Transition to Professional Practice Program for Registered Midwives 2025

The Antenatal/Gynaecology ward admits and cares for women across the spectrum of antenatal conditions or those requiring gynaecological care with the occasional postnatal overflow woman and baby. Opportunities to consolidate and expand skills and knowledge to assist with caring for women with high-risk pregnancies, or women with gynaecological surgical interventions abound here.

The Delivery Suite / High Dependency Unit consists of 16 all stage rooms which can accommodate antenatal, intrapartum, post-natal and gynaecology clients depending on clinical need. There are approximately 4700 births per year at the WCH. Working in this area provides Midwives with experience in caring for a variety of women across all risk groups.

WCHN is offering 2 positions in 2025 for TPPP midwives to work within the Midwifery Group Practice caseload model of care.

Graduates who are successfully allocated to MGP will be supported with a 6month rotation to consolidate your midwifery training, participate in ongoing learning and midwifery skills accreditations, and provide continuity of care to women across the puerperium. You will be supported with:

• An extended orientation that will include orientation to MGP, Delivery Suite and WAS as well as supernumerary days in MGP with an MGP midwife
• Reduced caseload
• MGP education support to review your caseload and opportunities to discuss and escalate clinical issues or concerns
• Be partnered with an experienced MGP midwife
• Attendance at weekly MGP staff and education meetings and obstetric consultant review meetings as required.

Successful TPPP candidates will be enveloped in the TPPP framework including attendance at study days and be supported by the MGP Clinical Educator, core and MGP midwifery team, TPPP coordinators and Clinical Educators.

The Special Care Unit has 35 beds and cares for babies from approximately 32 weeks gestation onwards. It provides short and long term observation and specialised care including respiratory and nutritional support to babies. SCBU provides a Neonatal Early Discharge (NED) program allowing some babies to be discharge home with the family supported in the home by experienced midwives/nurses. This unit works collaboratively with Neonatal Intensive Care. Registered Midwives will have the opportunity to build and consolidate neonatal assessment and specialised neonatal skills.

The Postnatal service has 35 funded beds supporting the postnatal mother and baby following birth. The average length of stay is 24 to 48 hours, dependent on mode of birth. The WCHN is proud to be BFHI-accredited, with 7-day ward support available from a Lactation Consultant. The Postnatal Service provides midwifery home visiting support to the mother/baby and provides outpatient neonatal follow up via the Postnatal Baby Clinic. Midwives working in this area provide education and support women and their families to make informed decisions and can expect to consolidate a wide range of maternal/neonatal clinical assessment and breastfeeding troubleshooting skills.

The Women's Assessment Service is open 24 hours/7days and is available for any woman who is pregnant or experiencing an urgent reproductive or gynaecological condition. This area also supports the Women’s Day Unit (WDU) where women attend for treatment such as Iron Infusions and Cardiotocography monitoring. On average the Women’s Assessment Service supports 55 women per day and takes approx. 60 phone calls from women escalating concerns.

The Women’s Outpatients Department offers a range of clinical services including Antenatal Clinics, Gynaecology Clinic and Colposcopy Clinic. Antenatal clinics provide care for women according to state guidelines on the ‘antenatal schedule for pregnant women’ and can be Obstetric or Midwifery-led depending on the individual needs of the pregnant women.

TPPP RM participants are provided with a comprehensive orientation to the organisation at the beginning of the program and to the clinical environments at the commencement of each placement.

All TPPP RM’s will attend a variety of study days (including RANZCOG-FSEP and PROMPT) throughout the year which will be complimented by unit specific education opportunities and other learning resources/opportunities in clinical areas. Specific TPPP RM workshops are also held regularly throughout the year to provide participants with opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills in a safe learning environment.

Transition support “Chat Learn and Grow” sessions are held weekly. These opportunities allow participants to debrief with each other and develop reflection, and critical thinking skills combined with self-care strategies.

The WCH TPPP RM is the first step in your ongoing Midwifery career. During the year, you will be informed of the future career development opportunities available. Education regarding career pathways will also be provided.

During the TPPP RM, clinical feedback, Performance Review and Development Plan and reflection opportunities are provided to each participant. This constructive feedback is utilised by individuals to identify goals and achievements and to identify ongoing learning objectives.

Contracts at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital will be offered as 0.84FTE – 4 days per week. All ward placements require participants to work over a 7-day roster on all shifts, apart from Women’s Outpatients, which is rostered over Monday – Friday day shifts.

Successful candidates to a 6-month MGP rotation will work 0.84 FTE. This will comprise on-call and triage commitments.

Candidates considering MGP must hold a valid driver's licence and must have access to a personal vehicle to travel to appointments within the community.

TPPP positions will commence in mid-February with limited positions available mid-March 2025.

Please note the proposed start dates when considering your application – remember, you MUST be registered with AHPRA before starting your TPPP contract.

A celebration is held each year for Registered Midwives who have completed the Transition to Professional Practice Program.