CQU Rockhampton hosted residentials for midwifery students visiting from throughout Australia and New Zealand.

They are taught within the School of Nursing & Health Studies by Dawn Hay and Barbara Ritchie.

Ms Hay said there are challenges and opportunities ahead for commencing Graduate Diploma of Midwifery Students who come from all over Queensland, interstate and New Zealand.

"The Graduate Diploma of Midwifery is based on the philosophy of midwifery as a women-centred discipline, where midwives are the professionals responsible to provide care to childbearing women," she said.

"Students will not only be challenged to succeed in their studies; they will continue to strive to provide ‘women’ centred care and to support childbearing women who continue to have limited access to maternity services especially in the rural and remote areas of Queensland and Australia, with women being forced to travel long distances to birth their babies.

"A major challenge for student midwives is to gain support while studying in the clinical area particularly at time when there is a gross shortage of midwives and the indemnity crisis for midwives continues to reduce the access to learning opportunities for students.

"The CQU Graduate of Midwifery program’s flexibility meets the needs of students who are busy people with multiple roles and competing responsibilities.

"CQU’s continued strategy is to assist all students' learning experience to be rewarding along with ensuring students are supported throughout their learning.

"CQU provides assistance for this program via email, online support and phone from the Program Coordinator, the Course Coordinators, Administrative and IT support people.".

Photos: CQU's Dawn Hay and Barbara Ritchie with visiting midwifery students.