FNA
FNA History
The first Australian IVF program was set up in 1971 in Melbourne by Carl Wood, John Leeton, Alan Trounson and others who were supported by a team of nurses whose additional roles were managing donor sperm programs and assisting with early research studies.
The 80’s saw great progress with the birth of the first Australian IVF baby in 1980, and the formation of the FSA with the first annual meeting in 1982, yet there was still little formal communication or networking between ART nurses.
In 1990, the “Nurses Special Interest Group” (NSIG) was created and had their inaugural meeting at the FSA conference in Perth. This committee, comprised of a representative from each state with Heather Denholm as Chairperson, offered support to assist ART nurses to attend conferences and other educational activities, and to engage in research.
In 1997, a vote was taken at the NSIG nurses workshop to formalize the name to ‘Fertility Nurses of Australasia” (FNA).
Benefits of FNA Membership
- Maintaining a register of nursing staff for all units in Australia and NZ.
- Electing a nurse representative for RTAC and FSA Council.
- Networking between nurses in Australia, NZ and overseas.
- Access to our website based Newsletter.
- Ability to contribute an article to the newsletter.
- Two national workshops per year.
- Heavily discounted registration to these workshops.
- Free or heavily discounted access to local educational events, throughout the year.
- Encourage and promote the art and science of fertility nursing.
- Provides financial support for Nurses to attend conferences and FNA workshops
FNA Membership Fees
- Membership costs $55 per annum.
- To join the FSA and FNA simply complete an application using the Online Membership Form
Vale Heather Pollock
The passing of Heather Pollock occurred recently. Heather was Queensland Fertility Group’s second Senior Nurse Coordinator, occupying the role from October 1988 to 2005.
Maddy has over ten years of experience in both clinical and non-clinical settings within the Fertility Industry. Beginning in administration and transitioning into Nursing then progressing to Nurse Manager. She holds a Master's degree in Reproductive Medicine as well as a Master's degree in Business Administration. She is currently the Clinic and Nurse Manager at Monash IVF Gold Coast, where she is responsible for optimising clinical organisation processes and performance while also ensuring improved patient outcomes.
Maddy is currently the FNA Chair.
Margie Parry is an experienced registered nurse with extensive clinical experience in caring for children in Brisbane and the regional hospitals of Queensland. She has travelled the IVF journey herself, and has beautiful twin boys as a result.
Margie is committed to providing a holistic experience for all her clients.
Margie has been a Queensland FNA rep since 2012 and is currently the FNA Outgoing Chair.
My life in IVF land started in 1991, at Concept Fertility in Perth. I had a 3 day orientation!! And after 6 weeks worked Easter by myself. Needless to say I had an enormously steep learning curve. Hopefully I did not contribute to the woeful success rates in those days. (they were about 10% across the board).
I accepted the FNA representative position, back then “The NSIG”, in illustrious company with Heather Denholm , Heather Pollock etc. These women were brave, visionary, and formed the framework of the wonderful FNA that we have today.
Life caused me to move to Sydney and continue as a nurse co-ordinator. In 2008 I became the NUM and in 2009 resumed FNA activity. My FNA roles have included State Rep, Secretary, Chair Elect, Chair, Post Chair and now the representative to the Board.
I have often felt overwhelmed that I have been put forward for such roles, but I would give a clear message to anyone taking on a role in FNA, BE BRAVE!!! The rewards are terrific. The networking and professional friendships take you to different places in geography and experience.
My interests include gym 6 days a week, cycling on the weekends, keeping up with my local female friends…. That might involve a few wines!
On a personal note, my life is rich with my long suffering husband, (he is so understanding and good to me, and my personal chef!) 3 sons, a gorgeous DIL, a granddaughter and a wealth of friends.
I did my nurse and midwife training in the UK and have worked mostly in Womens Health. I emigrated to Australia in 2005 and was asked to cover for long service leave at Flinders Fertility in 2008 for a few weeks and never looked back!
I enjoy walking my dog and cycling in the Adelaide Hills.
I am looking forward to my role as FNA Rep.
I graduated Bachelor of Nursing in 2007 before undertaking my grad year and subsequently working on the Adolescent Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne for 6 years. Needing a change, I decided to take the leap into the IVF nursing world in 2012, and haven’t looked back 12 years later.
I have worked for Monash IVF across many sites in Victoria and now have settled in Geelong where I have been acting Nursing Team Leader for the last year, for a small but special team of nurses.
Given I will be stepping down from this role I thought now was the perfect time to challenge myself to take on a position as FNA representive, given my passion for supporting nurses and our education. I believe we are very lucky to work in such a young and developing field of science so the opportunities for education are endless.
I started my nursing career in 1998 in a small country hospital in north west NSW and I began working in fertility 6 years ago when we moved to Canberra due to my husband having a midlife crisis – he decided to leave his job and study medicine!!
I really enjoy working in this area of nursing. I have three children who keep me very occupied outside of work.
I am a Registered Nurse & Midwife who has worked in both Adelaide and London.
I have been employed at Repromed for 15 years and find my role very rewarding.
I was the first non-European ESHRE accredited Fertility Nurse, after completing my course in Helsinki in 2016.
I am looking forward to my role as a FNA representative.
Michelle is a seasoned professional nurse with a breadth of experience in women's health and fertility. Trained and qualified in the UK, Michelle started her fertility career over 15 years ago at Nurture Fertility in Nottingham, being promoted to the position of Nurse Manager soon after. Whilst there, she developed her expertise and enthusiasm for ultrasonography and enjoys teaching this skill to other nurses.
