RESET-M: South Australia's New Hope for Midwifery Re-entry

South Australia spearheads a transformation in the healthcare sector with the RESET-M program, aiming to revitalize the midwifery profession. As registered midwives numbers dwindled, this innovative initiative emerges as a beacon of hope, offering a comprehensive re-entry path for those seeking to return to clinical practice.

Amidst a declining trend in the number of registered midwives in Australia, South Australia emerges as a beacon of hope with its innovative midwife re-entry scheme. This initiative, centered on aiding eligible midwives in updating their pivotal skills and expertise, seeks to reinvigorate the health sector, particularly the midwifery profession.

From 2018 to 2023, Australia experienced a concerning decrease in its registered midwives. This downtrend can be traced back to several causes, with the most notable being the surge in retirements combined with the challenge of enticing new talents into this esteemed profession. Such a situation breeds a concerning vacuum: a tangible loss of time-honored experience and a shortage of essential clinical know-how.

Photo by Nathan Dumalo

To address this pressing issue, South Australia welcomed the RESET-M pilot program. A brainchild of a collaborative synergy between Flinders University, the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN), and Your Nursing Agency (YNA), this avant-garde program aims to rejuvenate midwives who've taken a hiatus from clinical practice. By offering them a refresher course on the essential skills and knowledge, the program envisions a streamlined and effective re-entry of these professionals into the workforce.

It's worth noting the context behind the initiation of such a program. Australian regulatory norms state that midwives inactive for a span of five years or more must enroll in an official refresher course approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. This ensures they regain their active status on the register. However, this period can often see many midwives grappling with self-doubt, hesitant to plunge back into the demanding and rapidly evolving environment of maternity wards.

In such a scenario, the RESET-M program becomes invaluable. At present, five midwives have embarked on a concise course journey at Flinders University's Sturt campus. Their curriculum encompasses the newest trends and methodologies in clinical labs and simulation suites. This academic phase transitions into practical sessions, with two paid supernumerary clinical shifts at Lyell McEwin Hospital. These shifts, spanning over three months, act as a capstone, ensuring a holistic retraining experience for these midwives.

Dr. Megan Cooper, the lead investigator of RESET-M at Flinders University, underscores the program's mission: to galvanize midwives with the aspiration to revisit clinical midwifery practice. She emphasizes the lacuna in South Australia when it comes to assisting midwives in their return after a career pause, be it for family reasons or divergent career pursuits. The RESET-M initiative not only offers this support but does so with an eye on the future. Should the program prove its mettle, there's an envisioned potential for a nationwide rollout, extending even to other disciplines within the health sector.

The content of the program is meticulously curated. It integrates vital midwifery skills with clinical updates, changes in protocol, managing obstetric emergencies, and the latest research findings. Ensuring alignment with the Midwife Standards for Practice and the National Safety and Quality Health Care Service Standards, the program ambitiously aims to redress staff retention issues, thus augmenting the midwife community in South Australia.

The sentiments are echoed by Kate Hepburn-Brown, a study investigator at Your Nursing Agency, and Meredith Hobbs, the NALHN Divisional Director Nursing and Midwifery. Both highlight the paramount importance of retaining experienced staff, while Hobbs underscores the ever-evolving landscape of nursing and midwifery. With novel techniques, research outcomes, policies, and technology being constantly introduced, it is imperative for the workforce to be updated and aligned.

The RESET-M program stands out as a testament to the collaborative spirit of Flinders University, NALHN, and Your Nursing Agency. Through this innovative pilot initiative, there is an earnest endeavor to rejuvenate the health sector, ensuring that midwifery in South Australia continues to thrive with both new and returning talent.


Source: Glamadelaide