Jennifer Green
Experiencing the wonder of pregnancy and birth is such a privilege to be a part of
I’m originally from the UK and I moved to Australia with my husband nearly eight years ago when I was pregnant with my first child. Before studying midwifery, I was lucky enough to enjoy a successful and varied career. I was originally a dancer and then I worked in television production management.
I wanted to study midwifery because I’ve always been interested in the healthcare profession. I come from a family of healthcare professionals, my mother was a nurse, my father a GP and my sister a clinical psychologist. I first discovered my passion for Midwifery during my pregnancy with my first child. Once I became a mother, my focus and goals shifted and I was no longer fulfilled working in a corporate environment. The care I received and the whole experience was life changing in so many ways, as it is for all women. At first I thought it was just a “baby phase” but seven years later the passion was still there. Seven years later, I was working in a projects and operations role with my youngest child who was nearly ready to start school was when I decided to apply for the course, I needed to make a change!
The most rewarding aspect of this course is the clinical placements and the continuity of care experience. This experience is the whole reason why I chose this path and became a midwife. Being able to experience and participate firsthand in the wonder of pregnancy and birth is indescribable; it is such a privilege to be a part of. In fulfilling this compulsory element of the course, we are able to develop professional and rewarding relationships with women and their families, and by doing so, provide valuable support to them throughout their pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period.
This course has enabled me to develop more confidence in my abilities as a student. It has been many years since I last studied. I was concerned about my capacity to succeed academically. But with the support of my lecturers and fellow students, I started to believe in myself. Belonging to a small cohort means I really get to know my peers. We all provide each other with much needed support during those challenging times throughout the year.
As a mother and a career changer, studying with a young family provides its challenges and I’m still finding new ways to manage this. Learning to be present and find time for myself amidst the busy times of study, placement and family is challenging, however this is something that I am committed to and will continue to develop throughout my studies and beyond. Becoming a mother and experiencing pregnancy, birth and early motherhood has definitely helped me in my journey into midwifery. If nothing more it was my personal journey that opened my eyes to my future career and has allowed me to develop a level of empathy during my training.
My assessments are a mix of writing academic essays and reports, working with a group of students on a presentation or exams. Many assessments allow you to develop a deeper understanding of midwifery by allowing you to develop practical knowledge that will prove very valuable in the years ahead. The workload and assessments are quite extensive during semester and the assessments are definitely challenging, however there are such long breaks between semester which gives you plenty of time to reconnect with your life outside of university. Whenever I’ve been stuck, my lecturers have been very supportive. UTS HELPS is also easily accessible to students.
My degree has definitely taken me on new paths. I am a student member of the Australian College of Midwives [opens external site] and have enjoyed participating in the inspiring events and information sessions they offer. I have also thoroughly enjoyed working as a Student Promotional Representative of UTS (SPROUT). I have great pride in engaging with future students and sharing my story to help encourage them to follow their dream and overcome the sometimes challenging logistics involved with study.
Looking forward, I’m hoping to complete my degree and become a registered midwife. Working with women and their families and truly making a difference to their experience of care is paramount to me and I’m excited for the future. I’m quite sure I’ll also consider postgraduate study in the future. Studying for me has opened both my mind and my heart and I look forward to discovering where further study can take me. Perhaps I will combine my existing management and operational experience with my midwifery knowledge and truly make a difference.
Advice I would share with future students who are thinking about embarking on this degree is to immerse yourself in your studies with good planning and an open mind. Midwifery is such a rewarding and important career that requires genuine passion and dedication. Be sure to be committed in your chosen degree and embrace every opportunity presented to you. Be kind to yourself, it is not always easy, and never be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
