Melina Connors

Melina is a proud Gurindji woman, mother to three daughters and Mimi to three grandchildren. Melina is Queensland’s Inaugural First Nations Midwifery Director within Queensland Health’s Office of Chief Midwife Officer.

Melina’s journey into midwifery came following her maternity experience, which lacked the cultural consideration she needed, which in turn set her on a pathway to change this for women moving forward.  Melina has held the role of the Inaugural First Nations Midwifery Director at Queensland Health since early in 2024.

Melina is committed and extremely passionate about the development of best practice when partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families. With a vision to create culturally safe maternity experiences for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families by ensuring women and their communities feel supported by culturally capable staff and by growing the First Nations Midwifery workforce.

Melina oversees the coordination and ongoing implementation, governance, and expansion of the Growing Deadly Families Strategy – which is the first ‘First Nations Maternity Strategy’ in Queensland. Melina ensures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of ‘Knowing, Being and Doing’ are embedded in all maternity services for First Nations women in Queensland.