Midwifery Profession Strengthened By Study Grants

Midwifery Profession Further Strengthened With Study Grants

$1m in Government funding for midwifery post graduate study and research will further strengthen the profession.

That today from NZ College of Midwives CEO, Karen Guilliland.

The Government’s Health Workforce group has announced funding grants to be made available to midwives who are studying towards or who have just completed their post graduate qualifications.

“Supporting midwives to carry out post graduate study will enable more of them to take this decision relating to their professional development. In a wider, global context, this will result in more research relating to midwifery practice and maternity outcomes for women, and will increase the amount of knowledge midwives have available, to share with their colleagues,” says Karen Guilliland. “This will further strengthen New Zealand’s maternity system for our women and babies.”

There are currently four post graduate midwifery schools around the country - Otago Polytechnic, Victoria University, Massey University and Auckland University of Technology. In 2009, 160 midwives indicated they were doing post graduate studies, a significant drop compared with 215 in 2005. No funding support was one of the factors preventing midwives access to study. Karen Guilliland says this funding should see those numbers increase once again.

“The funding, together with the fact that the number of practicing midwives in New Zealand has increased (2700 in 2010 compared to 2500 in 2009), provides an easier working environment and more incentive for midwives to take up post graduate study as they look to further strengthen their midwifery practice,” says Karen Guilliland.

Many midwives make midwifery their life long career and research in this key area of women’s health supports both their practice and their ability to contribute valuable knowledge and experience back to the community. The College understands a significant number of midwives have been interested in taking on post graduate studies but haven’t been able to afford it.

Applications for post graduate funding close on the 14 June 2010 and midwives can contact the NZ College of Midwives for more information www.nzcom.org.nz

ENDS