships to ensure safe and quality care. | GLO2: Communication: using oral, written and interpersonal communication to inform, motivate and effect change. GLO6: Self-management: working and learning independently, and taking responsibility for personal actions. GLO7: Teamwork: working and learning with others from different disciplines and backgrounds. GLO8: Global citizenship: engaging ethically and productively in the professional context, and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as diverse communities and cultures in a global context. |
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Nursing/ Bachelor of Midwifery you must pass 32 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 12 credit points of core nursing units
- 11 credit points of core midwifery units
- 9 credit points that are aligned with both the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full- time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Burwood and Waterfront Campus
Course structure for students who commenced in 2022 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2022 should refer to previous online Handbooks or contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HBS109 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology |
| HNN108 | Evidence-Based Practice |
| HNN112 | Quality and Safety: Nursing Practice 1 |
| HNN120 | Quality and Safety in Health Care 1 |
Level 1 - Trimester 2
| HNN104 | Care of the Child and Adolescent |
| HNN114 | Person-Centred Health Assessment |
| HNN124 | Quality and Safety: Nursing Practice 2 |
| HNM109 | Partnerships in Midwifery 1: Pregnancy Care |
Level 2 - Trimester 1
| HNN215 | Quality Use of Medicines |
| HNN227 | Acute Illness and Supportive Care (2 credit points) |
| HNM210 | Partnerships in Midwifery 2: Labour and Birth Care |
Level 2 - Trimester 2
| HNN154 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' History, Culture and Health |
| HNN222 | Mental Health and Supportive Care (2 credit points) |
| HNM211 | Partnerships in Midwifery 3: Postnatal Care |
Level 3 - Trimester 1
| HNN329 | Chronic Illness and Supportive Care (2 credit points) |
| HNM322 | Complex Midwifery Care (2 credit points) |
Level 3 - Trimester 2
| HNN301 | Mental Health and Wellbeing |
| HNM323 | Neonatal Challenges in Midwifery Practice |
| HNM330 | Quality and Safety: Midwifery Practice 1 (2 credit points) |
Level 4 - Trimester 1
| HNN217 | Primary Health Care |
| HNN318 | Care of the Older Person |
| HNM331 | Quality and Safety: Midwifery Practice 2 |
| HNM333 | Emergency Midwifery Care |
Level 4 - Trimester 2
| HNN320 | Quality and Safety in Health Care 2 |
| HNN325 | Quality and Safety: Comprehensive Nursing Practice (2 credit points) |
| HNM334 | Contemporary Midwifery Practice |
Warrnambool Campus
Course structure for students who commenced in 2022 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2022 should refer to previous online Handbooks and consult your course enrolment officer.
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HBS109 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology |
| HNN108 | Evidence-Based Practice |
| HNN112 | Quality and Safety: Nursing Practice 1 |
| HNN120 | Quality and Safety in Health Care 1 |
Level 1 - Trimester 2
| HNN104 | Care of the Child and Adolescent |
| HNN114 | Person-Centred Health Assessment |
| HNN124 | Quality and Safety: Nursing Practice 2 |
| HNM109 | Partnerships in Midwifery 1: Pregnancy Care |
Level 2 - Trimester 1
| HNN217 | Primary Health Care |
| HNN222 | Mental Health and Supportive Care (2 credit points) |
| HNM210 | Partnerships in Midwifery 2: Labour and Birth Care |
Level 2 - Trimester 2
| HNN215 | Quality Use of Medicines |
| HNN227 | Acute Illness and Supportive Care (2 credit points) |
| HNM211 | Partnerships in Midwifery 3: Postnatal Care |
Level 3 - Trimester 1
| HNN329 | Chronic Illness and Supportive Care (2 credit points) |
| HNM322 | Complex Midwifery Care (2 credit points) |
Level 3 - Trimester 2
| HNN301 | Mental Health and Wellbeing |
| HNM323 | Neonatal Challenges in Midwifery Practice |
| HNM330 | Quality and Safety: Midwifery Practice 1 (2 credit points) |
Level 4 - Trimester 1
| HNN154 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' History, Culture and Health |
| HNN318 | Care of the Older Person |
| HNM331 | Quality and Safety: Midwifery Practice 2 |
| HNM333 | Emergency Midwifery Care |
*** Note: HNN154 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People's History, Culture and Health is NOT available to enrol in Trimester 1. Please speak to a Student Advisor to assist with your enrolment into this unit for either Trimester 2 or Trimester 3 in years 1 or 2.
Level 4 - Trimester 2
| HNN320 | Quality and Safety in Health Care 2 |
| HNN325 | Quality and Safety: Comprehensive Nursing Practice (2 credit points) |
| HNM334 | Contemporary Midwifery Practice |
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Professional experience placement
Professional experience placements are conducted throughout your course beginning in Trimester 1 of your first year. This early exposure to the clinical environment gives you extensive opportunities to develop clinical skills under the supervision of registered nurses and registered midwives and enables you to experience being part of a multidisciplinary health care team. You will gain clinical skills in a variety of settings including acute/sub-acute care, medical and surgical care, paediatrics, aged care, rehabilitation, community nursing and mental health nursing.
Midwifery clinical experiences include all areas of midwifery practice, including pregnancy care, labour and birth, postnatal care and neonatal special care. These may be undertaken in hospitals and community health care centres in metropolitan, rural and regional areas.
There is an expectation that you will be available to undertake clinical practicum outside of trimester dates. All expenses associated with professional experience placements are your own responsibility.
Third party arrangements
Student Placement Agreements exist between Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery and Professional Experience Placement Providers and are generally revised every 3-5 years.
Quality assurance arrangements
Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery provides training through facilitator and preceptorship workshops. Unit Chairs provide regular clinical support to facilitators whilst students are on placements.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Commonwealth Prac Payment - Domestic students only
The Australian Government has introduced the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) to help eligible domestic students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place studying teaching, nursing, midwifery, and social work cover the costs associated with mandatory placements. For more information on the eligibility criteria and application process please visit our Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.