Steph Gilvear completed hands-on midwifery training at Moree hospital, with distance education at Charles Sturt University, to achieve a Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery.

She completed the majority of her training at Moree hospital and attended two residential school programs for one week each at the university campus in Wagga.

Coordinator for the rural midwifery program, Robin Skewes, was impressed with Steph Gilvear’s dedication.

“She’s achieved well in the program for 12 months, which has given her the skills and knowledge to be a competent midwife.

“As a graduate this is just the beginning as you keep on learning forever,” she said.

The program was for registered nurses to gain postgraduate qualifications in midwifery.

Ms Gilvear was inspired to become a midwife after assisting her mother with the birth of her brother.

“I was the support person for mum.

“I helped her with my little brother’s birth, which inspired me to become a midwife,” she said.

Ms Gilvear said the program had provided the best on-the-job training experience she’d ever had.

“I worked closely with hospital midwives to develop relationships with about 15 mums, tracking their progress through pregnancy, birth and postnatal care,” she said.

“It was an amazing experience, and I was able to experience a range of situations, such as natural births, a caesarean section birth and another mum who had a breech birth.

“This course has been great, because it’s allowed me to remain working full time as I upgraded my skills in a hands-on environment. I would like to thank all the staff at Moree hospital’s Maternity Unit for their help,” she said.

She will now work full-time with Hunter New England Health as a midwife for Tamworth and Armidale Hospital’s maternity units.