Apart from a HUGE emphasis on Communication and interpersonal skills I believe there should be an competency element related to the graduate being able to demonstrate continued self-assessment.
Management of professional practice should include some element relating to ..... Reflecting on self and practice to identify areas for personal and professional growth ....
I make this comment because many of my clients who have attended preparation programs available in their local area do not have their needs met. Further, there is no in-built mechanism provided by the local educator to ensure he/she gets feed back about the alleged lack of information or provision of outdated information. Unless the couple actually sits down and writes a letter expressing their concerns - future sessions continue to provide unsuitable, un-researched or biased information.
While I am not suggesting that graduates of your course conduct their practices in this manner, I have used this opportunity to place these comments on the list so that concerned childbirth educators on the list may comment on the need to have some NACE competency standards set to raise the general level of professionalism amongst Australian childbirth educators.
Would love to see some debate on this topic.
Jan
Jan Robinson Independent Midwife Practitioner
National Coordinator Australian Society of Independent Midwives
8 Robin Crescent South Hurstville NSW 2221 Phone/Fax: 02 9546 4350
e-mail address: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> website: www.midwiferyeducation.com.au
When our Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education comes up for re-accreditation in 2008, we have been advised that the Course will have to measured against VETAB endorsed competency standards for childbirth educators.
At the present time, no such standards exist and they will have to be established. We are offering (obliged?) to undertake this process but would welcome input from everyone. Please read the Diary entry I have written on this topic http://www.birthinternational.com/diary/index.html and feel free to give us your ideas/input.
We are going to start now on this process as it will take quite a while to have the work completed and the VETAB endorsement in place before 2008.
Regards,
Andrea
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Andrea Robertson
Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
web: www.birthinternational.com
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