W6 - Supporting the successful transition of new graduate midwives into MGP models: together through a mentor-mentee skills workshop

Abstract

To increase support for New Graduate Midwives (NGM) to transition into Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) models. This workshop is tailored to increase awareness of the skills and information often identified by both new graduate midwives and the midwives supporting them, during their transition into MGP. The workshop covers modules relating to skill consolidation for new graduate midwives, improving communication through scenario-based learning, realising strategies for self-care and fostering mentor-mentee partnerships. A certificate of participation will be awarded at completion of the workshop. Internationally there is a need to increase the number of opportunities for new graduates to transition to midwifery continuity of care models. Australian research has found new graduate midwives are well prepared and well supported to transition directly to midwifery continuity of care models, however health services are challenged to employ new graduates into these models. The new graduate midwives require the right support to transition to the continuity of care models and ongoing support. In New Zealand the first year of practice program supports new graduate midwives to transition to a continuity of care model through mentoring. Implementation and scale up of midwifery continuity of care is slow due to a number of reasons. Staffing the midwifery continuity of care models has been identified as a barrier to widespread expansion. An Australian workshop has been created to enable the transition of NGM’s into midwifery continuity of care. The workshop includes mentoring together with new graduate skill consolidation. The mentor midwives are instrumental to ensuring the smooth transition of new graduates to these models and have been found to support the sustainability of midwifery continuity models through adequate staffing.