National Office
BARB VERNON
Executive Officer
executiveofficer@midwvies.org.au
Many of you will know me already, as in only one more month I will have been privileged to work for the College for 5 years. I don’t know where the time has gone! But for those of you who have recently joined the College, or whom I’ve not yet had the pleasure of meeting, allow me to introduce myself.
Prior to my working life at the College I taught politics in a number of universities, followed by 10 years in 3 different departments in the Commonwealth public service - none of which had anything to do with health! But I learnt a good deal from these experiences about how governments make (or don’t make) policies which has come in handy in the past 5 years and I gained some experience in management too.
I think for me, the key thing in my past relevant to my current role, is that I gave birth to 2 beautiful boys in the care of a known midwife - who educated me kindly and compassionately about more than just labour and birth! As I met women in playgroups with my babies who had experienced the most awful maternity care, I became determined to try and make a difference. I then worked for 4 years as a volunteer, and with many amazing women and men across Australia, we built the Maternity Coalition into a national advocacy organisation. That rounded off my education about influencing governments nicely, as I’d not previously been on the outside trying to lobby governments.
In the time I have worked for the College I have been endlessly inspired by midwives. The passion, commitment and compassion you bring to your work, together with the courage in standing up for what is right for women and their babies gives me daily reminders of why I love my job. It’s hard slog. Things don’t always go according to plan. But I continue to feel privileged to be trusted to lead the National Office and to support you - our members - to be your best as a midwife, in whatever role and endeavour you are involved in.
LIZ WILKES
Professional Officer
Hi. I am Liz Wilkes, Professional Officer currently on Maternity Leave. My beautiful baby girl is currently 11 weeks old and I am really enjoying being a mother for the third time after having two boys now aged 5 and 7.
I am a passionate midwife who has worked providing continuity of care both in the public sector and in private practice. My initial midwifery education was in Newcastle and I worked in Newcastle at John Hunter Hospital before, during and after my midwifery course. I lived in the UK for a few years before moving to Toowoomba with my husband.
Birth reform takes up lots of my energy both inside and outside work!! I started working for the College in January 2007 which I saw as a way of supporting the midwifery profession. It has been an amazing opportunity to date. I have been privileged enough to meet lots of amazing and passionate midwives and lots of people who we need to educate and influence about what we do as midwives. My role may well have evolved significantly by the time I return to work early next year as the team in the National Office grows and changes but I see that as a midwife I can provide knowledge and direction on midwifery issues. This is often accomplished by liaising to the resources that exist within the College - the various state branch members, advisory committees, Board members and other members who contribute so much to make up the College. My aim is that the College is the peak professional body representing every midwife in the country to enable them to do whatever they wish to do as a professional.
ABBY CLEMENCE
National Programs Manager
programs@midwives.org.au
Welcome to your own personal CPD trainer! I am Abby Clemence and the runaway train that is to be the future of irresistible education for midwives has well and truly ‘left the station’! I am the National Programs Manager and three months into my new role, my focus is to support you to be the best caretaker of women and their families that you want to become. At the moment I am assisting midwives, just like you to further develop their career paths using the College’s continuing professional development (CPD) tools such as MidPLUS and Midwifery Practice Review. I am finding this so exciting, particularly the self-reflection component part of developing a midwifery portfolio as the feedback I am receiving is overwhelmingly good!
My background is in adult education – I am a qualified trainer, and have been involved in marketing, communications and conference and event management for over 15 years. My father was a teacher who instilled in me the passion of the life long journey of learning and my mother, a nurse, inspired in me a fascination with the human body and good nutrition. My husband, Pete and my two children, Piper and Will (three and four years old respectively) are the centre of my world. I am energetic and love being active and challenged. I love my new role at the College as I have been able to combine all my passions into this National Programs Manager role!
You will find me at the National office four days a week – Mondays-Thursdays. I look forward to seeing your emails or speaking with you over the phone!
HEATHER ARTUSO
Baby Friendly Health Initiative Manager
bfhi@midwives.org.au
My name is Heather and I am the BFHI Manager.
I came to work at the College in April 2008 after enjoying 12 months of parental leave from the workplace. I have a background in industry accreditation schemes, and have a strong administrative and program management skills.
After completing college in 2002 I started work in administrative roles with Country Energy in Queanbeyan, and then the Australian Trucking Association in Canberra. I returned to work part-time for 9 months following the birth of my beautiful daughter in 2006, but after the first year flying by so quickly, decided I would take some time off work to enjoy being a stay-at-home mum.
After the birth of my daughter, I decided that I wanted to study the Bachelor of Midwifery after being encouraged to do so by a midwife. After researching the course in Canberra, and discovering that one was not yet on offer, I decided to find suitable work within the industry at a more administrative level until the BMid gets up and running. Upon seeing the advertisement for the BFHI Manager role with the College I knew that this was the job I wanted and set about applying. The rest, as they say, is history.
My mother is also a semi-retired midwife here in Canberra, so I have grown up knowing the intimacies of midwifery (as best as a non-midwife can!). I am still planning on completing a Bachelor of Midwifery in the next few years, and I plan on staying within the industry for as long as it will have me.
JAN SPINKS
Finance Manager & Office Administrator
finance@midwives.org.au
I commenced working with the Australian College of Midwives on 18th June, 2007.
Having always worked in the finance field, the ACM was an obvious choice when I found myself looking for a new position last year.
I owned my own business, Trophies and Giftware in NSW and have worked for XTEK Limited (Fyshwick, ACT) and Fernwood Women’s Health Club (Woden, ACT)
I have 3 children - 1 in Canberra, 1 in Port Macquarie and 1 half a world away in London who mean everything to me. I enjoy going to the gym, reading and candlelight dinners (with the right person, of course!).
Volunteering has been a big part of my life over the past 20 yrs; from working with CanTeen - selling thousands of Bandanas every year, Apex – where I was awarded National Female Apexian of the Year to Camp Quality which is my current source of inspiration.
We have a great team at the Australian College of Midwives and we will endeavour to give as much support to the Midwives of Australia as we can.
I look forward to working with you all.
LOUISE ALLEN
Membership Officer (Victoria)
membersvic@midwives.org.au
Hi my name is Louise and I am the Victorian Membership officer for the College. Although I am located in Canberra I travel to Melbourne every few months to catch up with the current issues for Victorian midwives. I also help out with membership and other matters within the National Office from time to time.
I have spent a lot of my working career working for not-for-profit organisations. I originally studied to become a paramedic at school but due to severe chemical allergies that career path was no longer appropriate for me to pursue. I then went into Community Services as a carer and worked in childcare and disability areas. I spent time as a social worker supporting children taken out of their homes (by court order) due to parental/carer drug use, abuse etc. I then worked as a dental surgical assistant at a Periodontics but again my allergies caught up with me.
For the past year I have worked in an office position. I am very happy to be working for the College as I strongly believe in our goals that foster the support/care given to midwives and women alike. I come from a very large family which is only getting bigger (my new nephew was born three weeks ago, and my other niece/nephew is due in August!) and I can see now more than ever how very important midwifery care is. I have made it my mission to promote midwifery care and educate people of my age (I’m 22) how important it is to make the right decisions in child birth and feeding their baby.
If you need any help in logging online or you want to renew your membership or change your payment details I am the person you want to talk to. I look forward to talking with you soon and when I am in Melbourne I will hopefully get to meet some of you in person. I am very proud to tell people who I work for and I am constantly telling people what an amazing bunch of midwives I help to support. Please feel free to contact me via phone or email membersvic@midwives.org.au if you have any questions or concerns regarding your membership.
KIM BULMAN
Membership Officer
members@midwives.org.au
Hi, my name is Kim Bulman and I have just started working for the Australian College of Midwives as a membership officer. Some of my daily tasks include payroll deductions, adding new members to our database and processing purchase orders for hospitals and suppliers.
I am 19 years old (the baby of the team!) and my previous areas of work have included retail, hospitality, cosmetic surgery and administration. I come from a small family with only one younger sister, and before moving into this role was somewhat in the dark about midwifery care in Australia. It wasn't until I found myself surrounded by stories about the overbearing pain and contagious joy of childbirth that I realised how much more there is to midwifery than is actually visible.
My initial interest in this role was purely due to a desire for change, and I feel that this position has given me the opportunity I wanted to be part of something bigger. I feel privileged to work with a team of such passionate women dedicated to improving midwifery in Australia and the quality of care given to women, and although the entire job is rewarding, the thing I find most comforting about this position is the knowledge that our collective efforts will ultimately benefit Australian women of all generations.
GLENYS RAMSEY
Receptionist
reception@midwives.org.au
Hi my name is Glenys Ramsey and I am the receptionist for the College! I am usually the first person you talk to when you call the National number – the girls here in the office call me the “Director of First Impressions”!
I have been with the College eight months now and apart from supporting the team to manage their workloads I also answer the phone, do the incoming and outgoing mail and, help to set new members up in our database and send out their new members packs. In my spare minutes, I also help Abby with MidPLUS enquiries, enrol members and get their MidPLUS starter packs out to them. Have you enrolled yet?
My burning passions are children and gardening! I have five grown children of my own, 11 grandchildren and two cats. My husband and I recently bought a little block of land just outside Canberra, which I cannot wait to landscape and redesign. The girls at the office will attest to my green thumb, as everyone’s office is overflowing with pot plants and greenery!!
I look forward to speaking with you on the phone very soon!