BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
Oct 23rd 2014, 5:51 pm
#16
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
Hi any news on this issue? It affects my wife who is a dual RGN/Midwife...
Oct 23rd 2014, 6:56 pm
#17
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
If there are any UK Midwives who are in Oz and have been issued registration conditional on Supervised Practice, please email me as I am going to put some forward to hospitals and see what happens.
Oct 24th 2014, 10:13 am
#18
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
I am not in Oz but would be interested to know how this turns out, if hospitals are willing to employ / sponsor midwives with supervision. It might be something I'd consider in the future.
Oct 24th 2014, 10:30 am
#19
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
Yes, it is a bit of a lonf shot to see if corporate HR Directors err on the side of what their DONs are saying - or if they run scared of AHPRA's ridiculous decision making.
However, I think it highly unlikely that they will sponsor candidates requiring supervison.
However, I think it highly unlikely that they will sponsor candidates requiring supervison.
Oct 24th 2014, 12:03 pm
#22
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
No my wife is currently completing a MSc in Health Visiting, but she is a dual trained nurse (Diploma) and midwife (BSc)... I'm a BSc Mental health nurse and currently waiting for Ahpra reg and Anmac outcome for PR...
Oct 24th 2014, 12:15 pm
#23
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
Ah, OK, those BSc's sound encouraaging, but as others have found out, consistency is something that AHPRA don't do!
Keeps your chins up - Good Luck.
Keeps your chins up - Good Luck.
Oct 26th 2014, 11:21 am
#24
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Oct 26th 2014, 11:25 am
#25
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
But you need a supervisor to work as a midwife.
Not many employers would agree to supervise a member of staff for 12 months when they can easily employ other midwives that don't need this. And not many visas allow 12 months work without a sponsor / confirmed employment do they?
I have a WHV and can only work for 6 months per employer. For me it's not a viable option right now (in terms of cost anyway - these visas aren't cheap).
Not many employers would agree to supervise a member of staff for 12 months when they can easily employ other midwives that don't need this. And not many visas allow 12 months work without a sponsor / confirmed employment do they?
I have a WHV and can only work for 6 months per employer. For me it's not a viable option right now (in terms of cost anyway - these visas aren't cheap).
Oct 26th 2014, 11:59 am
#26
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
With a WHV you can only work for 6 months for one employer, so that will not support the 12 months Supervision condition.
However, we have, in the past, placed Nurses/Midwives on a WHV, and the employer has sponsored them withing the first 6 months. Admittedly, you need to be good for it to work like that.
One other point I would like to make is that relocating to a new country is a big step - and costs a lot. People who feel that a necessity (such as a Visa) is "too expensive" are perhaps, not fully committed to relocating in the first place.
However, we have, in the past, placed Nurses/Midwives on a WHV, and the employer has sponsored them withing the first 6 months. Admittedly, you need to be good for it to work like that.
One other point I would like to make is that relocating to a new country is a big step - and costs a lot. People who feel that a necessity (such as a Visa) is "too expensive" are perhaps, not fully committed to relocating in the first place.
Dec 6th 2014, 4:27 am
#27
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
I have applied - but the rule changes mean that APHRA want evidence of '20 continuity of care cases' - these must have been done in your original midwifery training.
Providing continuity of care cases isn't a requirement of registration in the UK / EU. So most universities will not have done it. Mine didn't.
If you can't prove CoC cases, but meet all other international registration conditions they all allow you to register but you need to complete 12 months supervision. This has to be done at an Australian educational / teaching hospital, which you arrange and pay any costs yourself. After 12 months supervision you can register normally.
Here's the catch - the part I think is unfair. APHRA say that as part of your 12 months supervision it's not a requirement to complete the 20 CoC cases anyway, and that if you don't they will allow you to register - but could only work in certain areas, for example delivery suite and wards - you couldn't work in a midwifery group practice role. I think it's very unfair because experience isn't taken into account... most midwives working in hospitals will rotate and work in all areas and therefore have no problem whatsoever in providing continuity of care to one woman in all aspects of midwifery.
I don't understand why they don't make the 20 CoC cases a mandatory requirement in their supervision, because for most UK midwives this would be the only outstanding competency to meet. If its not a 'requirement' then why make people do it at all? Just allow registration with conditions of areas that can / can not be worked it.
So for most UK trained midwives it mean's you'd get registration - but you'd have to do supervision. You couldn't do supervision with an agency, and you'd need a more permanent visa then a working holiday one. What employer will want to hire a midwife that needs 12 months supervision? I think this would be difficult to find.
This is the latest FAQ from Aphra
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - FAQ for internationally qualified midwives
Providing continuity of care cases isn't a requirement of registration in the UK / EU. So most universities will not have done it. Mine didn't.
If you can't prove CoC cases, but meet all other international registration conditions they all allow you to register but you need to complete 12 months supervision. This has to be done at an Australian educational / teaching hospital, which you arrange and pay any costs yourself. After 12 months supervision you can register normally.
Here's the catch - the part I think is unfair. APHRA say that as part of your 12 months supervision it's not a requirement to complete the 20 CoC cases anyway, and that if you don't they will allow you to register - but could only work in certain areas, for example delivery suite and wards - you couldn't work in a midwifery group practice role. I think it's very unfair because experience isn't taken into account... most midwives working in hospitals will rotate and work in all areas and therefore have no problem whatsoever in providing continuity of care to one woman in all aspects of midwifery.
I don't understand why they don't make the 20 CoC cases a mandatory requirement in their supervision, because for most UK midwives this would be the only outstanding competency to meet. If its not a 'requirement' then why make people do it at all? Just allow registration with conditions of areas that can / can not be worked it.
So for most UK trained midwives it mean's you'd get registration - but you'd have to do supervision. You couldn't do supervision with an agency, and you'd need a more permanent visa then a working holiday one. What employer will want to hire a midwife that needs 12 months supervision? I think this would be difficult to find.
This is the latest FAQ from Aphra
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - FAQ for internationally qualified midwives
I find this whole thing about continuity of cases (COCs) and 12 months supervision a real joke, as a midwife who currently works in Australia. I originally trained as a midwife in the UK, but did my midwifery re-registration here in 2003 after it lapsed in the UK. Australia only implemented this COCs, along with a 18 month midwifery training programme, about 2 years ago. Prior to that it was a 12 month training programme after RN training. In the UK it has always been 18 months after general training, as far as I know. I am not sure when they implemented direct entry midwifery training, but again it was only latterly in WA. Those midwives already registered and working in the Australian system, who never undertook this COCs, whether they be UK or Australian trained, are not being asked to complete additional supervision, so why do the UK midwives have to do it?
Dec 10th 2014, 7:41 pm
#28
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
Why do the NMC require Australian nurses to sit English exams? Because they can, I guess.
Dec 10th 2014, 7:48 pm
#29
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Re: BSc Midwife - RM to Australia
Yea seems unfair I guess...