Director Primary Maternity Care Programs (Postgraduate)

Dr Roslyn Donnellan - Fernandez OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH AREAS OF INTEREST My program of research is focused on maternity reform, health funding and systems integration to improve public maternity services access and equity to continuity of midwifery models for priority populations and under-served groups. This encompasses public health, resource and cost impact at different time points including Start of Life, the First Two Thousand Days, and across the life course. Research publications on: cost analysis of midwifery care and maternity models, expertise in implementation and evaluation of midwifery models / maternity system evaluation, and capacity building in midwifery workforce as a public primary health strategy. Engaged in developing population health tools to assist scale – up of midwifery models including use of linked datasets for population health research / economic evaluation of interventions and technologies at start of life to prevent onset and development of chronic disease, health services research and primary health promotion strategies. Research methods use quantitative and qualitative approaches, employing a social justice lens and cross-sectoral engagement. Analysis of workforce performance, efficiency and funding related to models of care, and quality, safety and risk management strategies to address population health inequities. Experience and expertise in evaluation of midwifery continuity of care models (Women’s Healthcare Australasia Performance and Efficiency SiG group and Midwifery Group Practice SiG group) including developing expertise in health system evaluation. Other areas of research interest include human lactation, perinatal mental health, the human microbiome, pharmacology and midwife prescribing, development of primary maternity care health workforce capacity, improving outcomes for women with complex pregnancy/special needs. (February 2026)