Our people

Co-Director of The Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, Professor Sue Kidlea is recognised internationally as a midwifery leader, a health services researcher and an advocate for returning birthing services to First Nations control, and rural and remote communities. She is passionate about the year before and after birth and see these as the best times to positively impact Mums, bubs and families for the best start in life. She uses research for social change and leads multi site projects across Australia.

Research profile

Co-Director of The Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, Professor Yvette Roe is a Njikena Jawuru woman from the West Kimberly region, Western Australia. Yvette grew up in Darwin where she has strong family and friend connections. Yvette has more than 25 years' experience working in Aboriginal health. She was awarded her PhD, by the University of South Australia in November 2015.

Research profile

Statistical and Health  Economics Lead, Associate ProfessorYu Gao completed eight years of medical training in China and was awarded a Master of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2004. Yu practiced as a Resident Obstetrician in a large teaching hospital in China for a year before being chosen to conduct doctoral studies at Charles Darwin University, completing in 2008 (co-supervised by Prof Kildea).

Research profile

A proud Arrente woman & community researcher, Sarah grew up and lived most her life in Alice Springs. Sarah is a Community Research Assistant at The Molly Wardaguga research Centre, Charles Darwin University on The Indigenous Birthing in an Urban Setting (IBUS) Study. Sarah has worked with the team for three years (2016-present).

Office and Communications Manager - A proud Aboriginal, Torres Strait and South Sea Islander woman. From Community Research Assistant on the Indigenous Birthing in an Urban Setting (IBUS) Study to the Executive Research Assistant, Kayla now manages the administration team across the Centre performing admin duties, editing websites, managing social media and more. Kayla completed her Masters of Business Administration in January 2023. 

Medical anthropologist, nurse and midwife, Dr Sarah Ireland is an early career researcher, with expertise in cross-cultural qualitative research methods, especially collaborative approaches with Aboriginal people. Her research methodologies are informed by social justice, health promotion, decolonising theories, public health, gender, woman-centered midwifery, culture and human rights disclosure.

Research profile  CDU Snapshot Video

Senior Research Fellow - Jyai is a PhD qualified midwife, academic, and maternity care researcher with clinical expertise in midwifery continuity of care and midwifery-led settings. She has research expertise in mixed methods, service redesign, implementation and evaluation. Most recently Jyai provided research consultancy to the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer to assist in the development of a co-designed statewide normal birth strategy and implementation plan. For the next 6 months, she will be codesigning and developing a national toolkit for Birthing on Country that can be locally adapted. Additionally, Jyai will be assist with writing the outputs of the Best Start to Life Gathering 2022, including the conference report.

Jenne has worked in Women’s Health policy, program design, management and evaluation for the last thirty years. Her client-driven research and evaluation provides an evidence base for assessing the current and long term effectiveness of programs and providing strategic advice to drive innovation and future investment.  Jenne specialises in programs where gender inequality, stigma and discrimination drive vulnerability and epidemics. Jenne’s work engages affected communities and partners throughout the project, combining human rights, evidence-based and public health approaches. 

Associate Professor Melissa Lindeman has an extensive career in health and community services in research, education and training, and policy and service development, including more than 15 years in the university sector. She recently managed an Aboriginal Domestic and Family Violence service and has consulted to various community-based organisations.  Her research has covered areas as diverse as social gerontology, rural and remote health, Indigenous aged and dementia care, and Indigenous youth services. She will focus on projects designed to strengthen families, particularly those with young children (first 2000 days), through intergenerational support, and in developing culturally safe and trauma-informed approaches to practice.

Dr Elaine Lawurrpa Maypilama has recently joined the BOC CRE as a Senior Research Fellow. Lawurrpa will provide expertise in Indigenous (Yolgŋu) research methodology, Yolgŋu maternal, child health and wellbeing, Yolgŋu community engagement and the redesign of health services for the east Arnhem region and beyond. Lawurrapa has led and been involved in numerous research projects in education and community development.

