Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I am an Associate Professor of Clinical Informatics whose research focuses on protecting the health of pregnant women, new mothers, newborns and children in a changing climate. I lead projects that apply data, digital innovation and community-based approaches to build climate-resilient healthcare systems across the Asia-Pacific.
Through the Maternal and Child Health Climate Adaptation and Resilience (MCH-CARE) Network, which I founded, I collaborate with community members, researchers, health professionals, and policy partners to design scalable, gender-responsive solutions that safeguard maternal and child health and wellbeing in a changing climate, including severe weather events.
My work combines systems thinking, digital health innovation, and policy translation to address questions such as:
- How can we empower communities to protect maternal and child health from the impacts of changning climate?
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How can health data and informatics be used to anticipate and prevent maternal and child health service disruptions?
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How can frontline services and families be better supported through preparedness training, digital tools, and community networks?
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How can we embed equity and climate adaptation and resilience into health governance frameworks?
I welcome partnerships with universities, governments, NGOs, and industry collaborators interested in maternal-child health, climate-resilient health systems, and sustainable (green) digital transformation.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Tissue Engineering, PhD, Angiogenic growth and remodelling in a large non-collapsible in vivo space with tissue engineering applications, University of Melbourne
15 Feb 2002 → 14 Feb 2005
Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours), Identification of endothelial precursor cells in cutaneous wound tissue by immunohistochemistry, RMIT University
Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Applied Science, RMIT University
Higher Education, Graduate Certificate in University Teaching, University of Melbourne
Health Informatics, Digital Health, Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Digital Health, University of Melbourne
Nursing, Master of Nursing Science, University of Melbourne
Research area keywords
- Maternal and Child Health
- Pregnancy
- Health Informatics
- Planetary Health
- Climate Change and Health
- Cardiovascular Health
- Workforce development and training
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Maternal and Child Health Climate Resilience in Indo-Pacific Region
Tomkins, Z. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mortreux, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bhandari, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hossain, M. K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Su, T. T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Susanti, S. S. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Prasad, P. (Chief Investigator (CI))
3/02/25 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Asia-Pacific resilient hospitals and health facilities initiative
Abrahams, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Newstead, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bone, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Capon, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cameron, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), O'Reilly, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sikic, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tomkins, Z. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Leder, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ramirez, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Flynn, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Heiss, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Munasinghe, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Su, T. T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Masayuni, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Achour, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Humphrey, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Abo, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wong, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Warren, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Samuel, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Camacho-Vasconez, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bailey, S. (Project Manager) & Law, R. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/11/24 → 30/11/25
Project: Research
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Woman Empowerment in Mitigation of Climate Change's Impact on Health
Susanti, S. S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Tomkins, Z. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Borda, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/07/23 → 31/07/24
Project: Research
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Framing Postgraduate Curriculum and Assessment for Digital Health
Tomkins, Z. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), McInerney, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Farlie, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Walker, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Robinson, L. (Chief Investigator (CI))
3/01/23 → 30/06/24
Project: Research
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Addressing healthcare professionals’ fatigue for effective climate action engagement
Robinson, E. (Leading Author), Bhandari, D., Donohue, R. & Lokmic-Tomkins, Z. (Leading Author), 1 Jan 2025, In: The Journal of Climate Change and Health. 21, 6 p., 100366.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Development and Validation of Statements on Nursing Digital Capabilities for Climate-Resilient Healthcare Systems
Lokmic-Tomkins, Z., Golz, C. & Peltonen, L. M., 7 Aug 2025, Proceedings of the 20th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics. Peltonen, L.-M. & Valeriano de Borja Marcelo, A. (eds.). Amsterdam Netherlands: IOS Press, p. 1500-1504 5 p. (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics; vol. 329).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Environmental, Social and Governance principles in Australian publicly funded healthcare: an extension of value-based care
Ward, A., Holmes, M. E., Ward, I., Lokmic-Tomkins, Z., East, L. & Levett-Jones, T., 25 Feb 2025, In: Australian Health Review. 49, 2, 3 p., AH24296.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Other › peer-review
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Glycerol-plasticized silk fibroin vascular grafts mimic key mechanical properties of native blood vessels
Alkazemi, H., Chai, J., Allardyce, B. J., Lokmic-Tomkins, Z., O'Connor, A. J. & Heath, D. E., Jan 2025, In: Journal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part A. 113, 1, 9 p., e37802.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
Indonesian Women's Climate and Health Information Needs
Lokmic-Tomkins, Z., Jacinta, H. A., Aini, Q., Merduaty, R. C., Sari, I. P. & Susanti, S. S., 7 Aug 2025, Proceedings of the 20th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics. Peltonen, L.-M. & Valeriano de Borja Marcelo, A. (eds.). Amsterdam Netherlands: IOS Press, p. 1510-1514 5 p. (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics; vol. 329).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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Australian School of Applied Management-Women in Leadership Australia Award
Tomkins, Z. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Australian Society for Vascular Biology First Prize for Outstanding Presentation
Tomkins, Z. (Recipient), 2012
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Australian Society for Vascular Biology Travel Grant
Tomkins, Z. (Recipient), 2012
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery Aspiring Deans Fellow
Tomkins, Z. (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Framing postgraduate curriculum and assessment for digital health
Tomkins, Z. (Recipient), 14 Nov 2022
Prize: Competitive Fellowships
Activities
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Standardising Data: A Crucial Step for Protecting Maternal and Child Health from Climate Change Impacts
Tomkins, Z. (Contributor)
3 Jun 2024Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Climate Change & Health: Why is it so hard to engage stakeholders in research?
Tomkins, Z. (Contributor)
8 May 2024Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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International Congress on Nursing Informatics 2024
Tomkins, Z. (Organiser)
31 Jul 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics 2023
Tomkins, Z. (Organiser)
8 Jul 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Journal of Advanced Nursing (Journal)
Tomkins, Z. (Guest editor)
2023 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
Press/Media
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Women are central to climate change adaptation in Southeast Asia
Pandya-Wood, R., Fernando, G., Azhari, A. & Tomkins, Z.
11/11/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Beat the heat: Vital tips for cardiovascular well-being amid scorching summer heatwaves
1/02/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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We Need ICD Codes for Climate-Linked Health Outcomes — Improved medical coding can help quantify health consequences of climate change
25/11/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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COP28: Why going beyond net zero is necessary to protect public health
1/11/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Nurses and midwives’ vital role in the fight against climate change (Monash Lens)
8/12/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature