Course Overview

About This Course

The Graduate Certificate of Maternal Critical Care is designed for registered nurses and midwives seeking to extend the knowledge they've gained through maternity clinical practice and develop advanced theoretical skills in obstetrical and gynaecological critical care. The course is suited to nurses and midwives who are already employed in a clinical setting. As a student you will undertake assessments that can be directly applied to your professional practice and context. The Graduate Certificate of Maternal Critical Care offers a strong theoretical and practical grounding that enables health practitioners to develop an analytical approach to clinical decision-making. It will improve your critical thinking capability and capacity to provide enhanced maternity care services.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

OnlineSydney

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Current registration as a registered nurse or midwife with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements
English requirement can be met by one of the following:
- Successful completion of Year 12 within Australia, or an equivalent qualification from an approved country where English is the official language
- Successful completion of at least 0.5 FTE of higher education study from Australia or an approved country where English is the official language
- Successful completion of a Charles Darwin University enabling program of at least 0.5 FTE (40 credit points)
- Successful completion of a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from Australia
- Current AHPRA registration as a Division 1 or Division 2 nurse (must be current at the time of course commencement)
- Completion of an approved English test within two years of commencement (IELTS Academic overall minimum 6.5, no band below 6.0; PTE Academic overall minimum 58, no score below 50; TOEFL overall minimum 79, minimum writing score 21; Cambridge English Advanced overall minimum 176, no skill below 169)
International pathway: Applicants who have completed the CDU International Masters Qualifying Program (ZMQP01) or the Accelerated International Masters Qualifying Program (ZAMQP1) are eligible for entry, and must also hold current registration as a registered midwife with AHPRA or equivalent status in country of origin

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

The Graduate Certificate of Maternal Critical Care prepares students for advanced clinical practice roles in this specialist area. This course is a recognised pathway to Master level study either by coursework or toward a Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner).

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units2 units

HEA570

Maternal Critical Care: Chronic Conditions

Core unit worth 20 credit points covering chronic conditions in maternal critical care (unit title change 2021).

HEA571

Maternal Critical Care: Acute Conditions

Core unit worth 20 credit points covering acute conditions in maternal critical care (unit title change 2021).

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Graduate Certificate of Maternal Critical Care provide a pathway to further postgraduate study?

Yes. Completion of the Maternal Critical Care units 1 and 2 will provide an accelerated pathway through to the Master of Midwifery. The course is also a recognised pathway to Master level study either by coursework or toward a Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner).

How many credit points are required to complete this course and what units are involved?

The course requires the successful completion of 40 credit points, comprising two compulsory core units: HEA570 Maternal Critical Care: Chronic Conditions (20 credit points) and HEA571 Maternal Critical Care: Acute Conditions (20 credit points).

Is this course available to international students?

No, the Graduate Certificate of Maternal Critical Care is not available to international students. It is only available to domestic students (Australian or New Zealand citizens, Australian Permanent Residents, or eligible Humanitarian Visa holders).

Are Commonwealth Supported Places available for this course?

Yes, Commonwealth Supported Places are available to students who meet one of the following residency requirements: (a) be an Australian citizen who will complete some of the course while resident in Australia; or (b) a New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent visa holder, or eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder who studies the entire course while living in Australia. Full fee paying places are also available.

Can an offer for this course be deferred?

Yes, offers for the Graduate Certificate of Maternal Critical Care can be deferred. Students who wish to defer their offer should contact Student Central for further information.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Processing time: Offer letter issued within approximately 1 business days.

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years post-grad cert)AUD $80,000 to $92,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $92,000 to $105,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $105,000 to $125,000 per year

Career Paths

Maternal Critical Care Registered NurseObstetric High Dependency Unit (HDU) NurseClinical Nurse Specialist – Maternal/Obstetric Critical CareClinical Midwife Specialist – High-Risk PregnancyClinical Nurse Consultant (Maternal Critical Care)

Key Skills

Advanced clinical assessment and interpretation of maternal physiological dataManagement of acute and chronic obstetrical and gynaecological conditionsHigh-acuity nursing care of critically ill pregnant and postpartum womenEvidence-based clinical decision-making and problem-solvingCritical thinking and analytical reasoning in complex care environments

Full Course Overview

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