My background
I have now retired, but this is a summary of the various breastfeeding activities I have been involved in over the past 35+ years. At the end is some information about my other interests and activities.
- Appointed a
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
for significant service to women's health, and to the community
(2013)
- Breastfeeding Counsellor
and Community Educator
I was a volunteer breastfeeding counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) - formerly the Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia (NMAA) for 30 years, from (1987 to 2017). I have continued in my role as a volunteer breastfeeding educator with ABA.
During my time with ABA and NMAA I have had various local and national roles including Board of Directors and National Training Team. I have been an ABA Honorary Life Member since 2007.
Diploma of Breastfeeding Management
Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- Committees
Female Convicts Research Centre (Treasurer)
Convict Women's Press (Treasurer)
Tasmanian Family History Society (TFHS), Hobart Branch (President)
TFHS, Hobart Branch, DNA Interest Group, Founder and Co-Convenor
Tasmanian Historical Research Association (Committee Member)
From the Shadows (Treasurer)
- Breastfeeding
Coalition Tasmania
Inaugural member and active since inception in 1996
Convenor 2010-present
- Former International Board Certified
Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
I was continuously certified as an IBCLC from 1989 to the end of 2017 when I let my certification lapse, as I was retired. I mainly used this certification in an administrative position, teaching, and in a small community based private practice. I originally qualified and worked as an occupational therapist, and I transferred some of these skills to my work as an IBCLC.
- International Board of
Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)
I served on the IBLCE Board of Directors (1991-1995) and worked for the IBLCE in various capacities from 1991-2008. My substantive role was as Regional Administrator managing IBLCE's operations in Asia Pacific and Southern Africa; also Assistant Executive Director (1997-2007) and Interim Executive Director (Jan-Jul 2005).
- Baby Friendly Hospital
Initiative
I was an Australian BFHI trainer, lead assessor and reviewer (1993-2013). I was also an experienced International BFHI trainer and assessor (BFHI Global documents). I served on the BFHI Tasmania Committee (1996-present) and was a BFHI national delegate 1996-2011. I have been actively involved in the Australian BFHI document revision and assessor/lead assessor training. I have served as a consultant to other countries on BFHI national implementation, including train-the-trainer programs. I represented Australia at the Meeting of BFHI Coordinators and Focal Points in Industrialised Countries, WHO Geneva (2008) and Innocenti Florence (2010).
- International Code of Marketing
of Breastmilk Substitutes
I was involved in drafting the Australian MAIF Agreement (1991-1992) and served as Community Representative (1992-1997) on the Australian Government's Advisory Panel on the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula (APMAIF). I was a participant in the WHO Consultant Briefing to train International Consultants on the implementation of the International Code (1993). I have been involved in subsequent projects.
- International Speaker
I retired from doing professional presentations in 2017. Before that I had presented numerous professional papers on a wide range of topics and/or conducted workshops in the following countries:
Australia; Croatia; Germany; Hong Kong, China; France; Japan; Mexico; New Zealand; Philippines; Singapore; South Africa; South Korea; Switzerland; Taiwan; Thailand; UK; USA; Zimbabwe.
- Council of Obstetric &
Paediatric Morbidity and Mortality (Tasmania)
I served as the Community Representative on the Council (1999 to 2012, appointed by the Minister for Health.
- Tasmanian Clinical Council, Community
Representative 2010-2012
- Occupational Therapy
Diploma of Occupational Therapy (1971)
Bachelor Applied Science (1978)
- Other interests and (former) activities
Family history research, especially using DNA to solve mysteries
Tasmanian convict and colonial research
Bushwalking (MUMC and VMTC)
Bushwalking and Mountaincraft Leadership (Victoria)
Bushwalking and Mountaincraft Trainee Advisory Board
Orienteering (Australian championships W21A: 1st 1971; 2nd 1972)