Revised information for registered nurses and midwives practising in MCFH

News

14 Jul 2025

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has published an updated Fact Sheet: Information for registered nurses and midwives: Practice in maternal child and family health roles. The fact sheet provides guidance to registered nurses and midwives seeking to expand their scope of practice into a maternal, child and family health role.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Chair Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey AM said that the NMBA recognises that both registered nurses or midwives with appropriate knowledge, skill and education can broaden their scope of practice in maternal, child and family health roles.

‘Nurses and midwives obtain qualifications and develop expertise throughout the course of their careers, and safe, evidence-based care is paramount, especially when entering new areas of practice.’ She said.

‘This fact sheet provides clarity for registered nurses and midwives looking to broaden their scope in this area.’

Key points from the fact sheet include:

Practice in maternal, child and family health roles require both registered nurses (RN) and/or midwives to broaden their individual scope of practice.
Scope expansion may only occur within the contemporary scope of a RN and/or midwife’s respective profession and where the standards for practice support the RN and/or midwife performing the activities.
Application of the Decision-making framework for nursing and midwifery (DMF) and the Midwife standards for practice support that midwives without a nursing qualification may broaden their scope of practice to practise in maternal, child and family health roles when certain considerations (as described in the DMF) are addressed.
Employers are responsible for ensuring their employees are suitably qualified and have the appropriate knowledge and skill to safely provide maternal, child and family health care within their service.

The NMBA recognises that safe and effective professional practice in a maternal, child, and family health role requires postgraduate knowledge and skills for both RNs and midwives. It is expected that nurses and midwives are educated and competent in their specific area of practice and hold the skills required to provide safe, person-centred, and evidence-based care.

The NMBA‘s approved registration standards, codes, guidelines, and standards for practice together form the Professional Practice Framework (PPF). The PPF determines the requirements and expectations which guide the professional practice of nurses and midwives in Australia.

The NMBA has fact sheets on the Scope of practice and capabilities of nurses and Scope of practice and capabilities of midwives to guide nurses and midwives in their practice. They also guide employers, private and public health services, and other health practitioners, on the varying roles and scope of practice of nurse and midwives.

The Decision Making Framework supports nurses and midwives to make decisions in practice, particularly about scope of practice.

The fact sheet is available here.