Rate My Professor Tanisha Springall

Tanisha Springall is a First Nations Midwifery Academic, registered midwife, and mother. A proud Gamilaraay woman, she has over 14 years of experience working in health as an Aboriginal Health Worker, Registered Nurse, and Midwife. She currently holds the position of Lecturer in Midwifery and First Peoples Midwifery Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Griffith University, Logan campus, since 2022. In this role, she coordinates the Bachelor of Midwifery Peer Mentoring Program, convenes the course First Peoples Mothers and Babies (2705NRS), and participates in the Health Justice Partnership. Her contributions extend to supervising doctoral research indirectly through collaborations.

Springall's academic journey includes completing a Master of Applied Science at La Trobe University from 2020 to 2022, with her thesis titled "Exploring Breastfeeding Initiation and Maintenance for First Nations Women and Infants in Victoria, Australia." Prior to Griffith University, she was affiliated with the Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery at La Trobe University, and served as a midwife at The Royal Women's Hospital. Her research specializations center on First Nations maternal and infant health, including breastfeeding practices and retention of First Nations students in midwifery education. Key publications include lead-authored papers such as "Rates of breast feeding and associated factors for First Nations mothers in Victoria, Australia" (BMJ Open, 2023, cited by 19), stemming from an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Grant (#1110640); "Breastfeeding rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies in Victoria 2018" (Women and Birth, 2022, cited by 24); and "'Mob aren't staying when there's no support': Enablers and barriers to First Nations student retention in an Australian Bachelor of Midwifery program" (Women and Birth, 2025). These works underscore her impact on developing culturally responsive midwifery practices and workforce sustainability for First Nations communities.