This student panel is hosted by ACM Chief Midwife Alison Weatherstone and features the following panellists.

Vanessa Scarf
Vanessa Scarf is a senior lecturer in midwifery at the University of Technology Sydney with specific expertise in place of birth research. She has recently completed her PhD which was an analysis of the cost of women in NSW according to place of birth – home, hospital and hospital labour ward. This included a detailed microanalysis of the costs of publicly funded homebirths in one site in NSW. She was also a key member of the Birthplace in Australia research team and was the Project Manager for that study for over 5 years. Prior to moving to UTS, Vanessa worked as a clinical midwife in tertiary settings for over 20 years

Alice Tuson
Alice Tuson was awarded the 'best new talent' award at the ACM national conference in 2022. She was so taken aback to win this award, but she was awarded it because of her passion and commitment to the nurture of women and our workforce. Alice is a core birth unit midwife at the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick, Sydney. She has spoken at several midwifery conferences around the topic of the cascade of mentorship and leadership in midwifery practice.

Kristy Benson
Kristy graduated as a direct entry midwife with a Bachelor of Midwifery in 2021, as valedictorian and with the university wide Chancellors Medal. As a student midwife Kristy created and cultivated peer relationships both within the midwifery cohort as president of the Midwifery Society of USC, and in the wider university community through academic and social working groups. One of the highlights of her time as a student was co-facilitating the Student Midwife Support Circles at her university and Birth Worker Support Circles in the community. Kristy gained a graduate midwife position within the Midwifery Group Practice at Rockhampton Hospital, which has turned into a permanent position. Kristy is passionate about building community between midwives and will be pursuing research in the area of how to provide holistic support for midwives.