February 24, 2004

Curriculum Advisory Committee gives the thumbs up

Last night we had a meeting of our Curriculum Advisory Committee for the Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education. It is a select bunch, each member representing one of the stakeholder groups involved in prenatal education: Hospital Administration, Co-ordinators of Parenting Programs for hospitals, the Australian College of Midwives Inc, the National Association of Childbirth Educators (NACE) , the student body and last (but by no means least), Maternity Coalition - representing the users of maternity services.

We had a very productive meeting, reporting on the current standing of the Course, reviewing the Handbooks and Study Program and generally discussing the role this Course plays in the childbirth scene in Australia. A number of suggestions were made regarding improvements to the Study Program and Handbook - it is always very helpful to have others with working knowledge of the scene cast and eye over these materials.

The need for nationally accepted Competencies for Childbirth Educators was also discussed. Next time our Course is accredited (in five years) we will be required to relate our Course to stated Competencies, which at this time, don’t exist in this country. Given the complexity, cost and time that will be required to establish these and have them approved, I feel that Birth International will have to undertake the work involved, at least initially. The first steps will be a consultative process with stakeholders and discovering the process set down by the Vocational Educational Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) for the approval of Competency Standards. I am told it is a very bureaucratic and expensive process, so I can’t wait to get started (!!). It will probably take years, so we will have to begin soon.....

Once Competency Standards are in place it will be easier for other providers, and ourselves, to develop short courses and training programs that are clearly related to specific Competencies. There will also be incentives for educators to undertake training as modules will assessable and count towards other accredited courses they may undertake. For hospitals, who are increasingly demanding higher educational standards for their staff and proven qualifications for their own accreditation, it will be easier for them to set standards for their prenatal programs.

The meeting ended on a high note with the group congratulating us on the high standard of this Course. Naturally we are always wanting to do better, but it was clear from their feedback that what we are offering now is way ahead of anything else available in Australia (and I suspect, the rest of the world). It is good to know this.

Posted by andrea at February 24, 2004 03:36 PM

Comments

Hhhi Andrea,
Great to read what's happening around the globe as you travel.
I have quite a few peole here in the Emirates who are keen to do your Chhildbirth course ( it's taken a long tome to convince people that there are better ways of birthing nthan on a bed!!!).
Anyway if you have time drop me a line and let me know how to get it started aand what to do.
Cheers Bridget

Posted by: Bridget Roache on February 28, 2004 02:42 PM