Biography and expertise
Biography
Anna Foster is a registered nurse and midwife with over two decades of experience in clinical practice and nursing education. She is currently a lecturer in the School of Nursing at Southern Cross University, where she has taught for 14 years. Her academic work focuses on surgical nursing, intensive care, and the transition of enrolled nurses to registered nurse practice, alongside leading academic coordination of student professional placements. Most recently, Anna has been working to integrate planetary health concepts within nursing curricula.
With a background in intensive care nursing in both Queensland and the UK, Anna brings deep clinical expertise to her teaching. Her qualifications span nursing, midwifery, critical care, and advanced practice, and she is currently undertaking doctoral research at the University of Technology Sydney. Her PhD explores planetary health, sustainability, and climate change, and their implications for healthcare delivery and healthcare system resilience.
Anna's work contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals
Research
Anna’s academic and research interests sit at the intersection of sustainable healthcare, climate-resilient health systems, and undergraduate healthcare student education, with a particular focus on preparing the future nursing workforce to address the health impacts of environmental change. She is an active member of the Planetary Health Collaborative for Nurses and Midwives and is committed to advancing sustainability within healthcare education and practice.
Teaching
Anna brings a strong commitment to high-quality teaching, academic mentorship, and evidence-informed pedagogy, and is passionate about equipping nursing students with the knowledge and skills needed to lead in a changing healthcare landscape.