Tasmania revives midwifery education at university level
Tasmania restores university midwifery training to strengthen maternal care, improve retention and remove barriers for future midwives.
Tasmania is preparing to re-establish university-based midwifery education, marking a decisive policy shift after nearly a decade without a local training pathway. The University of Tasmania (UTAS) confirmed that it will resume offering a Graduate Diploma of Midwifery from mid-2026, following a formal agreement signed with the Tasmanian Government earlier in 2025.
According to the government announcement, academic recruitment for the renewed program is already advancing. UTAS has appointed a Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, and a nationwide search is underway to fill a professorial role that will provide academic leadership and help embed the programme within broader maternal-health strategies. Restoring a full academic structure is intended to ensure long-term continuity and create a stable foundation for research, professional development and clinical partnerships across the state’s health system.
Midwifery education in Tasmania has been fragmented since 2016, when UTAS paused its postgraduate training due to sustained declines in student enrolment. The absence of an in-state programme forced aspiring midwives to complete university components interstate, often while arranging clinical placements back home. Health officials describe this arrangement as burdensome for students and inefficient for the workforce pipeline, as graduates trained outside the state frequently chose employment opportunities elsewhere.
The newly announced Graduate Diploma seeks to reverse these trends by enabling registered nurses in Tasmania to pursue midwifery qualifications without leaving the state. The government emphasises that a local programme should improve retention, strengthen continuity of care, and expand opportunities for specialised midwifery practice. In statements accompanying the announcement, officials framed the reintroduction as part of a wider healthcare workforce agenda focused on safety, accessibility and equity in maternity services.
Photo by Vitaly Gariev
For midwives already working in Tasmania, the re-established university presence is expected to offer clearer routes into advanced practice, clinical leadership and academic research. Stakeholders have argued for years that the absence of such pathways has constrained professional development and discouraged midwives from remaining in the public health sector. The return of a university-level programme is viewed as a means to anchor midwifery more firmly within the state’s health-education infrastructure.
The government also notes that relocating education back to UTAS may reduce financial and logistical barriers for future students. Until now, many Tasmanian trainees have relied on interstate universities for theoretical coursework while organising placement opportunities within Tasmanian hospitals and community services. This hybrid model frequently required juggling competing requirements across two jurisdictions. A single, Tasmania-based programme is expected to streamline supervision, curriculum alignment and clinical scheduling.
Reinstating midwifery education also aligns with the draft Midwifery Matters – Tasmanian Midwifery Workforce Strategy Consultation Draft 2025–2030, which outlines measures to expand and stabilise maternity-care capacity. The strategy calls for coordinated training pipelines, increased professional recognition and improved rural access to maternity care. UTAS’s return to midwifery training is presented as a foundational step toward addressing shortages and meeting projected service needs.
Officials describe the resumption as a “critical investment” in the future of the state’s maternal and newborn health system. Local training is associated with higher rates of long-term workforce participation, especially in regional areas that depend heavily on midwives for continuity of care. Health authorities argue that a sustainable workforce must be built not only through recruitment but also through education that reflects the specific needs of the Tasmanian population.
To support early interest, the government has scheduled online information sessions for November, targeting registered nurses considering postgraduate midwifery studies. Additional details will be shared through UTAS channels and the Department of Health as preparations progress toward the planned June 2026 intake.
The revival of the programme is framed as more than a return to previous structures. It represents an attempt to rebuild a comprehensive, locally grounded midwifery education system that supports care quality, professional development and strategic workforce planning. While implementation will take time, the decision signals renewed political and institutional commitment to midwifery as a core component of Tasmania’s health-care provision.
Source: Tasmanian Government
