Lois McKellar

Teaching Strengths

Midwifery
Inquiry based learning
Digital learning
Scenario based learning

Prof Lois McKellar

School of Nursing and Midwifery

College of Health

Available For Media Comment.

Hi, thanks for taking the time to find out more about me and if I can be of any assistance to you please don't hesitate to contact me.
I have been a midwife for many years and I am passionate about the well-being of women, children and their families. In March 2022, I took a position as Professor of Women's Health at Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland. I remain an adjunct Associate Professor of Midwifery having been the Program Director for the Bachelor of Midwifery at the University of South Australia for six years.
I am an advocate for improving the well-being of women and the development of healthy and resilient families through collaborative research, publications, workshops and presenting at numerous conferences. I am currently leading and collaborating in research with a focus on perinatal wellbeing, mother-infant relationship, migrant and refugee women and menopause and mental health.
I am dedicated to providing excellence in education and equipping midwives for practice in the 21st century and beyond. In 2019 I was awared the South Australian Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Award for excellence in Midwifery practice. I am a Senior Fellow, HEA and in 2016 and was just awarded a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning from the Office of Teaching and Learning I am a supervisior for PhD and Master level students. I also completed the Governors Leadership Foundation leadership program and was awarded the Dennis Mutton Leadership award for a team project for leadership beyond self.
I am married to Duncan and we are currently living in Edinburgh, Scotland

McKellar, L, Steen, M, Andrews, J Gwilt, I & Lorensuhewa N. Capture My Mood: Development and implementation of a digital visual scale for women to self-monitor their psychological wellbeing prior to and following child birth (funded)

Fleet J, McKellar, L and Adelson, P. An antenatal package of integrative medicine techniques for labour and birth to reduce the rates of caesarean section in primiparous women: RCT (funded)

McKellar, L, Birbeck, D & Kenyon K. Moving beyond first year: An exploration of student experience beyond the first year of higher education (funded)

Eckert M, Adelson P, Fleet J, McKellar L, Evaluation of the Midwifery Caseload Model of Care Pilot in Yorke and Northern Region Country Health Region (Funded)

