The development of national competency standards for the midwife in Australia

Homer, CSE; Passant, L; Kildea, S; Pincombe, J; Thorogood, C; Leap, N; Brodie, PM

The development of national competency standards for the midwife in Australia

Homer, CSE

Passant, L Kildea, S

Pincombe, J Thorogood, C Leap, N Brodie, PM

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Midwifery, 2007, 23 (4), pp. 350 - 360
Issue Date:: 2007-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Homer, CSE https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7454-3011	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Passant, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kildea, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8591-4968	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Pincombe, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Thorogood, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Leap, N	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Brodie, PM	en_US
dc.date.available	2006-03-05	en_US
dc.date.issued	2007-12-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Midwifery, 2007, 23 (4), pp. 350 - 360	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0266-6138	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4827
dc.description.abstract	Objective: to develop and validate national competency standards for midwives in Australia. This study was part of a commissioned national research project to articulate the scope of practice of Australian midwives and to develop national competency standards to assist midwives to deliver safe and competent midwifery care. Design: a multi-method, staged approach was used to collect data through a literature review, workshop consultations, interviews, surveys and written submissions in order to develop national competency standards for Australian midwives. Subsequently, direct observation of practice in a range of settings ensured validation of the competencies. Setting: maternity-care settings in each state and territory in Australia. Participants: midwives, other health professionals and consumers of midwifery care. Findings: The national competency standards for the midwife were developed through research and consultation before being validated in practice. Key conclusions: the national competency standards are currently being implemented into education, regulation and practice in Australia. These will be minimum competency standards required of all midwives who seek authority to practise as a midwife in Australia. It is expected that all midwives will demonstrate that they are able to meet the competency standards relevant to the position they hold. Implications for practice: the competency standards establish a national standard for midwives and reinforce responsibility and accountability in the provision of quality midwifery care through safe and effective practice. In addition, individual midwives may use the competency standards as the basis of their ongoing professional development plans. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Midwifery	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.midw.2006.03.008	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Nursing	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Leadership	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nurse's Role	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Models, Nursing	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Clinical Competence	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Societies, Nursing	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Job Description	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Professional Autonomy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Program Development	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Quality Indicators, Health Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Practice Guidelines as Topic	en_US
dc.title	The development of national competency standards for the midwife in Australia	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	23	en_US
utslib.for	111717 Primary Health Care	en_US
utslib.for	111006 Midwifery	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Midwifery
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	4	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	23	en_US

Abstract:

Objective: to develop and validate national competency standards for midwives in Australia. This study was part of a commissioned national research project to articulate the scope of practice of Australian midwives and to develop national competency standards to assist midwives to deliver safe and competent midwifery care. Design: a multi-method, staged approach was used to collect data through a literature review, workshop consultations, interviews, surveys and written submissions in order to develop national competency standards for Australian midwives. Subsequently, direct observation of practice in a range of settings ensured validation of the competencies. Setting: maternity-care settings in each state and territory in Australia. Participants: midwives, other health professionals and consumers of midwifery care. Findings: The national competency standards for the midwife were developed through research and consultation before being validated in practice. Key conclusions: the national competency standards are currently being implemented into education, regulation and practice in Australia. These will be minimum competency standards required of all midwives who seek authority to practise as a midwife in Australia. It is expected that all midwives will demonstrate that they are able to meet the competency standards relevant to the position they hold. Implications for practice: the competency standards establish a national standard for midwives and reinforce responsibility and accountability in the provision of quality midwifery care through safe and effective practice. In addition, individual midwives may use the competency standards as the basis of their ongoing professional development plans. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4827