title: The introduction of 'direct entry' midwifery courses in Australian universities: issues, myths and a need for collaboration.
abstract: This paper identifies some of the issues within the debate regarding the introduction of 'direct entry' midwifery education in Australia. It addresses questions that have been raised around terminology; the current midwifery education system; whether midwives also need to be nurses; how nurses who want to become midwives might enter the same programme with recognition of prior learning; and whether 'direct entry' midwifery education should become a mainstream option. A case is made for a collaborative initiative to consider all aspects of developing a national framework for Bachelor of Midwifery programmes.
authors.affiliation: Flinders University, Adelaide, SA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leap
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004518:Education, Professional, Retraining / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000193:education*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012570:School Admission Criteria