Dr. Elaine has had the privilege of walking alongside and learning from women, students, and midwives (traditional and professional) in rural / remote Australia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  Her clinical work focused on midwifery, women’s and sexual health and in DRC, was linked to the findings from her PhD thesis, that participating women defined themselves in relation to the serious life traumas they had experienced.

Loris is a Research Assistant at the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre. She has a Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery and completed a Graduate Certificate in Public Health in 2021. She will be working closely with Dr Sarah Ireland and A/Prof Suzanne Moore to provide secretariat support to the Birthing on Country project.

Following a five-year period of work and research in Warburton, Ngaanyatjarra Lands, Western Australia, in July 2019 I published a PhD thesis based on the worker experiences and perspectives of a group of Ngaanyatjarra women. The findings are used to provide policy recommendations for meaningful work engagement in remote Aboriginal communities. I have had extensive experience working in public health and community development in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and overseas, in both government and non-government organisations. My passion lies in taking a developmental approach to supporting community initiated and guided projects, participating in community-led participatory research, working closely with participants to develop culturally safe research practice, and developmental project evaluation. My family and I are very appreciative of the opportunity to live in Galiwinku and are so grateful to the people here for their warm welcome and willingness to share their culture and country with us.

Rosemary Gundjarraŋbuy is a Birthing on Country Research Fellow within the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre. She currently lives in Galiwin’ku and is a well respected person in the Garrawurra clan and the community. Gundjarranbuy has approximately 35 years experience in teaching at bilingual schools. She has also worked in community roles with elderly and disadvantaged youth. Her previous 10 year role at Yalu Aboriginal Corporation as Manager has provided Gundjarraŋbuy with the knowledge and experience of collaborating and engaging communities. During that time, she worked on a number of research and service delivery projects including 'Sharing the Full and True Stories about Chronic Conditions Project' which was in partnership with CDU, and projects relating to early childhood and engagement in higher education.

Midwifery Lecturer - Stacey is an Aboriginal woman descendant from Dunghutti and Gomeroi Nation. Over the last 18 years Stacey has worked throughout NSW from Sydney, central west, far west and hunter valley within a variety settings. Stacey’s belief of family and health is seen in her passion for caring for woman, their families providing quality and culturally safe care.

Associate Professor of Midwifery - Rosemarie has long-term expertise as an academic, engaged in curriculum development, academic governance, program co-ordination and held the position of Director of Midwifery Studies and Head of School. Her teaching and research interests include midwifery, child and family health, women’s health, communication, professional practice, evidence-based practice, primary healthcare, blended learning and the University first year experience.

Research Assistant - Kelsie is a Research Assistant at the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre. Kelsie is also studying a Master of Public Health and is passionate about First Nations health sovereignty, health equity, social justice and community-led research that utilises decolonising methodologies to centre and privilege First Nations voices and agency.

Research Assistant - Annabel is a Research Assistant at the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre. Annabel is also a passionate midwife and has a Bachelor or Midwifery with Honours. Living and working on Central Arrernte Country, Annabel supports the Birthing on Country, RISE SAFELY project in Mparntwe Alice Springs.

Research Assistant - Res brings enormous experience to the team as an Aboriginal midwife and is completing a PhD at the Judith Lumley Centre which focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and newborns. She worked with La Trobe University alongside a team of experienced researchers on a project named Woman’s Journey: “Baggarrook Yurrongi, Nuraagh Manma Buliana”.

