Join the Midwest-Gascoyne Health Professionals Network Committee

We are currently seeking expressions of interest from health professionals living and working in the Midwest-Gascoyne to join our committee.

To express your interest, please complete this application form and return it via email to helen.hunt@mwhpn.com.au

Meet a local health professional

What are your professional interests/specialities?

Working! I love working. I am passionate about rural service delivery. and the enhancement of services in the Midwest. In addition to this, I am a sessional tutor and residential facilitator in the Bachelor of social work at Geraldton University Centre. The satisfaction of contributing to the social work workforce has been exceptionally rewarding. I am an accredited Mental Health Social Worker with the Association of Social Workers (AASW) and a Provisional Psychosexual Therapist with the Society of Australian Sexologist (SAS). For now, I am focussing on the promotion of sexology services in our region as this is an area, with minimal focus.

Tell us, where are you from and how did you get to be a Mental Health Social Worker in Geraldton?

I am from beautiful Cape Town in South Africa. Surprise, surprise. I graduated with a BA degree in Social Science, majoring in Psychology and Social Work and an Advanced Diploma in Policing and Administration from the University of South Africa more or less at the same time while working as a cop, yep; a Police Officer in the South African Police Force. I exited the Police as a commissioned officer, Captain after 17 years. My areas of expertise; of relevance to my current positions include Detective/investigating officer at the then Child Protection Service; investigating sexual offences against children.

What do you love about the Midwest?

The beautiful beaches, family-friendly environment, connectedness with collaborative partners, the fact that it is rural

Did you always want to be a Mental Health Social Worker? Why?

Yes, yes and yes. I am a goal-driven individual and always said, I want to be a social worker in the Police. I did both.

What are your passions?

All of the above and my family. I have an amazing family and growing our family into a solid family unit has been rewarding and remains my passion. I cannot do all of what I’m doing without my wonderful husband, Neville. A chef by trade, he takes over cooking meals, cleaning, and picking up my very handsome 14-year-old son from band practise, soccer, etc., while I embark on an ongoing journey of learning. In addition to this, my beautiful daughters are always on the sideline supporting me from Adelaide where they both engage in academic studies as well as my mum, who immigrated with us to Australia.

When you aren’t working, where will we find you?

At my desk at home, doing an assignment, planning my tutorials and cooking (my husband and I have been told numerous times of our exceptional cooking skills).