december 10 - 16 | 2014
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Passion for research By KYLIE WILSON
SEEKING KNOWLEDGE:
Dr Helen Haines at work on her latest research. PHOTO: Kylie Wilson
GARDENING WITH BARB &
MERV
RSPCA WITH
CHIPS
FILM PADDINGTON
WINE TALK WITH
ANITA
THE wellbeing of mothers and families across the globe is what drives the work of Wangaratta based international researcher Dr Helen Haines. And it was a passion sparked in the early days of her career, when she worked as a midwife for Northeast Health Wangaratta, helping establish its internationally recognised community midwife scheme. Dr Haines said working as a midwife she saw the stress experienced by new or expectant mothers and fathers, and she wanted to help alleviate problems for them. “Working in Wangaratta changed my life completely,” she said. “As a midwife, you can see the impact you have. “The period of pregnancy and giving birth is a crucial life event, and it is a positive one if people feel supported,” she said. “We don’t often ask them what’s going on emotionally.” Eventually, her career led into research, beginning with a master’s degree in public health and then a PhD, and she is now based at Northeast Health Wangaratta, working in partnership with the University of Melbourne Rural Health Academic Centre. Dr Haines balances her work in Australia with time spent on research at Sweden’s Uppsala University and Karolinska Institute. She moved into the field of research because of issues she saw surrounding women and childbirth “that I didn’t have any answers to”. continued page |
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