Year Citation
2025 Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Fleet, J. A., Fereday, J., Steen, M., Ziaian, T., & Gwilt, I. (2025). Building Bonds: Pre and post evaluation of an education program for midwives to support the early mother-infant relationship. Nurse Education in Practice, 88(104513), 10 pages.
DOI
2025 Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Fereday, J., Ziaian, T., Steen, M., & Gwilt, I. (2025). Exploring mothers' perspectives on the early mother-infant relationship to inform midwifery practice: A qualitative study. Midwifery, 140(104200), 9 pages.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2024 Fleet, J. A., Adelson, P., McKellar, L., & Steen, M. (2024). Antenatal education incorporating complementary medicine techniques for labour and birth to reduce the rates of epidural in primiparous women: A randomised control trial. Midwifery, 139(104170), 8 pages.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC3
2024 Foster, W., McKellar, L., Fleet, J. A., Creedy, D., & Sweet, L. (2024). The barometer of moral distress in midwifery: A pilot study. Women and Birth, 37(3), 8 pages.
DOI Scopus2 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2024 McKellar, L., Fleet, J. A., & Adelson, P. (2024). ‘There is no other option’: Exploring health care providers' experiences implementing regional multisite midwifery model of care in South Australia. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32(1), 67-79.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC3
2023 Foster, M. W., McKellar, L., Fleet, J. A., & Sweet, L. (2023). Moral distress in midwifery practice: A Delphi study. Women and Birth, 36(5), e544-e555.
DOI Scopus5 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2023 McKellar, L., Graham, K., Sheehan, A., Fleet, J. A., Sidebotham, M., & Sweet, L. (2023). Examining the transformation of midwifery education in Australia to inform future directions: An integrative review. Women and Birth, 36(2), 155-166.
DOI Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC10
2023 Adelson, P., Fleet, J. A., & McKellar, L. (2023). Evaluation of a regional midwifery caseload model of care integrated across five birthing sites in South Australia: Women's experiences and birth outcomes. Women and Birth, 36(1), 80-88.
DOI Scopus7 WoS8 Europe PMC4
2023 McKellar, L., Martinez, L., De Sousa Machado, T., Eden, A., Stoodley, C., & Adelson, P. (2023). Evaluation of a pilot online education program to develop midwives’ knowledge, skill and confidence in perinatal mental health in rural South Australia. Women and Birth, 37(2), S1871-5192(23)00308-6.
DOI Scopus3 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2023 Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Ziaian, T., Steen, M., Fereday, J., & Gwilt, I. (2023). The role of midwives in supporting the development of the mother-infant relationship: a scoping review. BMC Psychology, 11(1), 14 pages.
DOI Scopus12 WoS10 Europe PMC7
2022 Foster, W., McKellar, L., Fleet, J. A., & Sweet, L. (2022). Exploring moral distress in Australian midwifery practice. Women and Birth, 35(4), 349-359.
DOI Scopus20 WoS19 Europe PMC18
2022 Foster, W., McKellar, L., Fleet, J., & Sweet, L. (2022). Moral distress in midwifery practice: A concept analysis. Nursing Ethics, 29(2), 364-383.
DOI Scopus20 WoS18 Europe PMC9
2022 Othman, S., Steen, M., Wepa, D., & McKellar, L. (2022). Examining the influence of self-compassion education and training upon parents and families when caring for their children: a systematic review. Open Psychology Journal, 15(1, article no. e187435012210190), 1-16.
DOI
2021 Birbeck, D., McKellar, L., & Kenyon, K. (2021). Moving beyond first year: an exploration of staff and student experience. Student Success, 12(1), 82-92.
DOI
2021 Sidebotham, M., McKellar, L., Walters, C., Gilkison, A., Davis, D., & Gamble, J. (2021). Identifying the priorities for midwifery education across Australia and New Zealand: a delphi study. Women and Birth, 34(2), 136-144.
DOI
2021 McKellar, L., Newnham, E., Fleet, J. A., & Adelson, P. (2021). Midwifery-led care in South Australia: Looking back to move forward. Women and Birth, 34(5), e537-e545.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2021 Adelson, P., Yates, R., Fleet, J. A., & McKellar, L. (2021). Measuring organizational readiness for implementing change (ORIC) in a new midwifery model of care in rural South Australia. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), 6 pages.
DOI Scopus19 WoS17 Europe PMC12