Research Assistant - Tez was the Senior Maternity Advisor for the Northern Territory Health based in Darwin, NT. Theresa comes from a strong public health background that has enabled her to focus her career on addressing inequities in maternal and neonatal health outcomes amongst marginalised population groups. Theresa’s experience working with Medecins Sans Frontieres in PNG and the Yemen has further driven her passion to improve population health outcomes through the implementation of effective public health initiatives. Tez is also enrolled in a PhD and will do her confirmation in March 2023

 Co-Lead ANFPP and Professor of Maternal Child Health - Sue has contributed to health services in a variety of roles and settings including clinical, policy, education and  research. She has a  background in midwifery and child  health nursing and has worked most of her career in the area of First Nations maternal and child health. She provides strategic and operational leadership while ensuring the staff are well supported to achieve their operational responsibilities.

Research profile

Data Systems Manager – As an Aboriginal public health researcher with Masters (ANU) and PhD (UniSA) qualifications in epidemiology, Sandy was born on Mandandanji country. Her Indigenous ancestry follows her father’s family line. Sandy has a professional background in nursing and midwifery and her quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation skills are built on a foundation of providing clinical care and health promotion in Aboriginal communities in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Victoria.

Research profile

Biostatistician/Epidemiologist - Associate Professor Cameron Hurst’s research interests are in Biostatistics (Longitudinal observational studies, Clinical trials, Computational statistics, Multivariate and Machine learning classification, and Psychometrics) and Epidemiology (Chronic diseases, Mothers and Babies, Clinical epidemiology, Social epidemiology and Vector-borne diseases). He is both an experienced educator and researcher and over the course of his career has worked extensively across the full spectrum of health studies ranging from biomedical research through to clinical and population health studies. While primarily a methodologist, he has a particular passion for work in the area of chronic disease (esp. diabetes) in resource-limited health care settings and/or vulnerable populations.

Senior Practitioner, Perinatal & Parenting - As a Perinatal Clinical Psychologist, Rae has worked with women and their children for the past 10 years. In addition to her research in the special care nursery, Rae has studied various wisdom traditions deeply and loves having conversations about the human spirit. Prior to moving to NSW in 2017, Rae worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in South East Qld for a few years.

Clinical Lead - Kym has spent the past 30 years as a Registered Nurse and has a passion for child and family nursing and nurse education. She has over nine years’ experience with the ANFPP in a range of roles and settings.  Kym is committed to supporting positive program outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families through dynamic education, staff retention, clinical supervision and strong leadership.

Program Administrator - Quintina is a proud Torres Strait Islander with a background in government and administration. She is bright, bubbly and very approachable. Quintina is passionate about the ANFPP and the role she plays in it.

Business Administration Trainee - Elfreda is a proud First Nations woman – her mother is Aboriginal and South Sea Islander from Hervey Bay and her father is Torres Strait Islander from Badu Island. She is a valued team member who is studying a Certificate IV in Business. Since joining the ANFPP, Elfreda has learned a great deal about the program. She is excited to continue to learn, develop her administration skills and ultimately pursue a career in business.

Program Administrator -  Sheringa Minniecon is a proud Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander woman. She is connected to Kabi Kabi, Goreng and Wiradjuri countries, and the Mualgal and Erub people from the Torres Strait Islands. Sheringa has a diverse range of administration experience and skills in the health field. As a great communicator, with deadly people, computer and organisational skills, Sheringa is looking forward to contributing to positive outcomes for ANFPP and her mob.

Data & Quality Analyst - Jigar's background is in banking, insurance and public health, and he specialises in data and business analytics. He holds a Bachelor of Computing Systems and a Diploma in Business. Jigar loves spending time with his daughter and finding ways to strengthen her self-empowerment and independence. He believes it's inspiring that women in recent times have been at the forefront of progress and change in society.

ANFPP Program Manager - Ben Thomson is an Aboriginal man from the Nunukul-Nughi people – part of the Quandamooka nation of Moreton Bay.  Ben grew up on country in the Wynnum area of Brisbane with strong family connections to North Stradbroke Island [Minjerriba].  His professional experience ranges in Aboriginal higher education, health, housing, and aged care. 

