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We’re excited to announce a lineup of expert presenters, including:

• Dr Samantha Sevenhuysen, Director of Education and Training at Peninsula Health, Aimee Churcher and Melanie Oliver presenting on Implementing the Clinical Education Capability Framework.

This session will introduce participants to the healthcare educator capability framework, which was designed to articulate the scope of educational practice in a healthcare setting and provide a stepped pathway to developing capability for those specialising in healthcare education. Following the introduction to the framework, we will share our experiences as team leaders and individuals using the framework to support professional development.

• Professor Gabby Brand, Director of Graduate Research, Monash University School of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
• James Bonnamy, Research Fellow and teaching associate, Monash University School of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Gabby and James will be presenting on Whose knowledge is of value in health professional education? Introduction to co-designing health-professional education.

This topic will be facilitated by Professor Gabrielle Brand and James Bonamy, experts in co-designing health professions education. The session will introduce the five core principles and benefits of co-design, with a focus on how health professional educators can collaborate with consumers, students, and colleagues to shape more responsive and meaningful education. Through practical examples, you will explore strategies to integrate lived experience and expertise into your own midwifery education. The event aims to build your knowledge, skills, and confidence in aligning your education with consumer and community needs.

• Dr Olivia Tierney, Senior Midwifery Advisor at the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, presenting on Reimagining the Midwifery Student Continuity of Care Experience: objectives, outcomes and impact.

This presentation shares findings from my PhD research, which explored the midwifery student Continuity of Care Experience (CoCE) learning model. Through qualitative and quantitative inquiry, the research defined standardised learning objectives and determined measurable learning outcomes for midwifery students. These outcomes provide a framework to inform curriculum design, guide clinical educator support, and offer a benchmark for assessing student learning achievement. The session will highlight implications for clinical education practice and invite discussion on embedding evidence-informed learning into midwifery programmes.

• Professor Allison Cummins, Head of Midwifery at the University of Newcastle, presenting on Supporting and Enabling Students and Graduate Midwives in Continuity of Care Models.

The aim of this presentation is to provide an overview of an evidence informed workshop for the transition of new graduate midwives into midwifery continuity of care models.  The workshop includes the following activities, overview of the research that informed the program, workshop on the characteristics of a good buddy /mentor giving and receiving feedback, what a typical day looks when working in a midwifery continuity of care model, professional boundaries, how to manage skill consolidation and maintaining a work/life balance.  

• Gracie Borg, Midwifery Educator, Blacktown Hospital presenting on Innovative models of Midwifery Professional Placement Experiences

I will be speaking about current student models at Blacktown Hospital/ WSLHD -
Continuity of Student of Midwifery Care (COSMiC)- A student led model of continuity of care that aims to emulate the core principles of caseload or Midwifery Group Practice (MGP). The students recruit a cohort of women and provides antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care to meet their COMC requirements.
Collaborative Learning in Practice (CLiP). A postnatal model of student support utilising coaching and collaborative supervision of students in the clinical setting. Learners of varying year groups work together and are encouraged to take the lead in their practice. As a team they care for their own patient group and learning is supported through individually identified daily learning goals.

• Prof Cath Chamberlain, CATSINaM’s Chief Midwifery Officer, presenting on Culturally safe education to support a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwifery workforce

For thousands of generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies have received holistic care during pregnancy, birth and beyond, grounded in culture. Culturally safe education and health care environments are critical for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives to be able to practice in our ways of knowing, being and doing, and growth, strengthen and retain our workforce, and to improve provision of culturally safe care more generally within organisations.  
This presentation will explore CATSINaM's leadership,  advocacy and programs of work to ensure culturally safe midwifery education and build the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwifery workforce. 

• Dr Lisa McKenna, Director of the Health Professions Clinical Education Unit at La Trobe University and Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Simulation in Nursing, presenting on The INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice®.

The INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice® were designed to advance the science of healthcare simulation, promote best practice, and provide evidence-based guidelines for practice and development of high quality simulation. This presentation will offer an overview and history of the standards and associated resources for delivering high quality healthcare simulation.