2021 Adelson, P., Fleet, J. A., McKellar, L., & Eckert, M. (2021). Two decades of Birth Centre and midwifery-led care in South Australia, 1998–2016. Women and Birth, 34(1), e84-e91.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2021 Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Ziaian, T., Steen, M., Gwilt, I., & Fereday, J. (2021). Using co-design to explore how midwives can support the emerging mother-infant relationship during the early postnatal period: Protocol for a mixed methods study. Jmir Research Protocols, 10(6), 12 pages.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2021 Gray, K. L., Grebenshchikova, M., O'Reilly, S. L., McKellar, L., Clifton, P. M., & Keogh, J. B. (2021). Development and validation of an online survey to assess perception of diabetes risk and barriers and facilitators to weight loss following gestational diabetes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(2, 480), 1-14.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC1
2020 Gray, K. L., McKellar, L., O’Reilly, S. L., Clifton, P. M., & Keogh, J. B. (2020). Women’s Barriers to Weight Loss, Perception of Future Diabetes Risk and Opinions of Diet Strategies Following Gestational Diabetes: An Online Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9180.
DOI Scopus8 WoS6 Europe PMC4
2020 Kennedy, K., Adelson, P., Fleet, J., Steen, M., McKellar, L., Eckert, M., & Peters, M. D. J. (2020). Shared decision aids in pregnancy care: A scoping review. Midwifery, 81(102589), 102589.
DOI Scopus30 WoS31 Europe PMC22
2020 Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Steen, M., & Fleet, J. (2020). Simulation in midwifery education: A descriptive explorative study exploring students’ knowledge, confidence and skills in the care of the preterm neonate. Nurse Education in Practice, 42(article no. 102635), 7 pages.
DOI Scopus14 WoS10 Europe PMC7
2020 Bass, J., McKellar, L., & Newnham, E. (2020). Humanisation of childbirth 7. The role of critical pedagogy in midwifery education. The Practising Midwife, 23(3), 13-16.
2019 McKellar, L., Brown, A., & Adelson, P. (2019). A public e-survey to explore community understanding of the role of the midwife in Australia. European Journal of Midwifery, 3(November), 1-9.
DOI Scopus12 Europe PMC7
2019 Gray, K., Grebenshchikova, M., O'Reilly, S., McKellar, L., Clifton, P., & Keogh, J. (2019). Women's barriers to weight loss, knowledge of future diabetes risk and opinions of diet strategies following gestational diabetes: an online survey (or08-01-19). Current developments in nutrition, 3(s1), 1376.
2019 Clohessy, N., McKellar, L., & Fleet, J. (2019). Understanding resilience in the context of midwifery: A concept analysis. Evidence Based Midwifery, 17(1), 10-18.
Scopus6
2019 Charlick, S. J., McKellar, L., Gordon, A. L., & Pincombe, J. (2019). The private journey: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of exclusive breastfeeding. Women and Birth, 32(1), e34-e42.
DOI Scopus21 WoS18 Europe PMC11
2018 McKellar, L., Fleet, J., Vernon, R., Graham, M. K., & Cooper, M. (2018). Comparison of three clinical facilitation models for midwifery students undertaking clinical placement in south Australia. Nurse Education in Practice, 32, 64-71.
DOI Scopus16 WoS15 Europe PMC11
2018 McKellar, L., Fleet, J., & Dove, S. (2018). It's more than just luck: A qualitative exploration of breastfeeding in rural Australia. Women and Birth, 31(3), 177-183.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2018 Sweet, L., Bazargan, M., McKellar, L., Gray, J., & Henderson, A. (2018). Validation of the Australian midwifery standards assessment tool (AMSAT): A tool to assess midwifery competence. Women and birth, 31(1), 59-68.
DOI
2018 Wright, D., Pincombe, J., & McKellar, L. (2018). Exploring routine hospital antenatal care consultations: An ethnographic study. Women and birth, 31(3), E162-E169.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC7
2018 Charlick, S. J., Pincombe, J., McKellar, L., & Gordon, A. L. (2018). Navigating the social complexities of breastfeeding: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of women’s experiences. Evidence Based Midwifery, 16(1), 21-28.
Scopus8
2017 McKellar, L., & Kempster, C. (2017). We're all in this together: midwifery student peer mentoring. Nurse education in practice, 24, 112-117.
DOI
2017 Newnham, E., McKellar, L., & Pincombe, J. (2017). 'It's your body, but…' Mixed messages in childbirth education: findings from a hospital ethnography. Midwifery, 55, 53-59.
DOI
2017 Chen, M. M., McKellar, L., & Pincombe, J. (2017). Influences on vaginal birth after caesarean section: a qualitative study of Taiwanese women. Women and birth, 30(2), e132-e139.
DOI Scopus12 Europe PMC12
2017 Newnham, E. C., McKellar, L. V., & Pincombe, J. I. (2017). Paradox of the institution: findings from a hospital labour ward ethnography. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 17(2), 1-11.
DOI
2017 Steen, M., McKellar, L. V., & Lorensuhewa, N. (2017). Capture my mood: a feasibility study to develop a visual scale for women to self-monitor their mental wellbeing following birth. Evidence based midwifery, 15(2), 54-59.
2017 McKellar, L., & Graham, K. (2017). A review of the literature to inform a best-practice clinical supervision model for midwifery students in Australia. Nurse education in practice, 24, 92-98.
