معرفی
Hannah Dahlen is Professor of Midwifery and Associate Dean (Research and Higher Degree Research) in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University. With over 34 years of experience as a midwife, she is one of the first midwives in Australia to gain eligibility and access to a Medicare provider number and prescribing rights following government reforms in 2010. She has maintained an active dual career, working for nearly 10 years as a privately practising midwife alongside her academic role.
Professor Dahlen's research focuses on obstetrics, maternal care, and midwifery practice. Her work specifically addresses perineum injury prevention, models of care in midwifery, health practitioner roles, and reproductive health. She has conducted significant research on birth experiences, termination of pregnancy care, compassionate care practices during labor, and the mental health impacts on both mothers and midwives. Her fingerprint analysis shows strong emphasis on maternal care (77%), perineum injury (44%), model of care (43%), and midwifery practice (41%).
Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate continued productivity and relevance, with research focusing on digital clinical decision tools (Tommy's App), reproductive health guidance through Perdays, pregnancy and probiotics, and the birth experience study. These works examine critical issues in maternal health including stillbirth prevention, care pathways, premature labor, pre-eclampsia, and mistreatment during childbirth.
- Life Member of the Australian College of Midwives (2008)
- Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) (2019)
- Sydney Morning Herald's list of 100 'people who change our city for the better' (2012)
- Leading 'science and knowledge thinker' (2012)
As Associate Dean for Research and HDR, Professor Dahlen oversees research activities and higher degree research students in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. She has secured significant research funding including projects funded by MRFF-NHMRC and industry partnerships with Perday's Health Functional Food. Her research outputs (333) and projects (31) demonstrate a sustained and impactful research career spanning over three decades. She maintains strong national and international research partnerships and has been active in professional organizations including the Australian College of Midwives since 1995 and the NSW Maternal Mortality Committee since 2002.