• Christine Catling, Conjoint Professor of Midwifery Research between UTS and NSLHD and an NHMRC Research Fellow, presenting on Bringing Clinical Supervision into the workplace

This session explores the integration of Clinical Supervision into everyday workplace practice, highlighting its value in enhancing professional development and supporting staff wellbeing. Participants will gain an understanding of the different models of supervision, practical strategies for implementation, and how to foster a culture that supports reflective practice. The session will include interactive discussions and real-world examples to help attendees identify opportunities and overcome barriers to embedding supervision within their teams.

• Lynelle Moran, Midwifery Lecturer and PhD Candidate, Australian Catholic University, presenting on Teaching and Learning through Journal Club.

In this presentation, Lynnelle will share insights from her extensive experience in facilitating VaJournal Club and will discuss the broad reaching benefits of discussing and unpacking emerging research. Lynnelle will share practical strategies about getting started, article choice, the role of the moderator, creating safe and inclusive spaces for discussion, and how journal clubs can become a valuable place to:

• form and cultivate connection amongst colleagues
• enhance clinical practice and critical thinking
• identify meaningful ways to respond to systemic challenges
• build confidence in translating evidence to practice

Be part of this inspiring closing event that celebrates the impact of clinical education and empowers you to shape the next generation of midwives.

Dr Samantha Sevenhuysen

Sam Sevenhuysen is the director of education and training at Peninsula Health and an adjunct associate professor in the school of nursing and midwifery at Monash University. Sam is a physiotherapist by background and completed her PhD focused on clinical education practices in the workplace. Sam has a special interest in capability development, not only as an educator but also having been involved in the statewide implementation of the allied health credentialing, competency and capability framework.

Aimee Churcher

Aimee is an experienced Registered Midwife with 16 years of practice across the full continuum of maternity care. In 2023, she transitioned into clinical education, beginning as a Clinical Support Midwife and quickly advancing to the role of Clinical Midwifery Educator while completing a Bachelor of Nursing (Honours). Aimee now leads the Women’s and Children’s Education stream, where she is passionate about fostering capability and confidence in midwifery teams through evidence-informed education and collaborative learning.

Melanie Oliver

Mel is a Clinical Midwifery Educator with 15 years of experience working as a midwife in a public hospital in Melbourne. After spending two years as a Clinical Support Midwife, she stepped into her current role in 2023. Mel supports midwifery staff through education and professional development and coordinates student placements and support for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. She is also currently studying a Master of Advanced Midwifery at Monash University, further building on her passion for education and supporting the next generation of midwives.

James Bonnamy

James Bonnamy is a Registered Nurse, Research Fellow, Teaching Associate, and PhD Candidate at Monash Nursing and Midwifery, where he bridges the worlds of research, education, and clinical practice. Alongside his academic roles, he works as an Afterhours Hospital Coordinator, bringing frontline experience into every facet of his work. James is known for his collaborative approach to education, co-designing teaching and learning activities with consumers and community members to create authentic and impactful clinical learning experiences. He teaches across nursing, midwifery, paramedicine, and pharmacy, reflecting his commitment to breaking down silos in health professional education. A cancer survivor himself, James draws on lived experience to fuel his passion for ensuring that consumer and community voices are not only heard but embedded at the heart of health professions education. His career is driven by the belief that healthcare is strongest when shaped by those who live it.

Professor Gabrielle Brand

Gabrielle Brand is a Professor at Monash Nursing and Midwifery. Gabrielle has established her research career in narrative medicine, health humanities, and creative and critical pedagogy with a focus on co-designing health professional education with healthcare consumers. She leads a program of research called Depth of Field, a body of health humanities research that draws on healthcare consumers' voice (narrative) and art (narrative artefacts & visual methodologies) to co-design strengths-based, consumer driven resources for widespread use in health professional workforce education.

Dr Olivia Tierney

Dr. Olivia Tierney (PhD) is the Senior Midwifery Advisor within the Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Division. She brings extensive expertise in midwifery and nursing, covering areas such as operational and strategic leadership, management, policy development, workforce planning, research, and education. Dr. Tierney holds a PhD in Midwifery, with her research focusing on continuity of care models in midwifery and student education. Throughout her career, she has primarily worked in regional and rural healthcare settings, where she has led innovative approaches to midwifery practice and professional development. She has also led statewide initiatives aimed at advancing midwifery practice and workforce models. Her diverse background combines clinical experience with strategic and operational leadership, fueling her passion for advancing midwifery practice on both regional and national levels.

