Identifying the midwifery practice component of Australian Midwifery Education Programs. Results of the Australian Midwifery Action Project (AMAP) Education Survey.

This paper is the first in a series of papers reporting on the findings of the AMAP Education Survey of the 27 universities providing a program for initial authorization to practise midwifery. It concentrates on issues related to the practice component of courses. Subsequent papers will present findings related to workforce issues and the barriers to effective midwifery education as identified by the midwifery course coordinators. Serious concerns are raised about the standards of Australian midwifery education, particularly when international comparisons are made, in terms of the length of courses, clinical practice requirements and the opportunities for students to engage with contemporary midwifery practice across community and acute settings.