Dear Nigel & Cathy,
A carpenter is a carpenter ,,,,,,, point taken.
In response I would like to offer you a scenario and some questions.
Please know that this is NOT an argument for or against 'direct entry'.
The questions are genuine and sincere.
Scenario (we'll give the person an alias, "Jennie").
Jennie did her midwifery training in the mid 70's, immediately after her
graduation as a general nurse - a midwife was what she chose to be. During
her 'Midwifery' (in a Sydney hospital) she was blessed with the most
wonderful Midwifery Educator (Jan Robinson - her real name and not an
alias!) who truly taught Jennie what it meant to "be with woman". Jennie
loved being a midwife, and to enhance that role became actively involved in
what was known at the time as Homebirth Australia, Parents Centres
Australia, Childbirth Education Association and Nursing Mothers. Jennie
trained as a Childbirth Educator and moved to outback Australia where she
nurtured, birthed and cared for her three precious children. She only ever
worked a very short period of time after that as a midwife (the baby who
was born on Jennie's last day as a "midwife" would now be 18 years old).
She then worked as a part-time childbirth eductor. Jennie became involved
with working with other women (mostly but not always midwives) who wished
to pursue graduate studies in Childbirth Education - that role continues
for Jennie. In response to community needs Jennie trained as a Child and
Family Nurse, a short time later she and her family moved to another
country town. Jennie continued to work as a Childbirth Educator, she saw
this as an extension of her role as a midwife. She then gained graduate
qualifications in women's health nursing and this role extended further
still. Working full-time as a Women's Health Nurse (and continuing to do
so), Jennie believes that this again is an extension of what she holds in
her heart as truly "being with woman". The women Jennie sees may or may
not be pregnant, for example doestic violence although endemic in
pregnancy, still occurs at other life phases, vaginismus (often of
iatrogenic origin) although common in the post-natal period can also occur
at other times in a woman's life - (by the way, midwives must never presume
that the pregnant woman (including one in a married heterosexual
relationship) is pregnant as a result of heterosexual intercourse - even
pregnant women can be "virgins"). I forgot to mention that Jennie also
completed post-graduate qualifications in sexual counselling. Jennie
occasionally works with midwives e.g. workshops on sexual assault
awareness or sexuality workshops and of course, those who are Childbirth
Education Grad Dip Candidates. If someone were to ask Jennie about her
professional role, she may answer, depending on who and why the person is
asking, that she is a:
- a midwife
- a nurse
- a clinical nurse consultant in women's health
- a childbirth educator
- a PhD candidate
- a women's health nurse.
Let me finally get to my questions Nigel and Cathy, and anyone else who
cares to respond. If a carpenter is a carpenter in the way you portrayed,
then Jennie is not a midwife in the same sense. Does Jennie, in your
opinion, have the right to call herself a midwife? Does she have the
right to sit on Advisory Boards and Curriculum Committees that affect
birthing women and the midwifery profession?
Thanks for ploughing through my scenario and taking the time to respond.
Elaine Dietsch
11 Willow St
Leeton NSW 2705
02 69 533 272
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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