Provision of private practice as a learning environment for midwifery students

The availability of midwifery led continuity of care models within health services or via home birth with a known midwife creates an opportunity for midwifery students to be placed with midwives to experience continuity of care for women in such models. In some States and Territories of Australia, however not Queensland, midwifery led continuity of care models including home birth are available through public health services.The literature is clear that home birth for low risk women is a viable and safe choice for women (The National Institute for Health Care and Excellence, 2014). It is suggested midwifery students undertake clinical experience with planned home birth (Vedam et al., 2009). CQUniversity was offered placements for midwifery students in midwifery models of care that included home birth. However, CQUniversity was unable to secure indemnity insurance to cover midwifery students for the intra-partum care component at home in these placements.Research via a quantitative survey to investigate options for midwifery students to undertake clinical placement with independent practicing midwives attending home births was undertaken. This research was to ascertain if universities within Australia provided clinical placement for midwifery students in planned home birth and if so what indemnity insurance arrangements were in place. This presentation will explore the issue, disseminate the findings of the research undertaken and discuss a governance plan. This research has implications for educators in midwifery programs nationally.