Perinatal Supervision Coordinator - Jess is a social worker and family therapist who has been helping families to recover from complex trauma and interpersonal violence for over a decade. Jess is passionate about the importance of the perinatal period as a critical opportunity to enact change and work toward breaking intergenerational patterns. Jess is passionate about remote health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing. Jess works from a collaborative and systemic lens and is proactive in keeping vicarious trauma and sustainability front of mind. 

Nurse, midwife & masters student, Nerida has worked since 2013 at Kirketon Road Centre, a primary health clinic in Sydney providing accessible and appropriate care to people who are marginalised from mainstream services. As a midwife, Nerida is committed to reclaiming birth for women. Nerida is excited to have recently started my Masters by Research with the team at MWRC, supporting the work of Waminda transforming maternity care for Aboriginal women and their families.

Luciana is passionate about working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and services. She is undertaking a PhD through the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, evaluating strengths-based programs to improve health and birthing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mums and babies.

A birthing tree and a safe place for growing healthy babies” Virtual 3MT Thesis Runner Up – Luciana Massi, PhD Candidate, MWRC, CDU

Nyimirr (Fleur) is a Wiradjuri and Ngemba/Wayilwan Woman.  Fleur has been actively involved in decolonisation with her peoples through her roles in the maintenance & revival of the Wiradjuri and Ngemba/Wayilwan languages, knowledges, cultures & spiritual practices including women's business and cultural birthing over the last 20 years. Fleur's PhD is exploring decolonisation of birthing and parenting practices by Aboriginal women. The research intends to support Waminda and all Aboriginal women to establish further evidence towards the importance of "Birthing On Country" models of care and practice for Aboriginal women in Australia.

Loretta Anderson is currently undertaking her PhD at UQ focusing on reducing breastfeeding complications in mothers of preterm infants. Loretta is passionate about helping mothers breastfeed easily with evidence based knowledge and skill. Furthermore, reducing breastfeeding complications such as engorgement and mastitis to increase duration of breastfeeding. 

Midwife, educator & PhD Student, Mpho is a lecturer of midwifery in the Faculty of Health. Mpho has 15 years of clinical midwifery practice and has worked as a clinical midwife in Darwin and Africa. Mpho was born and raised in rural Zimbabwe and she migrated to Australia in 2006. Mpho attained her midwifery qualification at CDU and completed a Master of International Health degree with Curtin University. Mpho is passionate about women's empowerment and maternal health. 

Anvitaa is a dentist with a Master’s in Health Services Administration and a keen interest in Health Economics and Health Policy. Anvitaa is currently undertaking a PhD at the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, to conduct an economic evaluation of the Birthing in Our Country service and its long term benefits to the First Nations mums and bubs.

Clinical Research Coordinator at the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, Federation Office. RN / RM, MACN, MACM, Member of the HiPPP EMR-Collective. Adjunct Lecturer at James Cook University Townsville, College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, in the Public Health & Topical Medicine discipline. Extensive Flight Nurse experience throughout rural and remote Northern Australia. Critical Care Nursing & Midwifery background in ICU/CCU/HDU/NICCU. Passionate researcher in the remote, prehospital and aeromedical field. Previous research and current PhD topic aims to improve remote, prehospital, aeromedical maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Tarn has worked alongside women and families in Mparntwe/Alice Springs since 2015. With a background in narrative practice, social work and community development,Tarn is passionate about research that centres Indigenous knowledges and holds women (and communities) as the experts in their own lives. Tarn’s personal experiences of choice and agency in pregnancy and birth motivated her to join the Birthing on Country movement. Tarn hopes to contribute to the movement through research advocacy.

A descendent of the Kamilaroi (Gomeroi) nation, a nurse, a midwife and an educator, Donna has 34 years’ experience as a clinician, educator, lecturer, manager, consultant and researcher. She is currently the Associate Professor in Midwifery and Associate Dean Indigenous Leadership at the Faculty of Health at Charles Darwin University.  She is passionate about working with Communities to improve the well-being and future for our First Nation peoples.

