It is my pleasure to represent WA on the National Committee for NACE. I have been a member for over 10 years now and felt it was time I did my bit for WA. My role with pregnancy, mothers, babies and partners started with the birth of my son in 1981. The experience of being a new Mum, distant from my own family led to me reaching out to the Nursing Mothers Association as ABA was once known. Two years on, I was a fully fledged councillor supporting other new Mums. I continued with NMAA/ABA for approximately 10 years moving on to become a midwife.  In that time we had a daughter and had moved home with me working part-time as a RN. My husband is the corner stone of our life supporting me in my studies with Midwifery and my nursing degree. He provides a wonderful example to talk about when discussing men’s role in Parenting Workshops.

I have been facilitating antenatal education for approximately 12 years at Northam Hospital, a 40 bed facility approximately 90kms east of Perth. As with many rural hospitals I witness the deterioration in services for mothers, their partners and babies. From a program where we could sustain a 6 week evening program from local couples plus occasional one day programs for those travelling from more distant locations, we have shrunk to 5-6 times per year running a one day Labour and Birth Workshop plus quarterly Parenting Workshops. There are times when we are unable to sustain our obstetric services due to midwife and medical shortages. I have continued to work in a rural setting as I have a firm belief that rural women should be entitled to birth in or close to their own community. Those who know me, frequently have to nudge me off my soap box encouraging women to push for better services with in their communities. To this end, I continue to represent WA on the ACM Rural Committee. When not working I enjoy the company of family and friends, when I have time, working in my garden, bushwalking and reading.

Jane Knight