Vanessa Scarf

Vanessa Scarf is an Associate Professor in Midwifery at the University of Technology Sydney's School of Nursing and Midwifery. Her research focuses on maternity care experiences, birthplace decision-making, cost-effectiveness of birth settings, and fetal monitoring technologies. She has led international collaborations including a Gates Foundation-funded project on midwife-led birthing centers in low-income countries.

Her recent work examines women's experiences with fetal monitoring technologies and the impact of government policies on maternity care affordability. Research trends show a strong focus on health economics, systematic reviews of perinatal outcomes, and policy analysis across diverse healthcare systems.

• Director of Postgraduate Midwifery Studies (2022-present)
• Recipient of awards for research on homebirth services and telehealth education
• Principal investigator for studies on virtual maternity wards and healthcare provision comparisons