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Darling Downs Health midwifery leader Karen McDonald Smith has been appointed Chair of the Australian College of Midwives Queensland Branch, recognising her depth of clinical expertise and long standing advocacy for woman centred care.
The appointment places Ms McDonald Smith at the forefront of professional midwifery leadership in Queensland, providing a strong voice for midwives across the state while complementing her role at Darling Downs Health as Midwife Guide, educator and senior professional advisor.
Darling Downs Health Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM said Ms McDonald Smith’s appointment was a significant achievement for both the health service and the region.
“Karen is an exceptional midwifery leader whose influence is felt well beyond the Darling Downs,” Ms Scott said.
“Her commitment to evidence based, woman centred care, her focus on workforce development, and her ability to lead with integrity and compassion make her an outstanding choice to represent Queensland midwives at a state level.
We are incredibly proud to see her recognised in this way."
Darling Downs Health Service Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM
With a career spanning clinical practice, continuity of care models, private midwifery, education and professional governance, Ms McDonald Smith brings a breadth of experience to the role.
Ms McDonald Smith trained in Toowoomba 17 years ago at a time when the birth centre and Darling Downs midwifery group practice were emerging.
“I was surrounded by midwives working to create change and was fortunate to witness advocacy every day,” she said.
Her leadership approach has been shaped by a distinctive background, graduating from the Royal Military College, Canberra, at just 20 years old, before entering into nursing and midwifery.
“Those early experiences gave me a strong foundation in practical leadership,” she said.
“Midwifery then shaped my advocacy, compassion and transformational leadership. My leadership has now extended beyond the clinical space into policy, system reform and professional influence.”
As Midwife Guide at Darling Downs Health, Ms McDonald Smith oversees professional standards, education and governance across a geographically diverse region.
“Education is at the heart of workforce capability and sustainability,” she said.
“We’ve introduced a midwifery mentor program that partners experienced midwives with first year practitioners, alongside a strong focus on visible and approachable midwifery leadership.”
In her new role as Chair of the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) Queensland Branch, Ms McDonald Smith said her priority will be connection and representation.
“ACM is the professional voice of midwives in Australia,” she said.
“Midwives are strongest when we stand together. My focus will be connecting with midwives across the state so I can honestly and accurately represent their voice and support meaningful change.”
She said the role strongly aligns with her work at Darling Downs Health, allowing insights from frontline practice to inform statewide advocacy while bringing broader professional perspectives back to the region.
“Women deserve to feel safe and secure during one of the most important times of their lives. In my current roles, I now get to support midwives so they can best support women and families,” Ms McDonald Smith said.