Associate ProfessorFarida Saghafi

Dr Farida Saghafi is an Associate Professor in Nursing at UTAS Health, University of Tasmania. Dr Saghafi is a leader in nursing education and critical care, having successfully transitioned from a clinical leader in Intensive Care to a leader in academia. Central to her academic identity is achieving sustainable health outcomes by developing a capable workforce, narrowing academic-industry gaps, and positioning the Postgraduate Nursing Program as a leader in innovation and quality by delivering a distinctive, flexible, interdisciplinary, and student-centric curriculum. Dr Saghafi exemplifies the UTAS’s mission to deliver meaningful impact through collaboration, sustainability and excellence. Her profound clinical expertise, particularly in critical care nursing, and academic abilities, with a deep commitment to nursing education and research, are evident throughout her three-decade nursing career. With a PhD in Nursing from the Australian Catholic University, her academic journey reflects perseverance and dedication, having balanced her doctoral studies part-time while managing family commitments and full-time clinical work. 

Dr Saghafi's professional narrative is marked by her significant role in leading postgraduate studies at the School of Nursing, having led major strategic reforms grounded in industry partnership, sustainability and excellence. Dr Saghafi reconfigured the postgraduate curriculum, embedding flexibility, interdisciplinary collaboration and alignment with career pathways, positioning it for successful accreditation by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council for the first time (Designated RN Prescribing). This initiative responded directly to national health priorities and the University's Strategic focus on distinctive student experience. Most recently, Dr Saghaf led the successful accreditation for the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery. 

Dr Saghafi previously served as the School of Nursing Academic Integrity Advisor Lead when she played a pivotal role in upholding the standards and reputation of the School by guiding and resolving academic integrity issues. Her leadership in learning and teaching extends to her role as Associate Head of School, Learning and Teaching, where she aims to leverage her extensive experience in curriculum design, research, and academic leadership to further elevate the standards of learning and teaching in postgraduate courses. Dr Saghafi is dedicated to creating immersive learning environments that prepare Registered Nurses for the complexities of healthcare in various specialised areas.

Prior to academic life,  Dr Saghafi served in various clinical, educational, and leadership roles in healthcare settings for more than two decades, including Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator, Associate Director of Nursing, and Quality and Risk Manager.  

Due to her commitment to the profession and expertise in research and nursing practice, Dr Saghafi has been appointed as the Editor of the Journal of Collegian. She also actively contributes to her specialty field of nursing practice through the Australian College of Critical Care Nursing (ACCCN), where she serves on the National Education Advisory Panel. This panel comprises ten members and provides expert knowledge, advice, and information to ACCCN on all matters relevant to educational issues. Dr Saghafi also serves as a member of the ACCCN Course Endorsement Group. 

Dr Saghafi has been elected as a member of the Academic Senate and currently serves as the Interim Head of School.