Michelle moved to New Zealand in 2019 to join Fertility Associates as Nursing Director. She is passionate about nursing leadership, high level patient care, education and training. Having developed and led a robust training course for ultrasound training, she loves training up-and-coming nurses in this exciting extended role.
Michelle lives in Auckland with her husband and daughter and enjoys walking her dog, scuba diving and water sports in her spare time.
Samantha is an experienced nurse and midwife with over 12 years' experience caring for women and their families. Samantha has worked across all continuums of care including rural and remote work in Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland where she completed her studies to become and Medicare Eligible Midwife.
She is currently working toward her Masters in Reproductive Medicine as well as Women's Health. Outside of her clinical work Samantha is passionate about research, she is currently the Clinical Research Nurse at QFG and has won the ESHRE Nurse award for her research.
Samantha has a passion for delivering a high standard of care to all aspects of a woman's journey and strives to make every patient's journey as easy and seamless as possible understanding that everyone has a unique and different journey ahead of them. Samantha is also a mother to a vibrant and sassy daughter.
Daniella Stephens
ACT RepresentativeDaniella Stephens is a Nurse Coordinator with a Masters of Reproductive Medicine from UNSW.
With over ten years of IVF nursing experience, she has a passion for women and the family. She values continued education as it benefits patients and colleagues to continue to be relevant in the always-evolving area of fertility.
She is currently working at Genea and lives in Canberra.
Melissa Gmelig
TAS Representative
Originally from Perth, Western Australia, I obtained a Bachelor of Science - Nursing Degree at Curtin University of Technology. I worked in rural settings all around WA including Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Meekatharra and Derby, eventually specialising in Paediatric nursing.
I travelled and worked overseas (UK and US) for a few years in the mid-nineties. Following the birth of my two oldest children, I returned to Uni to study Midwifery. My family and I moved to Tasmania in 2011, where I worked as a Midwife, and studied further in the field of Child and Family Nursing.
In 2021, I was at a crossroad, looking for a new and exciting challenge, I was lucky enough to join the amazing team at Tas IVF! I absolutely love my role as a fertility nurse, supporting our patients on their fertility journeys. My other interests include getting out in the Tasmanian wilderness and spending time with my family.
Director of Nursing at IVF Australia.
Vanessa is pleased to join the FNA organising committee as an opportunity contribute to ongoing support and professional development of Nurses and Midwives in Fertility Nursing.
Vanessa has worked in multiple roles in both premium and low cost models in the sector for nearly 13 years including as; Nurse Coordinator, Educator, Team Leader, Nurse Unit Manager, National Nurse Manager and now Director of Nursing at IVFA.
She views the opportunities she has had to support Nurses and Midwives as an absolute joy and privilege and is committed to assisting in taking our professional recognition to the next level.
"The FNA has been a constant contributor to Nurse Education and a great conduit between clinicians of the FSA and the Nurses who support them. Fertility Nurses are the most consistent voice during a patients journey so if we are well equipped as both clinical experts and skilled communicators the burden on patients will be reduced and that is our goal. Access to education in these areas is welcomed."
I have been a nurse since 2006. I was born in the USA and studied at California State University Long Beach. I received a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. My passion is labour and delivery, babies, fertility and women's health.
I started my nursing career at a busy Newport Beach hospital. I worked there for 7.5 years as labour and delivery nurse where we delivered over 500 babies a month. Then I met a "Kiwi" in California and ended up moving to New Zealand. I started my nursing career in New Zealand at Fertility Associates Auckland and have been working here for the last 12 years. I have recently been trained as nurse sonographer and I love it. Our clinic takes care of the French Polynesian community. I have helped organised overseas processes, documents and coordinate their cycles.
I really enjoy helping people achieve their dream of a family by providing support, education and any clinical procedures in my scope to make this happen. I have 4 kids. In my spare time I enjoy going to the beach, walking, kayaking and doing DIY around my house. I look forward to joining this organisation and promoting fertility education.
I began my Registered Nurse career in 2007 in Intensive Care Units in Queensland, and at RPA in NSW. Then my sentiments changed which led me to steer my career path into IVF nursing, with 5 years as Nurse Coordinator at The Fertility Centre (TFC Wollongong and Liverpool), and more recently, the last 3 years in the role of Nurse Coordinator at Genea, Sydney.
In 2017 I undertook the University of Technology (UTS) Post Graduate Certificate in Human Fertility and Assisted Reproduction (GradCert. HFAR) as part of the inaugural cohort.
I believe ongoing personal and peer education is so important in order to integrate research into clinical practice, to provide the best care we can for our patients on their unique journeys.
I feel the workshops and education sessions offered by FNA are so valuable in advocating for, facilitating, and encouraging, the ongoing learning of Fertility Nurses in all roles.
Outside of work I enjoy reading and crafting. However, family life does keep me busy with my husband and four beautiful children. Along with all their extracurricular activities we enjoy taking our dog bushwalking and weekends spent away at our farm.
Sara Mayes
WA Representative
Gemma Doig
WA RepresentativeI am an experienced clinical nurse manager with over 25 years nursing experience. Obtaining my qualification as a Registered Nurse in York (United Kingdom) in 1997
I have worked as a neonatal nurse for 17 years and then moved to the field of fertility where I have never looked back! Fertility nursing is my passion which can be equally rewarding and heartbreaking! My strength lies in strong relationships forged with couples as I act as an advocate, recognizing the huge emotional journey.
I believe every couple should be supported with empathy and I am proud to use my knowledge to empower and assist them navigate such a personal, important time.