Northern Sydney Local Health District

Are you a registered nurse? Are you interested in becoming a midwife?   Northern Sydney LHD offers opportunities for registered nurses to undertake midwifery education in three maternity services, in an interesting, rewarding and challenging professional environment.

Registered nurses wishing to become midwives are required to complete both a recognised University postgraduate course in midwifery and be employed as a midwifery student in a Maternity Service to gain the necessary clinical experience.   All programs in Northern Sydney LHD commence in February 2014.

Recruitment to midwifery student positions in NSW public hospitals occurs through a centralised online process facilitated by the Nursing and Midwifery Office (NaMO) in NSW Ministry of Health.  Applications open on 3rd July 2013 for positions in 2014.

Northern Sydney LHD is committed to the provision of collaborative, woman-centred maternity care, where women and their families are supported through pregnancy, labour and birth, and postnatally. Midwifery encompasses primary health care principles as well as emotional and social aspects of birth.  Our maternity services are guided by NSW Health policies, Northern Sydney LHD and local guidelines which are evidence-based and support best practice.

Innovative midwifery-led and collaborative models of care are offered within the Northern Sydney LHD across the spectrum of care from normal pregnancy and birth to women and babies with more complex needs.   We are responsive to contemporary trends and challenges in healthcare.

Hornsby Hospital

Hornsby Hospital Maternity Unit has a birth rate of approximately 1400 per year, providing care for women with normal and moderate risk pregnancies.  This maternity service offers several models of care including midwifery group practice, midwives clinics, clinics for culturally and linguistically diverse women, GP shared care and medical clinics.  Midwifery students rotate through all areas of maternity care, providing a comprehensive midwifery educational experience.

Hornsby’s innovative SWIM clinic (Students with Women Innovative Model with Midwifery Education) is student-led under the guidance of a midwifery educator and midwifery consultant.  Midwifery students are expected to work as a small group practice in this continuity of care model through the continuum of antenatal, birth and the postnatal period.

SWIM model of care

Northern Beaches Health Service

Northern Beaches Maternity Service at Manly Hospital attends approximately 1500 births per year, providing care for women with normal and moderate risk pregnancies.  Midwifery students gain their clinical experience in all areas of the maternity unit including:

• Antenatal Clinics – dedicated student clinics, midwife clinics (hospital and community-based), NBAC (next birth after caesarean) clinics and medical clinics
• Birthing Unit
• Postnatal / Antenatal inpatient ward
• Special Care Nursery – caring for babies from 34 weeks gestation
• Midwifery Support Program (postnatal home visiting)

 The unit also offers:

• “Centering Pregnancy” – an antenatal group continuity of care model.  Students are encouraged to join a group
• Midwifery Group Practice

Students are offered the opportunity of a two week secondment to Royal North Shore Hospital to work in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit and the Birthing Unit.

Royal North Shore Hospital

Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) is a tertiary referral centre with approximately 2500 births a year.  RNSH provides a maternity service for local normal risk women as well as offering a statewide referral service for high risk women and newborns.  Currently there are 4 assessment beds, 7 birth rooms and 33 postnatal/antenatal beds.  A large redevelopment project is underway at RNSH and includes a new maternity facility with an evidence-based, innovative design to support an environment that promotes normal birth.  Completion of the new maternity facility is expected in 2014.

Midwifery students gain a wide range of experience in all areas of maternity care - the Maternity Ward, the Birthing Unit, the Antenatal Student Midwife Clinic for Continuity of Care Experiences, the Midwifery Support Program (Support in the home), Midwifery Group Practice (primary health, continuity of midwifery carer model), the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit and the Special Care Nursery.

During the program, monthly education sessions and meetings are conducted to offer ongoing support to the Postgraduate Student Midwives.  The program includes a clinical placement at the Ryde Midwifery Group Practice, a stand-alone maternity service at Ryde Hospital and an optional clinical experience at Northern Beaches Maternity Service.

Recruitment process in 2013 (for commencement in 2014)

Detailed information on the application process, including selection criteria and the interview process can be found on the NSW Health website (link below).   It is very important that you read this information carefully and understand the process and your responsibilities. 

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/employment/faq_capsm.asp

Lodge your application online at:

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/employment/CAPSM.asp

Applications Open: 9.00 am Wednesday 3rd July 2013

Applications Close: 9.00 am Wednesday 14th August 2013

University application

University application is a separate and additional process.  Northern Sydney LHD partners with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) for the postgraduate midwifery education program.  For more information about the course and their application process please contact the university:

http://www.uts.edu.au/

Interviews

Interviews for positions in any of the three maternity services in Northern Sydney LHD are held in August/September 2013.  You will be notified by email of an appointment for interview.     You will also be notified if you have not been successful in gaining an interview. 

Please note:   You must be registered as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia at the time of interview to be eligible for a postgraduate midwifery student position.

For more information about the postgraduate midwifery student education program please contact:

Hornsby Hospital

Geraldine Gilroy
Midwifery Educator
Phone: (02) 9477 9506
GGilroy@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Northern Beaches Health Service

Alison Stilwell
Midwifery Educator
Phone: (02) 9976 9851
astilwel@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au  

Deirdre Breen
Midwifery Unit Manager
Phone: (02) 9976 9748
dbreen@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Postgraduate Midwifery Student programs in Northern Sydney LHD