Melissa Gardiner presentation_WIRF Scientific Dialogue_28 August 2026

Ms Melissa Gardiner from Edith Cowan University presents on the topic ‘The perceived value of a midwifery led on-call telephone service: State Obstetric Referral Call (STORC) from St John Ambulance WA clinicians’ as part of the Student Researcher Competition at the 2026 WIRF Scientific Dialogue. Melissa Gardiner is a dual-registered paramedic and midwife with 25 years’ experience in paramedicine and 15 years in midwifery. An early-career researcher and mother of three, she is passionate about improving maternal and newborn health, particularly emergency and unscheduled care in the prehospital environment. Combining her two clinical careers, Melissa identified gaps in paramedics’ competence and confidence in women’s health, pregnancy and birth. In response, she created STORC (State Obstetric Referral Call Service), Australia’s first 24-hour telephone service connecting clinicians with specialist obstetric support.