MidStart 2025
Applications for 2025 MidStart have now closed
Click here for the MidStart 2025 HandbookHunter New England Health strives to support and engage registered nurses who are passionate about commencing their midwifery journey. We are focused on building partnerships in maternity to achieve the best outcomes for women and their families by building an empowered and motivated workforce of future midwives. With eight locations to choose from throughout our district, we encourage you to choose to commence your midwifery career with Hunter New England Health. We promise to nurture and guide you to become the best midwife you can be.
Meet MidStart Coordinator Belinda Meyers
We have a strong leadership and educational focus with our entire team dedicated to advocating and protecting the art of Midwifery. We aim to nurture our next generation of midwives ensuring families are in safe hands. We would love to welcome you to our Hunter New England Midwifery family.
Meet Student Midwife Meg Gaynor
Being a Midwife to me, means being part of the best day in someone's life and having people trust you to advocate for them when they can't advocate for themselves. I chose John Hunter Hospital as it’s a level six tertiary hospital which means you get exposed to high-risk, high-acuity pregnancies and births. I am three weeks in and so far, it has been full-on but very fulfilling. The course is very well-organised, engaging and enjoyable.
I love living in Newcastle, it’s kind of like a small country town in a big city and the work-life balance is great.
Meet Tamworth's Clinical Midwifery Educator Lurena Smith
I've been a midwife for 31 years and I can't imagine having ever done anything else. I've been educating midwives for 15 years and my role is to educate our future midwives to empower a woman and her family through the transition to parenthood.
Meet Clinical Midwifery Consultant Sarah Whyte
I love being able to provide education opportunities to ensure rural midwives can work to their full scope of practice which is vital in our rural maternity services. It is such a diverse role but one of the most rewarding aspects of my role is being in the birth suite supporting a student midwife to support a woman with the birth of their baby.
Meet Student Midwife Belinda Hinshelwood
I’ve lived and worked at Tamworth Hospital for nearly three years now, so Tamworth is my home. It is such a beautiful place with so much to do for families. I don’t want to work anywhere else.
I was lucky enough to have an amazing birth experience at Tamworth Hospital myself about 2 years ago, I felt supported beyond measure by the midwives and that inspired me to become a midwife so I can support and advocate for the women of our community.
Important Dates and Information
The NSW Health MidStart on-line application process occurs once each year. Consider which Hunter New England Maternity unit/s you would like to undertake your midwifery program with and fill out your preferences accordingly.
We have fabulous clinical midwifery education teams and mentoring programmes that facilitate learning and midwifery experiences throughout your post-graduate training.
See below for some key dates:
21st May 2024: MidStart Applications Open 9am
3rd June 2024: MidStart Applications Close 11:59pm
17th June 2024: Interview invitations sent
1st- 12th July 2024: Interviews will be held
19th August 2024: MidStart recruitment results emailed to candidates
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for MidStart you must be:
- an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident (New Zealand citizens residing in Australia who hold a current Special Category Visa are considered to have permanent residency status)
- a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with the NMBA at the time of application.
Facilities
We will be offering positions in the following HNELHD facilities in 2025 and you can find information on each of these sites updated soon:
- Armidale Hospital
- John Hunter Hospital
- Maitland Hospital
- Manning Hospital, Taree
- Narrabri Hospital
- Tamworth Hospital
- Moree Hospital
- Inverell District Hospital
University Enrolment
The process of enrolling in a postgraduate midwifery program at university is your responsibility and completely separate from MidStart. You need to apply to the university of your choice and pay your own fees.
Enrolment procedures and timelines vary between Hunter New England's three partnering universities that offer an approved postgraduate midwifery program:
Scholarships
As a postgraduate midwifery student, there are a range of scholarships that you may be eligible for.
Scholarships and grants offered by HETI aim to provide equal access to education in areas of need. You can search here for eligible scholarships.
For more information on 2025 scholarships check here.
Employment Contracts
Workplace contract commencement dates are aligned with University Program enrolment and Hospital Orientation Programs and therefore start dates can vary slightly. As a general rule, programs mostly commence early February and early July each year for either 12 months or potential 18-month contracts (facility dependant).
Helpful Links and Contacts
For eligibility enquiries email MOH-Midwifery@health.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 330 933.
For online application technical assistance, contact the Customer Experience Team on 1300 679 367 (Option 3).
For enquiries about training locations, intakes and interview information contact Belinda Meyers at 0439 427 783.
Click here for the link to the 2025 MidStart Application- MidStart: applying for a postgraduate midwifery student position in NSW Health - Careers in nursing and midwifery