2026 Excellence in Midwifery

Felicity Anderson

 Felicity is an exceptional midwife and inspirational leader whose dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to family‑centred care exemplify the very best of midwifery practice. With a background spanning neonatology, midwifery, education, and parent support, she brings extraordinary breadth and depth of expertise to every woman and family she serves.

Her leadership shone most brightly during one of the most challenging periods in recent years, the closure of the Mount Lawley obstetrics service and its transition to the SJG Subiaco Hospital in December 2023. At the same time, the Pregnancy, Baby & Beyond Clinic, St John of God Health Care’s first endorsed midwife‑led service, was still newly established and facing significant operational pressures. Recognising the need for steady guidance, Felicity stepped into leadership without hesitation. She ensured continuity of care, supported doctors and midwives through uncertainty, strengthened communication, and created a cohesive, positive culture at a time when many felt unsettled.

Felicity is a passionate advocate for advancing midwifery practice. She champions the Endorsed Midwifery Program, supports lactation consultant pathways, and consistently mentors colleagues to grow their confidence and clinical capability. She engages collaboratively with obstetricians, allied health professionals, lactation consultants, and tertiary services to ensure integrated, safe, and holistic care for families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the first year postpartum.

Her commitment to innovation has been pivotal in shaping the long‑term sustainability and success of the Pregnancy, Baby & Beyond Clinic. She embraces new models of care, delivers highly regarded prenatal education sessions, and has represented the service publicly on 9 News and Nova Radio, advocating for families and raising awareness of midwifery‑led care.

Families frequently acknowledge the warmth, compassion, and reassurance Felicity brings to their maternity journey. Her authenticity, tireless work ethic, and unwavering focus on what is best for women and babies make her a truly deserving candidate for recognition and a shining example of midwifery excellence.

Zoe Biggs

Zoe is an exceptional Clinical Midwife and the driving force behind the SWAN Clinic—Supporting Women with Additional Needs—at Rockingham General Hospital. As team lead, she provides specialised, compassionate care to women facing some of the most complex social, cultural, and medical challenges, including family violence, mental health concerns, trauma, and the unique needs of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities. Zoe’s leadership was instrumental in establishing the clinic, advocating tirelessly for a dedicated service that now delivers over 1,000 appointments annually and has significantly improved outcomes for vulnerable mothers and babies.

Zoe leads a small but highly skilled team of continuity midwives, ensuring women feel safe, supported, and understood from their first appointment through pregnancy, birth, and the early postnatal period. Her ability to rapidly build trust is central to the clinic’s success. She role models compassionate, non‑judgmental care and mentors her junior colleagues to think creatively, engage sensitively, and advocate fiercely for women who often struggle to access mainstream services. Through fortnightly MDT meetings with obstetric, psychiatric, social work, and allied health teams, Zoe ensures each woman receives coordinated, culturally safe, and truly woman‑centred care.

Her advocacy extends beyond the clinic. Zoe routinely visits SWAN women on the ward, offering quiet reassurance and reinforcing continuity at critical moments. She goes above and beyond contacting refuges, securing essentials for families, and linking women to community supports. Her commitment to mental health and family wellbeing extends into her personal life, completing the Coast‑to‑Coast trek twice and the “Up All Night” walk to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House.

One of Zoe’s most meaningful achievements is witnessing women return to the SWAN service stronger, safer, and more confident. Proof of the transformative power of compassionate, holistic midwifery care. Her leadership, warmth, and unwavering dedication have shaped a service that changes lives and offers hope where it is needed most

Melanie Woodhams

Melanie is an exceptional midwifery leader whose compassion, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to rural maternity care have made a profound and lasting impact across the WA Country Health Service (WACHS), particularly within the Wheatbelt region. In her multifaceted roles as Staff Development Midwife (SDM), Regional Family Safety Officer (RFSO), and Regional Clinical Midwife Consultant (RCMC), Mel embodies the highest standards of midwifery practice, education, advocacy, and service development.

As SDM, she leads the design and delivery of high‑quality education programs that strengthen capability across the region. She facilitates NeoResus, PROMPT, unplanned birth training, and site‑specific emergency programs. This ensures midwives, nurses, and ED teams feel confident, safe, and supported in their practice. Her work directly improves clinical outcomes and supports the retention and development of rural clinicians.

In her RFSO role, Mel advocates passionately for women and families impacted by domestic and family violence, integrating trauma‑aware and healing‑informed approaches into clinical care and education. Her leadership has helped shape safer, more compassionate maternity environments across the Wheatbelt.

As RCMC, Mel provides expert strategic oversight, driving service innovation, quality improvement and workforce sustainability. She has led major initiatives including the rollout of the Midwifery Annualised Salary Agreement, expansion of endorsed midwifery roles, recruitment strategies for fragile sites, and the re‑establishment of planned low‑risk Caesarean sections at Northam, significantly improving access to safe maternity care closer to home.

Mel’s impact is both professional and deeply personal. Her advocacy contributed to the establishment of Bunbury Midwifery Group Practice early in her career, and she continues to champion continuity models and culturally safe care. Colleagues describe her as generous, uplifting, and endlessly committed to empowering others. Mel’s leadership has shaped the future of rural midwifery in WA. Her compassion, integrity, and determination ensure women, families, and midwives receive the care, support, and opportunities they deserve