Philomena Fernandes

Biography

Experienced cross clinical practice, education, research and consultancy and has worked in other tertiary institutions and as a senior manager in the public sector, is a leading Australian researcher in midwifery and child and family health, teaching. Research is grounded in social science theory and methods and focuses on transition to motherhood, perinatal mental health, breastfeeding and infant feeding decisions, postnatal care, effective models to support vulnerable families, family centered care in NICU, strengthening the universal health services for families and children and the role of the child and family health. In addition, works with colleagues to research strategies to facilitate normal birth including studies on obesity in childbirth, physiological birth positions and place of birth., as well as resources for parents (eg Breastfeeding and, information translated into several languages on infant feeding) particularly skilled in building collaborative teams and has used opportunities for seed funding to grow a teams / networks, to publish findings and reports and then to apply for competitive funding.  Experienced cross clinical practice, education, research and consultancy and has worked in other tertiary institutions and as a senior manager in the public sector, is a leading Australian researcher in midwifery and child and family health, teaching. Research is grounded in social science theory and methods and focuses on transition to motherhood, perinatal mental health, breastfeeding and infant feeding decisions, postnatal care, effective models to support vulnerable families, family centered care in NICU, strengthening the universal health services for families and children and the role of the child and family health. In addition, works with colleagues to research strategies to facilitate normal birth including studies on obesity in childbirth, physiological birth positions and place of birth., as well as resources for parents (eg Breastfeeding and, information translated into several languages on infant feeding) particularly skilled in building collaborative teams and has used opportunities for seed funding to grow a teams / networks, to publish findings and reports and then to apply for competitive funding. 

Research Interest

Perinatal mental health, Health and maternity service systems