Mrs. Leola Moore-Coulson
Lecturer, Child and Family Health
Campus
Biography
Mrs Leola Moore-Coulson is a lecturer in Midwifery, specialising in child and family health. Leola’s academic work is grounded in extensive clinical experience and focuses on improving outcomes for children and families through strengthening the integration of theory, evidence and practice within midwifery and maternal and child health education.
Leola has a strong interest in teaching and learning within midwifery and child and family health education, particularly pedagogical approaches that support conceptual understanding, clinical reasoning and skill development. She is committed to supporting students to move from uncertainty to confidence and values the challenge of explaining complex concepts in ways that foster meaningful learning and professional growth.
Before joining Federation, Leola worked as a nurse and midwife across paediatrics and midwifery, followed by 15 years in maternal and child health nursing. During this time, she developed a strong interest in continuity of care and father‑inclusive practice, supervising and mentoring students and graduate practitioners within clinical and community settings.
Leola’s scholarly interests centre on child and family health outcomes, continuity of care models, father‑inclusive practice, perinatal and infant mental health and excellence in midwifery and health professional education. Her work bridges clinical practice, midwifery education, and workforce development in maternal and child health.
More about Leola
Qualifications
- Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing), Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education
- Bachelor of Nursing, La Trobe University
- Certificate of Paediatrics, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne
- Graduate Diploma of Midwifery, La Trobe University
- Master of Health, Monash University
- Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Health Nursing, RMIT University
- Diploma of Management, Australian Institute of Management
Areas of interest
- Promoting optimal developmental, health and wellbeing outcomes for infants, children and their families across community and clinical settings.
- Father-inclusive practice
- Continuity of care models in child and family health
- Perinatal and infant mental health
- Teaching and learning in midwifery and child and family health
Areas of expertise
Leola has expertise in child and family health and midwifery, with a particular focus on improving outcomes for children and families through father‑inclusive practice and continuity of care. Her teaching and research interests extend across maternal and child health and midwifery education, with an emphasis on father-inclusive practice, continuity of care and supporting student learning, clinical reasoning and skill development. Leola also brings extensive experience from paediatrics, midwifery, and maternal and child health nursing, including supporting students and graduate practitioners in clinical and community‑based settings. She has a strong interest in pedagogical approaches that enhance conceptual understanding and confidence in learners, particularly in translating complex theory into effective practice within child and family health contexts.
Current
- Master's student, Federation University, 'Exploring healthcare students’ knowledge and preparedness to support co-regulation approaches to infant sleep’, co-supervisor.
- Child and family health nursing
- Child development
- Clinical reasoning and skill development
- Family inclusive practice
- Midwifery
Professional association memberships
- Victorian Association of Maternal and Child Health Nurses
- Maternal, Child and Family Health Nurses Australia