Sheena McChlery

Dr Sheena McChlery is a Senior Lecturer and National Midwifery Professional Development Coordinator at the School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle Campus. With over fourteen years of academic experience, she has played a key role in developing and re-accrediting the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery and served as its Program Coordinator for eight years.

Educational Background:

• PhD, Murdoch University
• Graduate Certificate in University Teaching (GCUT)
• Bachelor of Social Science (First Class Honours)
• Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife

Her research and teaching focus on feminist and social justice perspectives in women's health, with a special interest in perimenopause and cultural safety in midwifery education. She employs phenomenological methodologies, particularly guided by van Manen, and integrates innovative pedagogical approaches such as Indigenous art workshops to decolonize curricula and enhance student understanding of cultural safety.

Her recent publications and conference presentations highlight a strong trend in using arts-based and reflective methods to transform midwifery education, promote equity, and address gaps in women's health care across diverse settings. Themes include decolonization, SDG integration, interdisciplinary supervision, and clinical challenges in high-risk pregnancies.

Scientific and Professional Recognition:

• Midwife Assessor, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Seed Grant recipient (2021), University of Notre Dame Australia

She is actively involved in research supervision, currently mentoring a PhD and a Master of Nursing Research student. Her work is supported by internal grants focused on pedagogical innovation. She has contributed to curriculum development and research projects that emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration and social accountability.

Dr McChlery is a member of several professional organizations, including the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium (TTMEC), and Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM), reflecting her commitment to national and trans-Tasman midwifery advancement and Indigenous health equity.