The University of Tasmania will train midwives for the first time in almost a decade, with recruitment underway for staff to deliver the revived course from mid-2026.
The Graduate Diploma of Midwifery was scrapped in 2016 due to low enrolments, forcing Tasmanians to study interstate while completing clinical placements at home.
UTAS has now appointed a senior lecturer in midwifery to coordinate the program and a nationwide search is underway for a professor of midwifery.
Health Minister Bridget Archer said the state government had partnered with the university to re-establish the course.
“The re-introduction of the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery at the University of Tasmania is the first step in supporting those seeking to become a midwife in our state,” she said.
“This is also an important milestone because it creates the opportunity for broader postgraduate education offerings for our existing midwifery workforce, including research and advanced practice.”
Archer said training midwives locally would improve care for Tasmanian women.
“Growing our own workforce and supporting midwives to work in our maternity services ensures that we can deliver safe, person-centred care, that is accessible, equitable and meets the needs of Tasmanian women,” she said.
Online information sessions for registered nurses interested in the diploma will be held in November.
The course is part of the ‘Midwifery Matters: Tasmanian Midwifery Workforce Strategy Consultation Draft 2025–2030’, released earlier this year.
Tasmania had 645 registered midwives in June, the largest group in the state’s maternity workforce.
