Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the success of the New Zealand Partnership Model and how the midwifery curricula has developed to support the midwife of 2030 and beyond. It considers the evidence base on case load held practice and the related health benefits that a continuity of carer and case loading model brings to women and their families. The book then presents the practical tips students require to plan, implement, and evaluate for a case load held midwifery practice. It also considers practical ‘tips’ from the practice supervisor, practice assessor and academic assessor perspectives required to support students in planning, implementing, and evaluating case load held practices. The book discusses the emotional aspects of delivering continuity of carer. It then sets out the student midwife developing expectations versus qualified expectations from the day of their first post.