Midwives should be aware of, and abide by the regulatory and professional standards and codes as set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. In addition the ACM has developed a number of Standards and Guidelines to aid midwives' practice.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Standards and Codes
Regulatory codes and standards are developed and issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. These codes and standards include the:
International Confederation of Midwives Codes & Definitions
In March 2018 the NMBA advised that the ICM Code of Ethics for Midwives would be adopted for ethical decision-making for midwives in Australia.
Associate Professor Lynette Cusack, Chair of the NMBA, said ‘Referring nurses and midwives to the existing international publications is a natural progression as the ICN Ethics and ICM Ethics documents are recognised globally and are contextually relevant for all nurses and midwives in Australia’.
Other ICM definitions include:
- Definition of the Midwife
- Scope of Practice of the Midwife
- Definition of Midwifery
- Philosophy and model of Midwifery Care
- Bill of Rights for Women and Midwives
Australian College of Midwives Standards and Guidelines
Our Standard and Guidelines are designed to support best practice.
Whilst all policies and guidelines are accurate and current at the time of their preparation, each provider must consider relevant information, research and literature which may have been published subsequently.
The following documents have been developed to address specific areas of midwifery practice in consultation with our members and the wider community:
- The Australian College of Midwives Birth at Home Practice Standards (2016)
- The Australian College of Midwives Transfer from Birth at Home Guidelines (2016)
- Scope of Practice for Midwives in Australia (2016)
- Implementing visiting access for Medicare Eligible Midwives (Revised Edition 2015)
- Maternity Emergency Guidelines for Registered Nurses (4th Edition - June 2014)
- National Midwifery Guidelines for Consultation and Referral - 3rd Edition, Issue 2 (2014)
- Social Media for Midwives and Midwifery Students (2014)
Joint Standards and Guidelines
The following documents have been developed to address specific areas of midwifery practice in collaboration with other organisation(s), and in consultation with our members and the wider community: