Midwife Midwife
Occupation code: 254111（ANZSCO） Skilled migration occupation Overall 7.5/10
Midwives provide antenatal, birth and postnatal care for pregnant women, and are indispensable core healthcare professionals in the Australian medical system. Australia's sustained birth rate growth and midwife shortage keep this profession in long-term high demand; AHPRA-registered midwives can practise independently, with broad career development opportunities.
Ratings · Overall 7.5/10i
In the AI era: what happens to Midwife
AI will play a strong assistive role in midwifery, but core care and clinical decisions remain highly dependent on humans. Midwifery employment outlook is generally positive; AI tools will enhance efficiency and quality, not replace.
- Babylon Health Platform Partial 2020
Replaces part of midwives' prenatal counseling and symptom screening work, such as providing initial advice and urgency assessment based on pregnant women's symptoms like abdominal pain or bleeding.
↗ Data sources
- Automatic entry and organization of routine prenatal electronic records
- Guideline-based routine pregnancy risk assessment report generation
- Automatic Analysis of Birth Monitoring Data and Anomaly Alerts
- AI voice automated outbound calls and basic screening for postpartum follow-up
- Automatic Filling and Coding of Standardized Descriptions in Medical Records
- AI assisted fetal monitoring interpretation to improve anomaly recognition accuracy
- AI-assisted measurement and preliminary diagnosis of prenatal ultrasound images
- AI recommendation for personalized birth plans based on historical data
- AI-driven continuous obstetric education simulation training and skill assessment
- Real-time AI translation and information integration in telemedicine consultations
- Manual assistance maneuvers and emergency judgment in complex deliveries
- Emotional communication, psychological comfort, and education with mothers and families
- Clinical Leadership and Decision-Making in Cross-Disciplinary Team Collaboration
- Rapid clinical reasoning in unpredictable obstetric emergencies
- Sensitive understanding of maternal cultural background and personal preferences
- Operation of AI-assisted diagnostic tools in obstetrics (e.g., smart monitors)
- Clinical data analysis and information system management
- Telehealth consultation and digital health education skills
- Interventional prenatal examination techniques (e.g., ultrasound-guided)
- Cross-cultural communication and psychological support skills
- Simulation training for maternal and infant emergencies and team collaboration
Entry-level job requirements will not increase significantly, but internships may favor candidates skilled in digital health tools, while traditional antenatal record-keeping and data analysis skills are declining in demand.
Midwives should proactively master digital tools like AI-based prenatal screening and remote monitoring, becoming 'technology-enhanced midwives.' Advanced paths include maternal and child health big data analyst, AI obstetric simulation trainer, or clinical midwifery expert through postgraduate degrees, leading AI-assisted decision-making in complex cases.
Salary
| Experience | Annual (AUD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (0–3 years) | $68,000 ~ $85,000 | Graduate/New Grad Midwife |
| Mid-level (3–8 years) | $87,000 ~ $110,000 | Registered Midwife |
| Senior (8+ years) | $112,000 ~ $145,000 | Senior Midwife / Team Leader |
Education Path
| Stage | Duration | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Midwifery (3yr direct entry) | 3 years | $25,000~$45,000 |
| Graduate Entry Midwifery (post-nursing) | 2 years | $20,000~$38,000 |
| AHPRA Registration as Midwife | Apply after graduation | $200~$500 |
Qualifications
| Qualification | Issuer | |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Midwifery | Recognised university | Required |
| AHPRA Registered Midwife | AHPRA | Required |
| Eligible Midwife (Medicare access) | AHPRA / DoH | Optional |
Migration
Occupation classification code: 254111（ANZSCO）
| Visa | Details |
|---|---|
| 482 Skills in Demand | Employer sponsorship available; healthcare shortage occupation |
| 186 ENS | Permanent residency pathway |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | State nomination, healthcare occupations prioritised · ~75 pts competitive cut-off (2025–26, indicative) |
Who it fits
- Passionate about maternal and neonatal care
- Able to handle the high pressure of shift work and emergency situations
- Those seeking independent practice within the healthcare system
- Those unable to manage shift work and night shifts
- Not suited to working in high-pressure, emotionally charged environments
Career outlook
Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) models are expanding rapidly across major hospitals, and caseload midwifery is becoming mainstream practice for improving maternal and infant outcomes. Remote care and digital maternal monitoring technology are providing new ways to deliver midwifery services in regional and remote areas.
As Australian states and territories advance Midwifery-Led Care models, demand for registered midwives is expected to grow steadily from 2025 to 2030. Midwifery services are severely undersupplied in rural and remote areas, and the government offers additional incentives to attract midwives to these locations.
Growth areas：
Midwifery Group PracticeRemote & Rural Birthing ServicesPrivate Midwifery PracticeNeonatal Intensive Care Support
FAQ
Data sources
Salary ranges are estimates aggregated from public listings on Seek, Indeed, Glassdoor and ERI SalaryExpert; employment and demand forecasts cite Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS); visa and migration details follow the latest occupation lists from the Department of Home Affairs and the relevant assessing authorities. Figures are indicative only — always refer to the latest official sources.