ACM Membership Welcome Guide

The Australian College of Midwives (ACM) was founded nationally in 1984 by a group of passionate, forward thinking midwives, who wanted to create a strong single voice for midwifery and to support evidence based maternity care for women and babies across the country.

ACM has a clear vision to enable strong and confident midwives by positioning and profiling midwifery as the primary profession for quality maternity care through advocacy, CPD and support. We support you in your professional development by providing access to learning activities and opportunities for you to meet other midwives. We welcome your involvement, whether it is by participating in a workshop, presenting your ideas or experiences at a conference, commenting on our draft policies, guidelines and position statements, or simply by contacting us to let us know what’s important to you.

All the information you need about our upcoming events and opportunities can be found on our website. Log into your member portal to access discounts on events and education and keep a record of your CPD activities.

Your membership benefits:

Continual Professional Development (CPD) Support:

• Access all your CPD hours through regular live webinars and a library of over 100 hours of content.
• Enjoy FREE eLearning courses and virtual events for ongoing learning.
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• Stay Informed and Engaged:

• Stay current with best practices in midwifery through a digital subscription to Women and Birth Journal.
• Receive the Australian Midwifery News magazine at your doorstep, keeping you connected to the latest trends.

Professional Advancement:

• Nurture your professional growth with discounted access to our Leadership Series and Midwifery Practice Review.
• Unlock opportunities with ACM scholarships, Honours, and Awards.

Career Opportunities and Networking:

• Network with other midwifery professionals at National and State conferences.
• Join your local branch committee, attend social events, and workshops to network and learn from experienced midwives, fostering mentorship.

An ACM membership also benefits the midwifery profession!

Membership with ACM not only offers a spectrum of advantages to you the member but also to the midwifery profession.

Firstly, it fosters continuous professional development through access to educational resources, workshops, and conferences. These avenues enable members to expand their knowledge base, stay updated with the latest practices, and enhance their skills, directly contributing to elevated standards of care in midwifery.

Secondly, ACM membership provides a platform for networking and collaboration among midwives. This interconnectedness strengthens the profession by facilitating knowledge-sharing, peer support, and opportunities for professional growth. Additionally, ACM offers various tools and resources that aid in career advancement, such as job listings, access to Midwifery Practice Review and guidance in navigating career pathways. These provisions enable members to excel in their careers, contributing to the overall progression and recognition of the midwifery profession.

Finally, ACM serves as a unifying force for midwives, consolidating their voices and concerns into a collective advocacy effort. By representing a significant body of professionals within the midwifery field, ACM possesses the capacity to influence policy changes and drive advancements that benefit both midwives and the individuals they serve. Through its membership base, ACM gathers diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise, creating a robust platform for advocating on behalf of midwives. This united front enables the organisation to engage with policymakers, governmental bodies, and healthcare institutions to address crucial issues affecting the profession. These issues could range from advocating for improved working conditions to influencing policies that enhance the scope of midwifery practice or promote evidence-based care. Moreover, ACM collaborates with key stakeholders in healthcare, education, and government sectors to initiate dialogues, research initiatives, and campaigns that aim to elevate the status of midwifery and improve maternal and newborn health outcomes. This collaborative approach amplifies the impact of advocacy efforts, garnering attention and support from various quarters.

By harnessing the collective voice of midwives, ACM acts as a catalyst for change, striving to shape policies and advancements that not only strengthen the profession but also positively impact the quality of care provided to women, newborns, and families across Australia.

Education

We know that access to CPD is a big part of the reason you've joined ACM, so ensuring we give you what you want is important to us! This includes offering education on as many different topics as possible and in as many different ways as possible. If there's something you'd like to learn, it's likely there are others who feel the same. Get in touch with us via [email protected] and we'll do our best to add it to our production schedule.

Along with two live webinars a month, ACM membership gives you access to ACM's webinar library with 100+ hours of content. Watch what you like, when you like and have your CPD hours automatically logged in your member portal.

We also have an ever growing catalogue of short eLearning courses, many of which are free to members.

Click on the links below to explore:

Webinar Library

eLearning Courses

ACM Branches 

ACM is a network of branches around Australia, supported by a National Office. Your local ACM branch is your link to a supportive network of local midwives. Join them for fun social events throughout the year as well as educational opportunities like workshops and seminars with keynote speakers of interest to the local group. Branches represent ACM’s core values, promote the value of midwifery care to the community and the value of ACM to midwives. Get involved with your local branch as much or as little as you like. Join the branch executive and volunteer your time organising events and get togethers or just come along to chat, share your views and make new friends.
There is at least one ACM branch in each State and Territory of Australia and many more are forming all the time- get in touch with us if you'd like to start one in your local area!

Midwives Share

Midwives Share is our online community where you can share in discussions about many different topics, ask a question or start a conversation.

It is a private community only accessed by ACM members so you can feel safe sharing new knowledge, learning new things and helping others.

Access the portal using the same log in and your ACM account.

New Member FAQs:

How do I update my password?

In your member portal, go to the 'My Preferences' tab and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

How do I change my email address?

You can edit your email in the contact details section of 'My Profile'. Updating your email address here will change where our emails are sent but it will not update your username. For this you need to contact the membership team via email or phone so we can update that for you.

How do I store/update my payment details?

If you pay monthly, your payment details are stored at the same time you pay your first invoice. If you pay annually, you can choose whether or not to store your details at the time of payment. To update your stored card details, go to My preferences-Automatic Renewal-View Membership- Payment Option-
Add a new payment option.

Are all webinars free?

Live webinars are free to all however only ACM members can access the recordings in our webinar library. There are now over 100 hours of content in the webinar library.

Are virtual events recorded?

Yes. All virtual event registrants are given access to a recording of the event shortly after it occurs.

How do I access the webinars or virtual events I have registered for?

You will be sent a link directly from zoom. Follow the link to join in live.
For access after the event you can log into your account, go to the 'Professional Development' tab at the top of the page. Click on 'Webinar Library' and search for the one you wish to watch. Click on the title and you will be taken directly to the recording.

Is my CPD automatically added to my account?

CPD hours for ACM events are automatically added to your account and will be visible in the 'My CPD' tab of your member portal.
You can also manually add any CPD for external events on the same page.

How do I get my discount on ACM events?

Go to the 'Professional Development' tab at the top of the page and select 'Events & Webinars' to search for an event you'd like to attend. Ensure you are logged in and your discount will be applied automatically.

How do I access the Women and Birth journal online?

1. Go to www.womenandbirth.org/claim/activate.
2. If you have already registered, log in by entering your username and password. If you have
   not yet registered: click on Create Account.
3. At the Registration page, provide the requested information and password. When finished,
   click Register at the bottom to continue.
4. On the next screen, check the box, “I receive my subscription through a society
   membership”. Enter your email address as your Membership/ Account Number. This email must
   be the same one you use to log into the ACM website.
5. Click Activate Claim. You should now have access to full-text content of for Women and
Birth which can be found at www.womenandbirth.org.

Please contact our membership team on [email protected] if you need further assistance.