Co-designing a resilience-based mentoring program for novice midwives: A participatory action research approach

To co-design a resilience-based mentoring program for novice midwives in Western Australia, informed by the experiences of past midwifery graduates and the perspectives of midwives in senior roles.

Effective workforce planning and retention strategies are essential in preventing the continued loss of midwives and in attracting newly qualified midwives to healthcare organisations. Transitioning from student to registered midwife is a known period of vulnerability that requires structured, evidence-informed support.

A Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach was adopted to collaboratively develop a mentoring program tailored to the transition needs of newly qualified midwives.

Fourteen participants contributed to the study: seven midwives in senior roles with experience in graduate support and mentoring programs and seven midwifery graduates from both public and private sectors. Two rounds of focus groups were conducted with stakeholders and recent graduates. Data were analysed thematically using open, selective and theoretical coding. Findings from the analysis were used to inform the design and content of the mentoring program.

Key elements identified as essential for novice midwife support included extended orientation, consistent mentorship, emotional support, professional development opportunities and structured feedback. A mentoring program was co-designed with a focus on building emotional resilience through strategies aligned with Southwick's resilience framework.

An evidence-based, stakeholder-informed mentoring program can support novice midwives' professional identity, emotional wellbeing and confidence, leading to improved retention and service outcomes. By addressing early-career vulnerabilities, such a program offers a cost-effective, scalable solution to strengthening the midwifery workforce and meeting future service demands.