Growing a Family (11335.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Growing a Family
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Midwifery Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit Band 1 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 1 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit is designed to assist students form woman-centred relationships in the early parenting phase to encourage optimal postnatal physical and psychological health. Students will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to assist women, their partners and support people to integrate their new babies into the family and the community. Students will reflect on ways to encourage women and their families to recognise their right, and to accept their responsibility, to fully participate in their health care.

This unit is co-taught with 11312 Growing a Family PG.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Analyse, understand and apply theory and research in their work with well women, babies and families in order to contribute to healthy parenting;
2. Demonstrate an understanding, from a midwifery perspective, of the experience of mothering and being a family; and
3. Evaluate the knowledge required for working with well women and their babies in the postnatal time.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Skills development

As students of the University of Canberra, you will develop your critical thinking skills, your ability to solve complex problems, your ability to work with others, your confidence to learn independently, your written communication skills, your spoken communication skills and a number of work-related knowledge and skills. 



Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

11312 Growing a Family PG

Equivalent units

7942 Growing a Family

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Marjorie Atchan
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Marjorie Atchan
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

There are no required texts however there are recommended readings

  • Baston, H., & Hall, J. (2017). Midwifery Essentials: Postnatal (2nd edn) Australia: Elsevier 
  • Brodribb, W. (2020). Breastfeeding management, (5th edn). Australia: Australian Breastfeeding Association. 
  • Brown, A. (2016). Breastfeeding uncovered: Who really decides how we feed our babies? London: Pinter & Martin
  • Day, J. (Ed) (2011). Breastfeeding...naturally, (3rd edn.) Australian Breastfeeding Association
  • Johnson, R., Taylor, W., de-Vitry, S. & Bayes, S. (2022). Skills for Midwifery Practice Australia and New Zealand (2nd edn.). Australia: Elsevier 
  • Jordan, S. (2010). Pharmacology for midwives: The evidence base for safe practice (2nd edn)  Basingstoke: Palgrave. RG 
  • Lipsett, R. (Browne, J. Ed.) (2012). Baby Care: Nurturing your baby your way Sydney: Finch Publishing. 
  • Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H. & Dixon, L. (2022). Midwifery Preparation for Practice 5e (5th edn.) Sydney: Elsevier 
  • Palmer, G. (2016). Why the politics of breastfeeding matter London: Pinter & Martin
  • Sharma, A. & Cockerill, H. (2014). Mary Sheridan's From Birth to Five Years. (4th edn). London: Routledge 

There will also be other set and/or suggested readings associated with the weekly topics, provided through e-reserve as required. In addition, you are encouraged to access up to date information from appropriate journals such as:

  • Birth
  • Breastfeeding Review
  • Evidenced Based Midwifery
  • Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health
  • Maternal & Child Nutrition
  • Midwifery
  • Women and Birth

These and other journals are available through the UC Library and the ACT Health Library

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Please note: Artifical intelligence services are not be used for assessment preparation in this unit  

General guidelines for a written paper:

Presentation: Submit in a word document unless otherwise instructed. The pages should be 1.5 line spacing with a 2.5 cm margin on all sides. Pages should be numbered. A cover page is required with unit name, assessment title, date due/submitted, word count. Stuudent ID is permitted, no names.  

Structure: Academic writing style must be maintained throughout the assessments unless otherwise indicated.  

Clarity and Expression: Concepts should be discussed clearly and concisely.  Assessments must demonstrate correct grammatical expression and spelling.  Poor grammar obscures meaning.  It is very useful to ask someone else to proof read your submission to eliminate errors.

Referencing requirements: Students must use the APA method of referencing throughout their assessments. The following useful resource on referencing is available at: http://www.canberra.edu.au/library/research-gateway/research_help/referencing-guides

Returning Assessments and Feedback to students: Assessments will be returned electronically via the unit's Canvas site with feedback attached.

 

Special assessment requirements

Nil 

Supplementary assessment

Nil 

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

Attendance at classes is compulsory in this course, as per the Bachelor of Midwifery curriculum approved by ANMAC in 2018.  This unit is held on campus and in-class attendance is expected. Because we understand that students have multi-rolled lives, occasional seminar absences in the period from the beginning of planned classes until the end of the semester, will be accepted. However, these absences are tolerated based on the expectation that students will seek out information on content and processes which they have missed.  If students miss three or more timetabled seminars the submission of a 500-word synopsis about their learning on the topic/s of any missed sessions may be required.

Required IT skills

The Client Services Division provides campus IT networks for the University, including computers and networked information resources for student use. For students needing help with basic IT skills, training courses are offered by the Client Services Division and some Faculty Resource Centres to help students start using the University online services. For more information please contact the Helpdesk on 6201 5500 or email helpdesk@cts.canberra.edu.au. The Library is also an excellent resource for IT skills related to information searching. 

In-unit costs

You do not have to purchase texts for this unit but as busy students who are also involved in midwifery practice, you may find it most useful to do so. Texts recommended for other units in the Bachelor of Midwifery course are also suitable for this unit.   

Work placement, internships or practicums

Nil 

Additional information

Midwifery is a complex course because of both the theory and practice requirements, so please do not remain quiet if you are worried.  The Unit Convenor and the Course Convenor are here to help you.  We want you to become useful and connected midwives by learning in a supported environment, so please let us know if you feel quite challenged.  Most things can be sorted out quickly and easily if we know.  We will also help with more complex issues.

Announcements: Announcements made at seminars are deemed to be made to the whole group. Important announcements will be repeated on the unit website. Please check the ‘Growing a Family' canvas site and your e-mail for messages at least weekly.

The Midwifery Practice Room (10A02) is available for students for private study, group work and practising skills/tasks when it is not in use for timetabled classes. There is also a dedicated student space on Level A building 10.  

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