Mel is an Aboriginal woman descending from the Gumbangirr and Dharawal nations. She lives in Wandandian country within the Yuin Nation. Having completed a Bachelor of Midwifery and Master of Primary Maternity Care, Mel is the Midwife and Birthing on Country Project Officer for the Waminda South Coast Women’s Health & Welfare Aboriginal Corporation. Mel is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of her people and is responsible for coordinating the Shoalhaven Birthing on Country model from a community perspective to ensure the community voices are being heard and put into practice.

Liz has been a midwife since 1995 and has been in private practice for the past 16 years. Liz is well known for her lobbying and advocacy at all levels of government and she was in the first group of Medicare midwives in Australia.  Her main levels of acumen are in policy and business development.  She has an MBA from Griffith University. Liz is currently the Managing Director of My Midwives and her midwifery goal is to ensure that every woman in Australia has a midwife who she knows providing care in birth. Liz is passionate that every woman feels informed, safe, respected and cared for during this special time.

Sally Tracy is the Professor of Midwifery at the University of Sydney and conjoint Professor of Midwifery, School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW. She has published widely on the epidemiology of preterm birth; birth centre care; admission to neonatal care and the safety of midwifery group practice and stand-alone maternity units. Educated in midwifery in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, Sally was awarded the world’s first professional doctorate in midwifery in 2003. She was one of 15 clinicians across Australia appointed to the inaugural Clinical Advisory Committee of the national Independent Hospital Pricing Authority of Australia. 

Emeritus Professor Lesley Barclay AO began her career as a midwife but recently has become known an educator, health services researcher and systems reformer. Her work has improved maternal child health services in urban and remote Australia and internationally. Professor Barclay has led NHMRC and ARC grants with many being rural, remote or Indigenous focussed.

Nigel is a midwifery researcher and lecturer. Prior to his academic appointment he had 30 years of clinical practice working in metropolitan and regional hospitals around Australia and the United Kingdom. He completed his PhD in 2013, researching sterile water injection techniques for the management of back pain in labour. His research into the use of water injections to relieve pain in labour continues alongside studies into supporting physiological labour and birth.

Associate Professor Robyn Thompson is an experienced midwife, family, child and maternal health nurse MCaFHN, breastfeeding specialist and was awarded a PhD for her research into why so many women were experiencing painful nipple trauma in the early postnatal period. Thousands of women and their babies have experienced the benefits of her gentle and intuitive method of breastfeeding known as The Thompson Method. She is a midwife called upon by midwives and has been influential in helping women all over the world strengthen their resolve in themselves and their instinctive skills.

Professor Nicky was a youth and community worker in England before becoming a midwife in 1980. She moved to Australia in 1997 and worked with others on a range of initiatives, including the development of: the initial three-year Bachelor of Midwifery programs; community based midwifery continuity of care; group antenatal care; and national standards for midwifery education and practice. Nicky has published widely on a range of topics related to promoting positive experiences of childbirth for women their families, and communities.

Patis a well-known midwifery leader committed to building midwifery capacity and strengthening the profession globally. She is recognised for her enduring efforts in implementing models of midwifery continuity of care. A previous president of the Australian College of Midwives and a founding member of the Rhodanthe Lipsett Indigenous Midwifery Charitable Fund – a charity committed to enhancing the Indigenous midwifery workforce and 'Closing the Gap' in health outcomes for Indigenous mothers and babies.

Dr Sue Moore is a  public health researcher with a keen interest in addressing health service disparities. Sue worked as a nurse in Alice Springs for more than 10 years before moving into research, including undertaking a post-doctoral fellowship at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in France. She has work on numerous large scale competitively funded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer and cardiac research programs, as an epidemiologist in the Queensland Health COVID-19 Emergency Response Team, and more recently as the Program Manager of the Birthing on Country Centre for Research Excellence in the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre.