Midwifery students' evaluation of midwifery practice experiences in Australia: A national survey

To report the findings of the first 12 months of a national survey of midwifery students' evaluation of midwifery practice experiences in Australia.

Accreditation standards for midwifery programs globally and in Australia, require evidence of monitoring and evaluation of student midwifery practice experiences. In 2022 the National Placement Evaluation Centre was commissioned to measure and enhance the quality of nursing and midwifery practice experiences.

Survey METHODS: A national survey of midwifery students who completed midwifery practice experience in Australia between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.

Midwifery practice experiences (n = 871) were evaluated; most were rostered placements in a maternity unit. Overall, the quality of the clinical learning environment and of learning support were rated highly and 87 % of students were very satisfied with their midwifery practice experiences. Older students and indigenous students rated their midwifery practice experiences lower than younger, non-indigenous students. Higher quality PET-(Midwifery) scores were associated with antenatal placement (p 0.004). Students who were aged 30-39 (p < 0.001) and conducted their placement between 15 and 21 days (p = 0.010) or 29 days and longer (p = 0.029), rated lower than those completing their placement with 1-7 days.

This national study provides benchmark data and valuable insights into the midwifery student practice experiences across Australia. Future research should continue to monitor and ameliorate the nuanced dynamics of participant and placement characteristics, ensuring that all students, regardless of age or background, have access to high-quality, supportive midwifery practice experiences that prepare them for the demands of contemporary midwifery.