Equipping midwives, nurses and social workers for interprofessional practice to support infants and families experiencing adversity

Introduction: Midwives are core to interprofessional antenatal care for parents experiencing adversities that impact infant health and development. In accordance with Safe and Supported: National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children (2021-2031), professionals should aim to support infants to thrive free from abuse and neglect in their own communities and cultures whenever possible. Interprofessional practice is essential to prevent duplication of services or missed opportunities to support infants at risk of abuse or neglect. Little is known about whether existing undergraduate (preservice) education sufficiently equips midwives, nurses and social workers for interprofessional practice in early intervention and prevention of abuse and neglect.

Methods: The study has several phases. Phase One is an international scoping review of the nature and scope of existing interprofessional education for health professionals related to child protection. The scoping review is followed by Phase Two: surveys and interviews with Australian university educators who provide preservice child protection education to midwives, nurses or social workers. Finally, Phase Three involves collaborative roundtables with key stakeholders to share findings and explore implications for policy, practice, education and research.

Results: Preliminary results of Phase One: scoping review will be presented, with a focus on mapped interprofessional curriculum for midwifery, nursing and social work in Australia.

Conclusions: Midwives are essential to ensuring infants are safe and supported in their own families, communities and cultures. A greater understanding of effective educational interventions that prepare midwives for interprofessional working is required so future graduates are equipped to support all infants to reach their full potential.