School of Nursing and Midwifery

Dr Martina Costello

Martina is a lecturer and course coordinator within the undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programs, across both campuses.

Remaining clinically active enables Martina to implement and focus on developing students’ employability skills while providing high-quality research informed activities for students by creating optimal learning environments, and promoting equality, diversity, and social responsibility.

Background

Dr. Martina Costello is a dynamic and innovative nursing academic who integrates active clinical practice with academic expertise to deliver evidence-based, student-centered nursing education. With a PhD focused on the emotional and social support needs of nurses and six years of teaching experience across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, Dr. Costello has built a strong reputation for excellence in teaching, research, and academic leadership.

As Course Coordinator at ECU, she leads curriculum design and delivery across multiple campuses, manages academic staff teams, and ensures program compliance with AHPRA standards. She currently leads the reaccreditation of the Master of Nursing program while implementing innovative student support initiatives including the Enrolled Nurse Transition Program.

Dr. Costello supervises six Higher Degree by Research students, including one Master of Nursing (Research) candidate, two Doctor of Philosophy students, and three Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) students. Her structured and supportive supervision approach focuses on regular engagement, clear milestone planning, and integration of students into the broader research community.

Her clinical experience spans metropolitan, rural, and remote settings, including First Nations healthcare delivery, informing her approach to nursing education and research. Dr. Costello is committed to fostering inclusive and culturally responsive nursing education, playing a key role in developing the ECU Wellness Hub and serving on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Inclusion Committee.

Current Teaching

• NPU2303 Nursing Practice 3
• NCS6101 Fundamentals of nursing

Teaching Areas

• Undergraduate nursing education
• Clinical skills and simulation
• Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse transition
• Postgraduate nursing education
• Clinical placement coordination
• Digital health technologies in education
• HDR and Masters research supervision

Community Engagement

• ECU Wellness Hub Coordinator - providing health checks and preventative health education to community members in partnership with local organisations
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Inclusion Committee Member
• Mentor for early-career academics through the IMATE program
• Active clinical practice at Joondalup Health Campus and in community disability settings

Professional Associations

• Registered Nurse, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Fellow, Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA)
• Fellow, Advance HE (Higher Education Academy)
• Member, Australian Nursing Federation
• Member, Australian College of Nursing
• Member, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

Awards

• Early Mid-Career Researcher Award, ECU (2024)
• Discovery Grant ($25,000), Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (2024) - For developing, implementing and evaluating a co-design support strategy for Senior Registered Nurses
• Advanced HE Fellowship (2024)
• HERDSA Fellowship (2024)
• HERDSA Early Career Grant (2023)
• ECU School of Nursing and Midwifery Dean's Teaching & Learning Grants (2023-2024) - Multiple grants for projects including simulation enhancement, AI technology support, EMR integration, and regional campus student support initiatives
• Vice-Chancellor's Staff Excellence Award Nomination (2020)

Research Areas and Interests 

• Emotional and social support needs of nursing staff
• Nursing workforce development and retention
• Academic integrity in nursing education
• Nursing transition education (EN to RN)
• Clinical practice improvement and innovation
• Simulation-based education in nursing

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University, 2024.
• Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Edith Cowan University, 2021.
• Master of Nursing, University of Notre Dame Australia, 2018.
• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing, University of Notre Dame Australia, 2015.
• Bachelor of Nursing, University of Notre Dame Australia, 2013.

Research Outputs

Research Student Supervision