Author Identifier (ORCID)
Sarah Hay: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2969-9444
Abstract
Background: Postgraduate midwifery student employment models are lacking robust evaluation of how the paid employment model serves as a workforce strategy in Western Australia. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate a paid employment model for postgraduate midwifery students, that was implemented in metropolitan, rural, and regional areas in a Western Australian context. Methods: A convergent parallel design collected both quantitative and qualitative data. This study used a survey design with quantitative and qualitative questions within a well-established process evaluation framework. Results: All midwifery students reported benefits of the paid model of employment, which included financial stability while studying and feeling valued by belonging to one institution. Challenges were identified as reduced or lack of exposure to some experiences and heavy workloads. Conclusion: The postgraduate midwifery students in this study were positive about the introduction of a paid employment model in the public, private and regional / rural hospital settings. The findings reported negatives and benefits for the students, and for the future workforce.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
9-1-2025
Volume
38
Issue
5
PubMed ID
40911962
Publication Title
Women and Birth
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Geraghty, S., Balding, K., McChlery, S., & Hay, S. (2025). ‘Work while you learn’: Evaluating a paid employment model for postgraduate midwifery students in diverse contexts. Women and Birth, 38(5), 102087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102087