Sarah O'Donoghue

My family originates from the gorgeous South Coast in the Illawarra - ‘where the land meets the sea’. Coming from a family of strong women, particularly my mum, I’ve been empowered from young age to envision my ideal future and work hard to get there. I was supported through schooling and particularly during HSC, encouraged to study hard and follow my passions. 

Unknowingly, this led me to study Midwifery. I wanted to enter a workforce where I could empower women - just as my family has empowered me. I was also committed to lifelong learning. With these values in mind, I searched through the UAC guide with determination and stumbled upon Midwifery. I didn’t grow up knowing any midwives but the more I looked into this profession, the more it aligned with my personal philosophies and values. Now, there is nothing else that I can imagine pursuing as a career. 

I am passionate about women’s health and women-centred care. I see health as holistic and the perinatal period as a physiological rite of passage for childbearing women. I believe that all women are entitled to a positive birth experience and access to quality midwifery care. Ideally, I would like to work to ensure that all women have access to continuity of midwifery care, regardless of perceived ‘risk factors’. 

UTS was the best option for studying the Bachelor Midwifery. It has a central location which is easily accessible from Wollongong by train. Additionally, UTS has fantastic facilities, which I saw from Open Day. The labs are awesome and a great way to simulate ‘real world’ clinical scenarios. It was also home to Caroline Homer - a bit of a superstar in the Midwifery world. 

Hands down, the most rewarding part of this course is the opportunity for continuity of care with the women. Midwifery is all about being ‘with woman’ and there is no better way to be ‘with woman’ than through continuity of care. I will always remember the women that I have worked with through pregnancy, birth and beyond. 

You build relationships and trust and you learn so much about yourself in the process. It sounds cliché but you really do learn more from the women than they learn from you. Watching my first continuity of care woman birth her baby was the moment I realised that women are capable of anything and have all the tools they need within them. I still get emotional at every birth witnessing a woman become a mother - there is nothing in the world quite like it. 

Personal growth is a definite side effect of studying midwifery. Through studying at UTS, I have become confident in who I am and what I believe in. I have learnt that I, like the women in my care, am stronger than I think. I have had the opportunity to speak at the Australian College of Midwives National Student Conference about issues that matter to me and facilitate real change. Conversely, I have also learnt how to deal with problems. I have learnt to be calm and level-headed in emergency situations. I have learnt that you cannot control everything and that it is important to surrender to the process and go where life takes you. 

In my immediate future, I hope to obtain a position as New Graduate Midwife. I see myself working within continuity of care models such as Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) or Private Midwifery Practice. I am interested in further study in the future. Research is often the way we see tangible change and after some experience in the field, this is definitely something that I am interested in. As a future midwife, my ultimate goal is always to advocate for women and ‘hold the space’ for them. 

My advice for future students is to dive right in! The world of midwifery is vast and full of opportunities. When you are on your clinical placement, watch the midwives that you are working with and learn from them. Don’t be afraid to talk to them, ask them questions and pick their brains. Everyone was a student once and they will appreciate that you are engaged with your learning.

Open yourself up to possibilities. For some, this may look like joining the Australian College of Midwives and attending conferences. For others it may look like attending CalmBirth practitioner training and opening yourself up to that world. Find what works for you and be open to opportunities that come your way. But don’t forget: have fun with the course and hold onto your ‘why’- your reason for wanting to be a midwife. 

Find out more about Midwifery at UTS.