The Women’s provides clinical placements for Registered Nurses completing postgraduate midwifery studies with La Trobe University, in order to qualify and practise as a midwife.
Our postgraduate midwifery students are a valuable part of our maternity teams. They learn in all areas of maternity care, working alongside our midwives and Clinical Support Midwives (CSMs). Our students are supported with regular debrief and education sessions as well as hands-on support in the clinical areas.
Program
There are two program streams: supernumerary and employed. Both placement streams commence in February 2026 with a clinical orientation following the first teaching block at La Trobe. Programs are 24 hours per week (0.64 EFT) on a 24/7 rotating roster. The duration of the program is 12 months.
Supernumerary
Students in the supernumerary stream attend placement in an unpaid capacity, working supernumerary on every shift and rotating through all maternity areas to address all learning needs. Final numbers for 2026 are yet to be confirmed. At this stage eight (8) supernumerary places are available.
Employed
Employed students are contracted to three (3) days per week. Two (2) days per week on the postnatal ward with a full patient load and one (1) day per week, supernumerary in other maternity areas, primarily birth centre. Final numbers for 2026 are yet to be confirmed. At this stage four (4) employed places are available. This is subject to government funding.
More information: FAQs, Graduate Diploma of Midwifery - clinical placements 2026 (PDF)
Applications
Find further information about the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery course at La Trobe University.
Applications for the 2026 program open on 1 August 2025 and close on 14 September 2025 at 11:59pm 2025 via careers.thewomens.org.au. You will also need to make a separate application to La Trobe.
Information evening
An information evening session will be held online on 5 August 2025, 6 to 7:30pm. The La Trobe Graduate Diploma of Midwifery course coordinator will be in attendance to discuss university applications and answer questions regarding the course. The link to this session will be available on this page closer to the date. Registrations are not required.
Further information
For further questions or information, you can email CSMteam@thewomens.org.au or to speak with a clinical support midwife, please call (03) 8345 2478.