Rate My Professor Catina Adams

Dr. Catina Adams is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at La Trobe University, part of the Faculty of Health Sciences. She holds the position of Discipline Lead for Specialist and Advanced Practice Programs and coordinates the Graduate Diploma in Child, Family and Community Nursing, preparing qualified nurses and midwives to support maternal and child health from birth to school age. Adams earned her Doctor of Philosophy from La Trobe University between 2017 and 2022, with a thesis titled 'How Does the Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Program in Victoria Support Women Experiencing Family Violence?'. She also completed postgraduate studies in Child, Family and Community Nursing at La Trobe University in 2006 and in Midwifery at Australian Catholic University in 2003. As a registered nurse and midwife, she is credentialed as MACN, FHEA, and Churchill Fellow.

Adams' research focuses on maternal and child health nursing, enhanced home visiting programs, and family violence interventions. Her work examines clinical practices of Enhanced Maternal and Child Health nurses supporting vulnerable families, including those affected by domestic violence. Key publications include 'The Enhanced Maternal and Child Health nursing program in Victoria: a cross-sectional study of clinical practice' (2019), 'Managing Maternal and Child Health nurses undertaking family violence work in Australia: a qualitative study' (2021), 'A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis of the roles of home-visiting nurses working with women experiencing family violence' (2022), 'The characteristics of Australian Maternal and Child Health home visiting nurses undertaking family violence work: An interpretive description study' (2022), and 'Father and non-birth parent experience of child and family health services: a systematic review and meta-synthesis' (2025). In 2014, she received a Churchill Fellowship to study strategies for engaging young parents to improve outcomes for vulnerable children across Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and the USA. Recognized for inspirational teaching, Adams fosters resilience and culturally safe, evidence-based practice among diverse students. Her contributions advance inclusive family-centered care, addressing barriers to father and non-birth parent engagement in child health services.