Outstanding women's health educator wins national university teaching award
Dr Filippe Oliveira from the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health received a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning at the 2023 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) last week.
The awards were established in 1997 by the Australian Government to celebrate and reward excellence in university teaching and recognise the impact that educators have on the learning and teaching experiences and outcomes of university students.
Dr Oliveira was recognised for his work in empowering the current and future women's health workforce with authentic learning experiences through his roles in convening undergraduate unit BME3082: Fetal and neonatal development and postgraduate unit GRS4103: Pregnancy and parturition in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He was also recognised for his coordination of a suite of accredited short courses in women's and children's health.
Dr Oliveira is a highly-regarded educator who has created meaningful and sustained positive impacts on student learning and broader women's health workforce development with a practical teaching style that focuses on 'students as people first, and students second'.
Located at Monash Medical Centre, Dr Oliveira's teaching is designed to bridge the gap between clinicians and scientists in the real world of perinatal medicine and foster a strong and inquisitive connection to the field.
In 2016, conversations with Monash Health employees revealed a desire for more continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities in Women's Health beyond the usual large annual conferences. So, in 2017, working closely with senior colleagues in his division, Dr Oliveira established the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology CPD program, a pivotal educational milestone in the field.
The program offers a range of externally accredited CPD activities, including interactive short courses and hands-on workshops, addressing various topics in obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive health. The program has grown remarkably, with over 1500 health professionals enrolled across Australia and overseas. As a result of Dr Oliveira's work, these healthcare workers now have improved knowledge, confidence and skills to provide better care for women and their babies.
Dr Filippe Oliveira
Dr Oliveira said he was humbled and thrilled to be recognised nationally with an AAUT Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. "Educational experiences are not just about what we teach but how and why we connect", he said. "With this philosophy, I'm proud that my efforts have consistently led to positive outcomes for students and the wider women's health workforce. I'm confident that my learners have evolved into 'maternal and fetal health champions,' well-prepared for future roles in research or healthcare settings."
Monash Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences' Deputy Dean Education, Professor Claire Palermo, congratulated Dr Oliveira on his award. "I'm delighted to see Filippe recognised nationally for his outstanding efforts in teaching", she said. "His innovations and education leadership in translating authentic work experiences into his teaching practice are exceptional. We are lucky to have Filippe in our faculty."
Learn more about the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology's accredited short courses in women's health.
About Monash University
Monash University is Australia’s largest university with more than 80,000 students. In the 60 years since its foundation, it has developed a reputation for world-leading high-impact research, quality teaching, and inspiring innovation.
With four campuses in Australia and a presence in Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia and Italy, it is one of the most internationalised Australian universities.
As a leading international medical research university with the largest medical faculty in Australia and integration with leading Australian teaching hospitals, we consistently rank in the top 50 universities worldwide for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences.
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