Nicole Freeman
MMid BN Midwife RN
PhD Candidate, 3rd Year (M3 complete), School of Nursing, Curtin University
PhD Project
The Role and Scope of Practice of Midwives Caring for Pregnant Women up to 20 Weeks Gestation in An Acute Care Setting in Australia
Supervisory Committee
Professor Zoe Bradfield, Professor Tracey Moroney, Dr Jane Warland, Dr Kate Cheney
This PhD explored the role and scope of Australian midwives in providing care for women experiencing acute complications in early pregnancy, such as miscarriage and hyperemesis. Although midwives are experts in holistic pregnancy care, women with early pregnancy complications are often treated in non-maternity settings by clinicians without perinatal expertise. Using a mixed-methods sequential design including a scoping review, clinician interviews, and a national survey of midwives and students, the research identified barriers to midwifery involvement in early pregnancy care, including limited education, workforce structures, care settings, and inconsistent beliefs about scope of practice. Findings show midwives want to provide this care, and that education, leadership, and service redesign are needed to enable midwives to fulfil scope in this area of practice.
Awards & Funding
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Western Australian Future Health Research and Innovation Fund Clinician Researcher Scholarship 2022/23
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Curtin School of Nursing Higher Degree by Research Publication Prize 2025
Experience and Research Focus
Nicole is a midwife with more than 30 years of clinical and academic experience across midwifery. She currently works in the Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (EPAS) at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth, providing physical care, emotional support, and bereavement care for women and families experiencing early pregnancy complications and loss. Nicole has extensive experience in clinical supervision, university teaching, and curriculum development. She is a national midwifery representative in early pregnancy care and advocates for midwives to provide comprehensive care for women experiencing pregnancy complications or loss at any gestation. Her PhD research and publications focus on midwifery role and scope in early pregnancy and models of care for women with acute early pregnancy complications.