Professor Allison Cummins

Professor Allison Cummins is a Life Member of the Australian College of Midwives and is committed to supporting the College in its mission to support the profession. As Head of Midwifery at the University of Newcastle, her research and teaching focus on equipping students for the transition to practice through research-informed curricula and structured transitional experiences. These initiatives recognise the value of graduates’ recent, relevant knowledge and aim to foster sustainable practice within midwifery continuity of care models.

Professor Cummins’ leadership and advocacy for Australian midwifery are reflected in her national roles, including her appointment as Midwifery Director on the Board of the Australian College of Midwives (2020–2024) and her tenure as Chair of the Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium (2022). She also contributes to the advancement of midwifery scholarship as an Associate Editor of Women and Birth International (WOMBI), a Q1-ranked journal and the leading publication globally in the field of midwifery.

Gracie Borg

Midwifery Educator, Blacktown Hospital. I am a passionate and experienced midwife who has had an extensive career working in all areas of midwifery. I have a strong focus on woman centred care and midwifery education. I work closely with students, new graduates, and university partners to ensure and foster a supportive educational environment to facilitate clinicians to be able to learn and grow into excellent midwives. I am also committed to safe and high-quality midwifery care.

Professor Catherine Chamberlain

Professor Catherine Chamberlain is CATSINaM’s Chief Midwifery Officer, providing expert leadership to advance the visibility, voice, and influence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives and maternity care across Australia.

Professor Chamberlain advises the CEO, Board, and Leadership & Advocacy team on national and jurisdictional midwifery and maternity strategies in this role. She represents CATSINaM in high-level forums, offering specialist insight on the midwifery workforce, education, and culturally safe maternity care.

Professor Chamberlain leads strategic engagement with external partners, chairs midwifery committees and working groups, and supports the development of key policy and advocacy materials. She also mentors CATSINaM staff involved in midwifery and maternity initiatives, helping embed culturally safe, trauma-aware, and healing-informed approaches throughout the organisation’s work.

Professor Lisa McKenna

Professor Lisa McKenna is Director of the newly established Health Professions Clinical Education Unit and Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at La Trobe University where from January 2017- March 2025, she was Dean. Lisa is a Registered Nurse and Midwife with postgraduate qualifications in business administration, education and history. She has extensive experience in nursing, midwifery and health professional education and research. From 2014-2022, Lisa was Editor in Chief of Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research. From 2024, she has been Editor in Chief of Clinical Simulation in Nursing, the journal of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).

Christine Catling

Christine has been a midwife for 30 years. Currently she is the Conjoint Professor of Midwifery Research between UTS and NSLHD and an NHMRC Research Fellow investigating Clinical Supervision and its ability to support midwives. Previous roles include Director of Midwifery Studies and Discipline Lead within the Faculty of Health at UTS, Research Fellow with the UTS-based World Health Organization Collaborating Centre, Research Assistant within the Centre for Health Services Management and Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, Clinical Midwifery Consultant at St George Hospital, clinical midwife and antenatal educator. She is the immediate past co-lead of the Maternal and Women’s Clinical Academic Group for SPHERE (2019-2023).

Lynnelle Moran

Lynnelle is currently a midwifery lecturer at Australian Catholic University and is a strong advocate for the midwifery profession, and those within it. Lynnelle has worked in multiple practice settings and midwifery models of care, most recently as part of a Midwifery Group Practice providing both hospital and home birth care. In 2016, after witnessing the impacts of working in a fractured system, Lynnelle formed VaJournal Club. Now in its 9th year, VaJournal Club continues to regularly bring together midwives from a wide range of practice settings to discuss and debate emerging research, share knowledge and experiences, seek positive solutions and explore ways for the community to individually and collectively strengthen midwifery practice. Over the last year, VaJournal Club has expanded to include an additional monthly online event as well as developing a framework for interstate chapters. Observing the broad reaching impacts of this grass roots initiative, Lynnelle is currently undertaking a PhD to explore the impact of professional connections and relationships on midwives' wellbeing and career sustainability. https://linktr.ee/lynnellemoran

Members $99 | Non-Members $149

6 CPD hours