Join us for our third event in our virtual series FOCUS ON... CONTINUITY OF CARE.
This 6 hour event will focus on Continuity of Midwifery Care (CoMC). We know the benefits of CoMC are immense! So let’s explore the differences between Midwifery Group Practice models and CoMC in the public system, private practice midwifery and wellness for midwives.
FOCUS ON... CONTINUITY OF MIDWIFERY CARE will be fully recorded with recordings available to registrants after the event.
ACM is committed to presenting a full program of virtual and face to face events each year to support your professional development, no matter your location. Our FOCUS ON… events are interactive with the opportunity to ask questions throughout the day.
Book now to be part of this informative and educational program.
Liz Wilkes
Liz Wilkes commenced in the role on Chief Midwife Officer on 26 February 2024. Liz has 29 years of experience as a registered midwife, as well as experience in significant leadership roles, including leading the largest private midwifery organisation in Australia (My Midwives). She is a Board Member of the Australian College of Midwives and holds an adjunct position with Charles Darwin University.
As Queensland’s Chief Midwife Officer, Liz supports Queensland Health to deliver on providing midwifery leadership, leading maternity reforms and strengthening maternity services across the state, especially those in rural and regional communities, and building a skilled and sustainable midwifery workforce pipeline. This will ensure Queensland women and their babies receive the highest quality, safe, culturally appropriate, woman-centred midwifery care.
Karen Hollindale
Originally trained and working as paediatric nurse, Karen switched her career to become a registered midwife in 2001 to follow her passion to care for women and babies throughout the continuum of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Which also in turn also led Karen into Midwifery Private Practice some 12 years ago, starting her own private practice. In 2015 Karen became a director of My Midwives - Australia’s largest Private Midwifery Practice where in 2020 she took on the role of Clinical Midwifery Manager for the My Midwives and BiOC (Birthing in Our Community) partnership team and most recently in 2023 stepping into the Managing Director role for My Midwives.
Karen believes that midwifery provides the opportunity to empower women about their potential to immerse themselves in their birthing journey, and enables them to make informed choices best suited to themselves and their families needs. As midwives, Karen believes we should be mindful, respectful, and supportive of the dynamic changes that new life brings to the family unit, whilst still being in awe of the miracle of birth.
Billie Bradford
Billie Bradford is a Senior Research Fellow in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University in Melbourne. Originally from New Zealand, Dr Bradford has been a midwife since 1998 working in diverse roles from community based continuity of care through to tertiary care midwifery, perinatal mortality review, and as Expert Midwifery Advisor. Billie has focussed her career to-date on research and education and is passionate about perinatal care improvement and an optimal start to life. Billie’s ongoing research interests are in fetal movements, stillbirth prevention and midwifery care. Billie collaborates on multiple research projects to advance progress in maternity care, supervises Honours and PhD students, and is on the board of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and the International Stillbirth Alliance.
Dr Nikki Tickle
Dr Nikki Tickle, Midwife, PhD, MMid (honours), BN, Grad Dip Child and Family Health, Grad Cert Higher Education
Affiliations: Griffith University; Transforming Maternity Care Collaborative
Nikki is a Midwife and Midwifery Lecturer at Griffith University. Nikki completed her PhD on the topic of Enhancing students’ clinical learning in continuity of care experiences: A sequential multi-methods approach. Nikki would like all women to have the choice to birth respectfully, safely and locally, with a known midwife.
Prior to moving into Higher Education, Nikki worked as a Midwife in Australia in a range of settings including a metropolitan tertiary hospital, a regional maternity care hospital and remote Far North Queensland. She lives on Quandamooka land (in eastern Brisbane) with her husband and two young children.
Amar Hamed
Meet Amar Hamed, a dedicated registered midwife with a heart for relationship-based care and advocacy in the all-risk continuity of care model. Amar has dedicated most of her early career to passionately supporting expectant mothers and families, fostering trust and empowering women through personalized care.
Graduating from a Bachelor of Midwifery from The University of Technology Sydney, Amar was driven by a deep sense of purpose to work in continuity of care. At the core of her practice is the belief that building strong relationships between midwives and new mothers is essential for positive birth experiences.
Moreover, Amar is deeply committed to providing trauma-informed and culturally sensitive care. She recognises that many women may have experienced trauma or face cultural barriers that impact their childbirth journey. By fostering an environment of understanding and respect, Amar ensures that every woman receives care that honours her unique background and experiences.
Beyond birth, Amar is a vocal advocate for midwives working in the all-risk continuity of care model. She is a delegate at the Westmead branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and campaigns for women to receive the highest standard of care, from midwives that are well compensated and recognised for the tireless work they do.
With a passion for advocacy and a heart for compassionate, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive care, Amar works towards providing hope and positivity for mothers, families, and midwives alike, striving to make the all-risk continuity of care model the accessible and sustainable.
More to be announced soon!