DOI Scopus34 WoS30 Europe PMC23
2017 Charlick, S. J., Fielder, A., Pincombe, J., & McKellar, L. (2017). ‘Determined to breastfeed’: A case study of exclusive breastfeeding using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Women and Birth, 30(4), 325-331.
DOI Scopus14 Europe PMC9
2016 Charlick, S., Pincombe, J., McKellar, L., & Fielder, A. (2016). Making sense of participant experiences: interpretative phenomenological analysis in midwifery research. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 11, 205-216.
DOI Scopus55
2016 Newnham, E., McKellar, L., & Pincombe, J. (2016). A critical literature review of epidural analgesia. Evidence based midwifery, 14(1), 22-28.
2016 Newnham, E. C., Pincombe, J. I., & McKellar, L. V. (2016). Critical medical anthropology in midwifery research: a framework for ethnographic analysis. Global qualitative nursing research, 3, 1-6.
DOI
2016 Morrow, J., Biggs, L., Stelfox, S., Phillips, D., McKellar, L. V., & McLachlan, H. (2016). Evaluating a standardised clinical assessment tool for pre-registration midwifery students: A cross-sectional survey of midwifery students and midwives in Australia. Women and Birth, 29(1), 85-92.
DOI Europe PMC8
2015 Charlick, S., McKellar, L., Fielder, A., & Pincombe, J. (2015). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Implementing Research to Influence Breastfeeding Education. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 30(2), 49-54.
2015 Newnham, E. C., McKellar, L. V., & Pincombe, J. I. (2015). Documenting risk : a comparison of policy and information pamphlets for using epidural or water in labour. Women and birth, 23(3), 221-227.
DOI
2014 McKellar, L., Charlick, S., Warland, J., & Birbeck, D. (2014). Access, boundaries and confidence: the ABC of facilitating continuity of care experience in midwifery education. Women and birth, 27(4), 61-66.
DOI Scopus21 WoS17 Europe PMC8
2014 Warland, J., McKellar, L., & Diaz, M. (2014). Assertiveness training for undergraduate midwifery students. Nurse Education in Practice, 14(6), 752-756.
DOI Scopus24 WoS20 Europe PMC13
2014 McKellar, L. V., & Taylor, K. (2014). Safe arrivals: responding to the local context in a training program for birth attendants in Cambodia. International journal of childbirth, 4(2), 77-85.
DOI
2013 Wood, H., McKellar, L. V., & Lightbody, M. (2013). Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy : blooming or bloomin' awful? : a review of the literature. Women and birth, 26(2), 100-104.
DOI
2013 Newnham, E. C., Pincombe, J., & McKellar, L. V. (2013). Access or egress? Questioning the 'ethics' of ethics committee review for an ethnographic doctoral research study in a childbirth setting. International journal of doctoral studies, 8, 121-136.
2010 Pincombe, J., McKellar, L. V., Weise, M., Grinter, E. M., & Beresford, G. (2010). ePortfolio in midwifery practice: the way of the future. Women and birth, 23(3), 94-102.
DOI Scopus23 Europe PMC9
2010 McKellar, L. V., Pincombe, J., & Henderson, A. (2010). Action research: a process to facilitate collaboration and change in clinical midwifery practice. Evidence - Based Midwifery, 8(3), 85-90.
Scopus4
2009 McKellar, L., Pincombe, J., & Henderson, A. (2009). 'Coming ready or not!' Preparing parents for parenthood. British journal of midwifery, 17(3), 160-167.
DOI Scopus21
2009 McKellar, L., Pincombe, J., & Henderson, A. (2009). Encountering the culture of midwifery practice on the postnatal ward during Action Research: An impediment to change. Women and Birth, 22(4), 112-118.
DOI Scopus11 Europe PMC5
2008 McKellar, L., Pincombe, J., & Henderson, A. (2008). Enhancing fathers' educational experiences during the early postnatal period. Journal of perinatal education, 17(4), 12-20.
DOI WoS17 Europe PMC16
2007 Pincombe, J., McKellar, L. V., Grech, C. M., Fedoruk, M., Bria, K. R., Grinter, E. M., & Beresford, G. (2007). Midwifery education in Australia: requirements for assessment. British Journal of Midwifery.
2007 Pincombe, J., McKellar, L. V., Grech, C. M., Grinter, E. M., & Beresford, G. (2007). Registration requirements for midwives in Australia: a Delphi study. British Journal of Midwifery.
2006 McKellar, L., Pincombe, J., & Henderson, A. (2006). Insights from Australian parents into educational experiences in the early postnatal period. Midwifery, 22(4), 356-364.
DOI Scopus40 WoS32 Europe PMC31
2002 McKellar, L., Pincombe, J., & Henderson, A. (2002). Congratulations you're a mother: a strategy for enhancing postnatal education for first-time mothers investigated through an action research cycle.. Women and Birth, 15(3), 24-31.
DOI Scopus8 Europe PMC6

  • Perineal Wound Care Project, Wound Management Innovation CRC, 01/02/2016 - 31/12/2017

Programs I'm associated with

  • IBMW - Bachelor of Midwifery

Connect With Me

External Profiles

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